Surgical instrument holder

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base is provided having a mounting portion configured and dimensioned to engage a portion of a base, a jaw assembly including first and second jaw members which define a retaining area therebetween configured and dimensioned to retain the shaft of a surgical instrument therein and thereby fix the length of the instrument shaft relative to the base and an operative site, and an instrument position adjustment mechanism which includes an adjustment member rotatably disposed in relative to the mounting portion to facilitate selective position adjustment of the jaw assembly with respect to the mounting portion.

1 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base, the apparatus comprising:
 a mounting assembly having a flexible cantilevered extended portion configured for snap-fit engagement with a portion of the base; and   a jaw assembly having first and second jaw members that define a retaining area therebetween, the retaining area being dimensioned to receive a shaft of the surgical instrument, the jaw assembly movably disposed relative to the mounting assembly to facilitate selective positioning of the surgical instrument within a surgical site.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 1 , further including an instrument position adjustment mechanism that facilitates rotational and pivotable movement of the jaw members about the mounting portion. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 1 , wherein the cantilevered extended portion of the mounting assembly includes a lip for engaging a rim portion of the base. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 3 , wherein the mounting assembly includes a lip configured to cooperate with the lip of the cantilevered extended portion to secure the mounting assembly to the base. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 1 , wherein the jaw assembly includes a jaw approximation control member which controls movement of at least one of the jaw members relative to the other jaw member to selectively fix the length of the surgical instrument relative to the base. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 1 , wherein the jaw approximation control member is rotatable. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 6 , wherein the instrument position adjustment mechanism further includes a lock member for selectively locking the jaw assembly relative to the mounting portion. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock member is rotatable. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 6 , wherein the instrument position adjustment mechanism includes a ball which facilitates rotational and pivotable movement of the jaw member about the mounting portion. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting assembly is in the form of a clip. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 1 , wherein the cantilevered extended portion deflects upon the application of a generally vertically directed force. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 7 , wherein the lock member is a knob. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for holding a surgical instrument relative to a base according to  claim 7 , wherein the lock member has extended portions extending radially outwardly from a center along a plane. 
     
     
         14 . A method of mounting an instrument holder to a base, comprising the steps of:
 providing an apparatus for holding a surgical instrument which includes a mounting assembly having a cantilevered extended portion configured for snap-fit engagement with a portion of a base, a jaw assembly having first and second jaw members which define a retaining area therebetween which is configured and dimensioned to receive a shaft of the surgical instrument, the jaw assembly movably disposed relative to the mounting portion to facilitate selective positioning of the surgical instrument within a surgical site;   moving the cantilevered extended portion to selectively engage the portion of the base;   moving the surgical instrument to a desired position between the jaw members;   selectively locking the jaw members about the shaft of the surgical instrument;   moving the jaw assembly relative to the mounting assembly; and   selectively locking the jaw assembly relative to the mounting assembly to position the surgical instrument at a desired location within an operative site.   
     
     
         15 . A method of mounting an instrument holder to a base according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
 providing an instrument position adjustment mechanism which includes an adjustment member for moving the jaw assembly relative to the mounting portion.   
     
     
         16 . A method of mounting an instrument holder to a base according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
 selectively locking the mounting assembly relative to the base.