Flexible clamping apparatus for medical devices

摘要

A clamping apparatus (3) of the present invention is used in a medical environment to rotationally and releasably secure a device to a support member (S). The clamping apparatus includes a device clamp (65) having first (101) and second clamp elements (103) and a connector (65) interconnecting the clamp elements. The clamp elements define a first receptacle (133) for receiving a support and a second receptacle (135) for receiving a mounting structure. At least one clamping element defines a device catch in the second receptacle. The connector is selectively moveable between a first position in which relative rotation between the flexible shaft (43), device clamp and device is resisted, and a second position in which the device is permitted to rotate without releasing connection to the support. A method of supporting a medical device on a support to permit selective rotation of the medical device relative to a flexible shaft without loss of interconnection is also disclosed.