US 7,320,666 B2
Fulcrum wedge clamp
Todd M. Bjork, River Falls, Wis. (US); Todd W. Sharratt, Birchwood, Minn. (US); and Christopher Lee Berg, Crystal, Minn. (US)
Assigned to Minnesota Scientific, Inc., St. Paul, Minn. (US)
Filed on Sep. 17, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/664,195.
Prior Publication US 2005/0059866 A1, Mar. 17, 2005
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 1/32 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 600—227 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical joint comprising:
a first clamping member comprising a first clamping surface for engaging a first surgical rod and an attachment end;
a second clamping member mounted with respect to the first clamping member wherein the second clamping member comprises a second clamping surface for engaging a second surgical rod;
a shaft disposed through and positioned within the attachment end of the first clamping member and wherein the shaft is in communication with the second clamping member; and
a force providing mechanism disposed between the first and second clamping members and disposed about the shaft and having a handle attached thereto and wherein an outer surface of the handle contacts the force providing mechanism wherein when the force providing mechanism and the shaft are movable with respect to each other by gripping and applying manual force to the handle to position the first and second clamping members in either a non-clamping position or a clamping position.