1-22. (canceled)
23. A referencing apparatus for application onto a patient at least partially covered by surgical drapes, the referencing apparatus including a plurality of locating elements shaped for engagement with the surgical drapes such that the surgical drapes are disposed intermediate the plurality of locating elements and a respective plurality of predefined anatomical sites on the patient and whereby, in use, the apparatus is shaped such that said engagement causes a docking station disposed on the referencing apparatus to assume a reference orientation relative to the plurality of predefined anatomical sites, wherein at least one of the locating elements defines a cavity sized to receive a projection of the surgical drapes caused by the respective anatomical site.
24. A referencing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the locating elements is a loop having an interior defining said cavity.
25. A referencing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the loop is circular.
26. A referencing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the loop has a diameter of between 30 mm and 70 mm.
27. A referencing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the loops is attached to an arcuate member and wherein the arcuate member is attachable to a frame of the referencing apparatus.
28. A referencing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the at least one loop attached to an arcuate member defines a centre that is in axial alignment with an axis of rotation of the arcuate member to which it is attached.
29. A referencing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the arcuate member has a radius of curvature of between 40 mm and 80 mm.
30. A referencing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the arcuate member is attachable to a slot disposed within the frame such that an attachment position of the arcuate member to the frame is selectively adjustable.
31. A referencing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the slot has a length of between 60 mm and 120 mm.
32. A referencing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the arcuate member is attachable to the slot by a clamping action provided by a threaded fastener.
33. A referencing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the frame is substantially \u2018T\u2019 shaped and wherein the docking station is disposed substantially at an intersection of the \u2018T\u2019 shape.
34. A referencing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein proximal ends of three elongate members are respectively attachable adjacent three extremities of the \u2018T\u2019 shaped frame and wherein three loops are respectively attached to distal ends of the three elongate members and wherein at least one of the elongate members is the arcuate member.
35. A referencing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein at least two of the elongate members are arcuate members.
36. A referencing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein an electronic orientation monitor is dockable with the docking station in either a first docking configuration or a second docking configuration.
37. A referencing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first docking configuration defines a first orientation of the electronic orientation monitor relative to the referencing apparatus and wherein the second docking configuration defines a second orientation of the electronic orientation monitor relative to the referencing apparatus.
38. A referencing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first and second docking configurations arc respectively defined by first and second holes, each being shaped to receive a shaft extending from the electronic orientation monitor.
39. A referencing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the apparatus is configured to solely engage the drapes anterior to the patient.
40. A method of using a referencing apparatus as defined in claim 23, to calibrate an electronic orientation monitor, the method including the steps of:
positioning surgical drapes onto a patient;
engaging the plurality of locating elements against the surgical drapes such that the surgical drapes are disposed intermediate the plurality of locating elements and a respective plurality of predefined anatomical sites on the patient so as to cause a docking station disposed on the referencing apparatus to assume a reference orientation relative to the plurality of predefined anatomical sites;
docking the electronic orientation monitor with the docking station so as to orient the electronic orientation monitor in a reference orientation; and
calibrating the electronic orientation monitor.
41. A method of using a referencing apparatus as an aid in the insertion of a prosthetic component into an acetabulum of a patient’s pelvis, the method including the steps of:
providing a referencing apparatus having first, second and third locating elements;
positioning surgical drapes onto the patient;
pressing the referencing apparatus into engagement with the surgical drapes such that the surgical drapes are disposed intermediate the first locating element and a right hand anterior superior iliac spine of the patient and such that the surgical drapes are disposed intermediate the second locating element and a pubic crest of the patient and such that the surgical drapes are disposed intermediate the third locating element and a left hand anterior superior iliac spine of the patient so as to cause a docking station disposed on the referencing apparatus to assume a reference orientation relative to the patient’s pelvis;
docking an electronic orientation monitor with the docking station so as to orient the electronic orientation monitor in a reference orientation and calibrating the electronic orientation monitor;
attaching the electronic orientation monitor to an insertion implement having the prosthetic component disposed thereon;
manipulating an insertion implement into a position whereby the prosthetic component is adjacent the acetabulum; and
using the electronic orientation monitor to guide an orientation of the insertion implement such that an orientation of the electronic orientation monitor assumes a predefined relationship to the reference orientation; and
inserting the prosthetic component into the acetabulum
42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the referencing apparatus is disposed anterior to the patient during the steps of pressing the referencing apparatus into engagement with the surgical drapes and during calibration of the electronic orientation monitor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A microelectrode machining device, comprising:
a platform, fixed on an electrical discharge machining table;
a wire supply mechanism, disposed on the platform for supplying wires needed by an electrical discharge machining process;
a wire guide, disposed on the platform, and having a slide arranged thereon and a groove arranged at a position corresponding to the middle of the slide; and
two electric conductor elements, disposed respectively at the side of wire guide on the platform, and both the altitudes of the bottom thereof are lower than that of the two ends of the slide of the wire guide, in respective;
wherein, the wire supplied by the wire supply mechanism first passes through the bottom of the electric conductor element, and enters the slide by one end thereof, that is, a wire entrance, and exits the same by another end thereof, that is, a wire exit, and then passes through the bottom of another electric conductor element, such that the wire is subject to a minute downward suppressing force which cooperates with the slide of the wire guide for enabling the wire to pass through the wire guide smoothly.
2. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 1, wherein the wire supply mechanism further comprises:
a motor;
a wire spool, sheathed on a first rotary axis arranged on the platform to be rotated freely; and
a used wire spool, sheathed on a second rotary axis arranged on the platform, being brought along to rotate by the motor.
3. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 2, wherein the motor is a speed-reducing motor.
4. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 1, wherein an insulating plate is arranged between the wire guide and the platform.
5. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 1, wherein the wire guide is made of an insulating material with high wear-proofing ability.
6. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 5, wherein the wire guide is made of a ceramic material.
7. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 1, wherein a tension adjusting mechanism disposed on the platform is further arranged between the wire supply mechanism and the wire entrance of the wire guide.
8. The microelectrode-machining device according to claim 7, wherein the tension adjusting mechanism is consisted of a tension wheel and a tension motor, and the tension wheel is brought along to rotate by the tension motor, and the wire coming out of the wire supply mechanism is first wound through the tension wheel and is then exiting from another side thereof.
9. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 8, wherein a guiding wheel is further arranged at a side of the tension wheel, such that the wire coming out of the wire supply mechanism first passes through the tension wheel, then wounds through the guiding wheel, and wounds back to the tension wheel again, and finally exits from another side of the tension wheel.
10. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 1, wherein a ditch is arranged on the platform surrounding the wire guide and the electric conductor element, and a plurality of through holes is further arranged in the ditch, and a working liquid collecting box is arranged under the bottom of the platform corresponding to the positions of the through holes.
11. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 1, wherein the electric conductor element is supported and fixed to the platform by a support frame made of insulating materials.
12. The microelectrode-machining device according to claim 1, wherein a wire tightening mechanism disposed on the platform is further arranged between the wire supply mechanism and the wire exit of the wire guide.
13. The microelectrode machining device according to claim 1, wherein a wire cleaning mechanism disposed on the platform is further arranged between the wire supply mechanism and the wire entrance of the wire guide.
14. The microelectrode-machining device according to claim 13, wherein the wire cleaning mechanism is a brush.
15. The microelectrode-machining device according to claim 1, wherein the slide arranged at wire guide is an arc-shaped groove with V-shaped section.