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US 10,499,897 B2Granted
Distractor with bidirectional ratchet
AssigneeThompson Surgical Instruments, Inc.
InventorAdam Truckey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A distractor system may include a distractor, a first distraction screw, and a second distraction screw. The first distraction screw includes a proximal end and a distal end having threads that affix the screw to bone. First and second arms are coupled to a crossbar via respective first and second ratchets and are configured to receive respective first and second distraction screws. The first ratchet includes a switch configured to select between ratcheted movement of the first arm along the crossbar toward the second arm and ratcheted movement of the first arm along the crossbar away from the second arm.
Claims20
A distractor for use with a first distraction screw and a second distraction screw, the distractor comprising:
- a crossbar comprising teeth;
- a first arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the crossbar and a distal end configured to receive the first distraction screw;
- a second arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the crossbar via a bidirectional ratchet and a distal end configured to receive the second distraction screw;
- wherein the bidirectional ratchet comprises a switch configured to selectively control ratcheted movement of the second arm along the crossbar;
- wherein the switch, when in a first switch position, configures the bidirectional ratchet to permit movement of the second arm along the crossbar in a first direction toward the first arm and configures the bidirectional ratchet to prevent movement of the second arm along the crossbar in a second direction away from the first arm;
- wherein the switch, when in a second switch position, configures the bidirectional ratchet to permit movement of the second arm along the crossbar in the second direction and configures the bidirectional ratchet to prevent movement of the second arm along the crossbar in the first direction;
- and
- wherein the switch, when in a third position, configures the bidirectional ratchet to prevent movement of the second arm along the crossbar in both the first direction and the second direction.
5 more elements
A distractor for use with a first distraction screw and a second distraction screw, the distractor comprising:
- a crossbar comprising teeth;
- a first arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the crossbar and a distal end configured to receive the first distraction screw;
- a second arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the crossbar via a bidirectional ratchet and a distal end configured to receive the second distraction screw;
- wherein the bidirectional ratchet comprises:
- a first pawl;
- a second pawl;
- a first spring that biases the first pawl toward the teeth of the crossbar;
- a second spring that biases the second pawl toward the teeth of the crossbar;
- and
- a switch configured to selectively control ratcheted movement of the second arm along the crossbar;
- wherein the switch, when in a first switch position, configures the bidirectional ratchet to permit movement of the second arm along the crossbar in a first direction toward the first arm and configures the bidirectional ratchet to prevent movement of the second arm along the crossbar in a second direction away from the first arm;
- wherein the switch, when in a second switch position, configures the bidirectional ratchet to permit movement of the second arm along the crossbar in the second direction and configures the bidirectional ratchet to prevent movement of the second arm along the crossbar in the first direction;
- and
- wherein the switch, when in the first switch position, is configured to move the second pawl away from the teeth of the crossbar and permit the first spring to bias the first pawl against the teeth of the crossbar.
11 more elements
A distractor system, comprising:
- a first distraction screw comprising a proximal end and a distal end having threads that affix first distraction screw to bone;
- a second distraction screw comprising a proximal end and a distal end having threads that affix second distraction screw to bone;
- a crossbar comprising teeth;
- a first arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the crossbar via a first ratchet and a distal end configured to receive the proximal end of the first distraction screw;
- a second arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the crossbar via a second ratchet and a distal end configured to receive the proximal end of the second distraction screw:
- wherein the first ratchet comprises a first switch configured to select between ratcheted movement of the first arm along the crossbar toward the second arm and ratcheted movement of the first arm along the crossbar away from the second arm;
- and
- wherein the second ratchet comprises a second switch configured to select between ratcheted movement of the second arm along the crossbar toward the first arm and ratcheted movement of the second arm along the crossbar away from the first arm,
- wherein the first switch, when in a first switch position, configures the first ratchet to permit movement of the first arm along the crossbar in a compression direction toward the second arm and configures the first ratchet to prevent movement of the first arm along the crossbar in a distraction direction away from the first arm;
- wherein the first switch, when in a second switch position, configures the first ratchet to permit movement of the first arm along the crossbar in the distraction direction and configures the first ratchet to prevent movement of the first arm along the crossbar in the compression direction;
- and
- wherein the first switch, when in a third position, configures the first ratchet to prevent movement of the first arm along the crossbar in both the distraction direction and the compression direction.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.