Polyaxial strut for external fixation
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorsScott Lavoritano, Joseph Costanzo, Joseph Peterson, Michael Wahl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A polyaxial external fixation strut including a strut member and a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of the strut member. The first ball joint includes a first ball joint body and a first ball member. The first ball member is rotatably coupled to the first ball joint body to allow for variable angle adjustable positioning of the first ball member within the first ball joint body. The first ball joint additionally includes a friction member. The friction member is configured to create friction between the first ball member and the first ball joint body.
Claims22
A polyaxial external fixation strut comprising:
- a strut member;
- a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of the strut member, the first ball joint comprising a first ball joint body;
- and
- a first ball member, the first ball member being rotatably coupled to the first ball joint body;
- wherein the first ball joint comprises a friction member, wherein the friction member is configured to create friction between the first ball member and the first ball joint body to maintain an adjustable position of the first ball member relative to the first ball joint body;
- wherein the first ball joint further comprises a first ring contact portion and a fixator clip removably attached to the first ball joint body and the first ring contact portion, wherein the fixator clip is configured to fix the first ball joint body and the first ring contact portion in a linear configuration.
A polyaxial external fixation strut comprising:
- a strut member;
- a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of the strut member, the first ball joint comprising a first ball joint body;
- a first ball member, the first ball member being rotatably coupled to the first ball joint body;
- and
- wherein the first ball joint comprises a channel that runs along at least a partial circumference of an inner surface of the first ball joint body or a channel that runs along at least a partial circumference of an outer surface of the first ball member, configured to accommodate a friction member;
- and
- wherein the friction member is configured to create friction between the first ball member and the first ball joint body to maintain an adjustable position of the first ball member relative to the first ball joint body;
- wherein the first ball joint further comprises a first ring contact portion attached to the first ball member;
- wherein the first ball joint body and the first ring contact portion are configured to be reversibly fixed in a linear configuration.
A polyaxial external fixation strut comprising:
- a strut member;
- a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of the strut member, the first ball joint comprising a first ball joint body;
- a first ball member, the first ball member being rotatably coupled to the first ball joint body;
- a first ring contact portion attached to the first ball member;
- and
- a fixator clip configured to fix the first ball joint body and the first ring contact portion in a linear configuration;
- wherein the first ball joint comprises a channel that runs along at least a partial circumference of an inner surface of the first ball joint body configured to accommodate a spring clip member;
- and
- wherein the spring clip member at least partially surrounds the first ball member to maintain an adjustable position of the first ball member relative to the first ball joint body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.