Female polyaxial joint and method of using same
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorsScott Lavoritano, Albert Montello, James Hearn, Christoph Notzli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Female polyaxial joints for connecting a strut to a support frame of an external fixation device are described having a ball socket and a ball member. The ball member includes a spherical portion and a ball member shaft extending from the spherical portion. At least one aperture is positioned on the ball member and traverses through at least a portion of the ball member shaft. An internal surface of the ball member shaft may be threaded and configured to receive a threaded connector.
Claims20
An external fixation device, comprising:
- at least one support frame having at least one aperture extending from a first surface to a second surface;
- a connector having a shaft configured to be received in the at least one aperture;
- at least one strut having a housing extending between a first end and a second end, the strut comprising a female polyaxial joint positioned on the first end of the at least one strut, the female polyaxial joint having a ball member with an internal surface configured to engage with the shaft of the connector and secure the strut to the at least one support frame.
A polyaxial joint for connecting a strut to a support frame of an external fixation device, comprising:
- a ball socket;
- and,
- a ball member having a first end with a spherical portion and a ball member shaft extending from the spherical portion to a second end of the ball member, at least one aperture positioned at the second end of the ball member and traversing through at least a portion of the ball member shaft, an internal surface of the ball member shaft being threaded and configured to receive a threaded connector extending through the support frame of the external fixation device from a first surface to a second surface.
A method, comprising:
- aligning a female polyaxial joint on a strut with an aperture within a support frame of an external fixation device, the female polyaxial joint having a ball member with an aperture providing access to an internal surface configured to receive a connector;
- inserting a shaft of the connector into the aperture of the support frame and into the aperture of the ball member;
- and,
- tightening the connector to secure the strut to the support frame and lock the female polyaxial joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.