External fixation strut

A fixation system including at least a first fixation ring and at least one of a second fixation ring or a fixation arch, the first fixation ring being connected to the at least one of the second fixation ring or the fixation arch by at least two fixation struts wherein said fixation struts comprise:

• an elongated body comprising a first hollow tubular shaft and a second hollow tubular shaft;
• and
• opposite connectors respectively coupled to an end portion of the first shaft and the second shaft and each including a ball and socket joint, the connectors being fixed to the first and second fixation rings or the fixation arch, each ball and socket joint defining a junction element;
• one shaft having an internal diameter that is slightly larger than the external diameter of the other shaft to host internally the other shaft in a slidably and telescopic manner;
• said ball and socket joints allowing an angular movement of the corresponding strut with a spherical angle up to at least 90° for folding the fixation system for packaging and transportation purposes;
• wherein the fixation system is transitionable between:
• an operative position, in which the junction elements are substantially straight and the fixation struts are substantially orthogonal to the planes of the fixation rings or arch;
• and a folded position, in which the junction elements are bent by approximately 90°, resulting in a flattened configuration wherein the fixation struts are substantially parallel to the fixation rings or arch.

An improved external fixation strut comprising:

• an elongated body comprising a first hollow tubular shaft and a second hollow tubular shaft sliding in a telescopic manner one inside the other;
• a male connector coupled to an end portion of the elongated body and a female connector coupled to the opposite end portion of the elongated body;
• and
• a ball and socket joint associated to each connector and configured for rotating according to a spherical angle up to at least 90°;
• wherein each ball and socket joint connector is structured to allow an angular movement of the corresponding connector with a spherical angle up to at least 90°;
• the ball and socket joint comprising a socket having at least one radial slot extending from an opening edge of the socket toward a base region thereof, the at least one radial slot being configured to locally enable tilting of the connector up to an angle corresponding to the extension of the radial slot, only one of said at least one radial slots being configured to enable tilting of the connector from alignment with the strut to an angle of at least 90° relative thereto.