Y-frame external bone fixator
AssigneeGitlin LLC
InventorsDavid Gitlin, Lev Gitlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an embodiment of the invention, a fixator for fixating bone fractures includes a Y-frame having superior, anterior and posterior arms. The arms may be slotted and may accept mounting hardware for supporting fixation pins or transfixion pins. Various components of mounting hardware may be able to be adjusted either in discrete steps or in continuous manner, for various degrees of either translation or rotation. The Y-frame may be rigid, or may have joints that allow either angulation or arm-twisting adjustment. Arms may be provided joinable interchangeably to a hub. A kit of such parts may be provided.
Claims32
A method comprising fixating at least one bone using a frame that comprises a superior arm, an anterior arm and a posterior arm, said superior arm, anterior arm and posterior arm extending outwardly in respective different directions from a central region,
- said superior arm having a superior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said superior arm through said central region, said superior arm having therethrough a superior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said superior arm and being generally aligned with said superior arm axis,
- said anterior arm having an anterior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said anterior arm through said central region, said anterior arm having therethrough an anterior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said anterior arm and being generally aligned with said anterior arm axis,
- said posterior arm having a posterior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said posterior arm through said central region, said posterior arm having therethrough a posterior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said posterior arm and being generally aligned with said posterior arm axis,
- wherein none of said superior arm axis, said anterior arm axis and said posterior arm axis are collinear with each other,
- and wherein each of said slots is configured to receive mounting hardware that is a) mountable on said arms through respective ones of said slots, b) able to occupy a plurality of translational positions along said slots, and c) able to hold at least one bone-fixating pin.
An apparatus for fixating at least one bone, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame comprising a superior arm, an anterior arm and a posterior arm, said superior arm, anterior arm and posterior arm extending outwardly in respective different directions from a central region,
- said superior arm having a superior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said superior arm through said central region, said superior arm having therethrough a superior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said superior arm and being generally aligned with said superior arm axis,
- said anterior arm having an anterior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said anterior arm through said central region, said anterior arm having therethrough an anterior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said anterior arm and being generally aligned with said anterior arm axis,
- said posterior arm having a posterior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said posterior arm through said central region, said posterior arm having therethrough a posterior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said posterior arm and being generally aligned with said posterior arm axis,
- wherein none of said superior arm axis, said anterior arm axis and said posterior arm axis are collinear with each other,
- and wherein said apparatus further includes at least one fixation washer having a hole therethrough, the fixation washer being such that a respective one of said arms can extend therethrough with the fixation washer occupying a selected translational position along said respective arm and with said hole aligned with the slot of the respective arm.
A method comprising fixating at least one bone using a frame that comprises a superior arm, an anterior arm and a posterior arm, said superior arm, anterior arm and posterior arm extending outwardly in respective different directions from a central region,
- said superior arm having a superior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said superior arm through said central region, said superior arm having therethrough a superior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said superior arm and being generally aligned with said superior arm axis,
- said anterior arm having an anterior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said anterior arm through said central region, said anterior arm having therethrough an anterior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said anterior arm and being generally aligned with said anterior arm axis,
- said posterior arm having a posterior arm axis extending generally along a lengthwise direction of said posterior arm through said central region, said posterior arm having therethrough a posterior arm slot extending generally along at least a portion of a length of said posterior arm and being generally aligned with said posterior arm axis,
- wherein none of said superior arm axis, said anterior arm axis and said posterior arm axis are collinear with each other,
- and wherein said fixating further includes using at least one fixation washer having a hole therethrough, the fixation washer being such that a respective one of said arms can extend therethrough with the fixation washer occupying a selected translational position along said respective arm and with said hole aligned with the slot of the respective arm.
The method of 28 wherein said fixating further includes securing said fixation washer at said selected translational position by inserting a fixation element through said hole and through said slot of the respective arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.