Interchangeable Pin Holder System and Method
Assigneepro med instruments GmbH
InventorMatthias E. Schuele
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stabilization device for use in the medical field includes an interchangeable pin holder assembly. The pin holder assembly has a first portion that is separable from a second portion such that the first portion can be replaced with a similar first portion having one or more components of a different size to accommodate patients of different sizes or to accommodate different stabilization techniques. A method for interchanging a portion of a pin holder assembly includes aligning components of the pin holder assembly and applying force in either a distal or proximal direction depending on whether or not the interchangeable portion of the pin holder assembly is being removed or attached.
Claims20
An interchangeable pin holder assembly for use with a stabilization device, wherein the interchangeable pin holder assembly comprises:
- (a) a first member comprising:
- (i) a groove, and
- (ii) a first rotation limiting member separate from the groove;
- and
- (b) a second member configured to connect with a pin holder, wherein the second member comprises:
- (i) at least one resiliently biased member, wherein the at least one resiliently biased member is configured to selectively engage with the groove to prevent unintended separation of the first member from the second member when the at least one resiliently biased member is positioned within the groove, and
- (ii) a second rotation limiting member separate from the at least one resiliently biased member, wherein the second rotation limiting member is configured to engage with the first rotation limiting member to prevent rotation of the first member relative to the second member when the second rotation limiting member is engaged with the first rotation limiting member.
A method for interchanging a portion of a pin holder assembly of a stabilization device comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a force on a first removable portion of the pin holder assembly in a direction away from a fixed portion of the pin holder assembly configured to directly connect with the stabilization device, wherein the first removable portion of the pin holder assembly comprises at least one resiliently biased member and a first rotational lock member separate from the at least one resiliently biased member, wherein the fixed portion of the pin holder assembly comprises a recessed area and a second rotational lock member separate from the recessed area;
- (b) disengaging the at least one resiliently biased member of the first removable portion from the recessed area of the fixed portion;
- (c) disengaging the first rotational lock member of the first removable portion from the second rotational lock member of the fixed portion;
- (d) aligning a second removable portion of the pin holder assembly with the fixed portion of the pin holder assembly;
- and
- (e) applying a force on the second removable portion in a direction toward the fixed portion of the pin holder assembly.
An interchangeable pin holder assembly for use with a stabilization device, wherein the interchangeable pin holder assembly comprises:
- (a) a first member and a second member, wherein the first and second members are configured to eliminate a select one or both of lateral movement and vertical movement between a first portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly and a second portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly, when the first portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly is selectively connected with the second portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly;
- and
- (b) a third member and a fourth member, wherein the third member and the fourth member are separate from the first member and the second member, wherein the third and fourth members are configured to eliminate rotational movement between the first portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly and the second portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly when the first portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly is selectively connected with the second portion of the interchangeable pin holder assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.