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US 2019/0336172 A1Published application
Monoplanar hinged adjustable external fixator for bone fixation and distraction
AssigneeRaymond K. Wurapa
InventorRaymond K. Wurapa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable dynamic distraction mechanism connects proximal and distal components of a fixator system to enable adjustment of the distraction between proximal and distal bones of a joint and fixation thereof. The device is dynamic in that once fixation of distraction is set, the distal portion of the anatomy may be permitted to move essentially freely to flex and extend by rotation at the natural axis of the joint.
Claims20
A device for stabilizing a bone joint comprising:
- a plurality of pins for insertion into bones adjacent an anatomical joint,
- a planar assembly comprising
- a plurality of clamps engageable with one or more of each of the plurality of pins;
- at least two rods, each of which is adapted with an engagement feature at one or more ends, each rod having an engagement feature that is complimentary with an engagement feature on at least one other rod, the at least two rods being joinable to form a releasable and adjustable pivot axis that is constrained to rotation around an axis that is transverse to the axis of the joined rods, the rods being constrained to move relative to one another only around the pivot axis, and
- one or more actuators attachable to at least one rod and engageable therewith for contacting at least one clamp, the actuator and the at least one rod each comprising commentary translation features to direct translation of one or more clamps along an axis defined by the rod,
- wherein each of the rods is engageable with one or more of the plurality pins via one or more clamps, and at least a first pin is affixed to at least one rod via a clamp that is engaged with an actuator, the first pin being movable relative to at least a second pin that is affixed to a rod on the opposite side of the pivot joint, whereby actuation of the at least one actuator moves one of the first and second pins towards or away from the other.
3 more elements
A joint distraction device, comprising:
- (i) a plurality of bone pins suitable for insertion into bone;
- (ii) a plurality of clamps, each clamp connectable to a bone pin;
- (ii) a rod assembly comprised of a distraction rod and a stabilization rod, each engageable with one or more of the plurality pins via the plurality of clamps, wherein the rods are joinable to form a releasable and adjustable pivot axis, the rods of the assembly each adapted for alignment along a digit. In accordance with the various embodiments, the rods are rigid and formed of a material that resists bending and distortion when forces associated with joint motion are applied to the device.
A method for providing distraction and anatomical motion to a fixated joint, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a joint distraction device comprising at least two bone engagement modules that each compromise at least one assembly comprising a bone pin connectable to a clamp, each clamp in turn connectable to a rod, the device further comprising two elongate rigid rods that are connectable at respective ends to one another to form a rod assembly that can be extended to form a substantially linear rigid assembly having a shared axis, the rod assembly including a constrained pivot axis at the joinder of the rod ends, the axis being perpendicular to the rod shared axis, wherein at least one bone engagement module is connectable to one rod to form a stabilization portion and at least one bone engagement module is connectable to the other rod to form a distraction portion,
- (b) applying the device to a side of an anatomical joint, the application including a first step that includes placement of a guide wire in a bone that is immediately proximal to the joint at a head of the bone that forms a native anatomic pivot axis of the joint, sliding the rod assembly on the guide wire by passage of the wire through an aperture at the pivot axis of the rod assembly, affixing a stabilization bone engagement module to the stabilization rod and passing the bone pin thereof into bone that is proximal to the joint, affixing a distraction bone engagement module to the distraction rod and passing the bone pin thereof into bone that is distal to the joint, adjusting the distance between the two bone engagement modules by translating the distraction module either proximally or distally to select a displacement position, locking the distraction module onto the distraction rod, and removing the guide wire and inserting a fastener that one of permits or limits rotation of one or both rods at the rod assembly pivot axis.
A joint distraction device comprising:
- at least two bone engagement modules that each compromise at least one assembly comprising a bone pin and a clamp, each clamp being connectable to the bone pin and a rod, the device further comprising two elongate rigid rods that are connectable at respective ends to one another to form a rod assembly that can be extended to form a substantially linear rigid assembly having a shared axis, the rod assembly including a constrained pivot axis at the joinder of the rod ends, the axis being perpendicular to the rod shared axis, wherein one or more of the rods may be moved of the shared axis by rotation of its end around the rod assembly pivot axis, and wherein at least one bone engagement module is connectable to one rod to form a stabilization portion and at least one bone engagement module is connectable to the other rod to form a distraction portion, wherein translation of one or the other module along the connected rod axis provides for relative displacement between the two bone engagement modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.