External bone fixation apparatus

An apparatus for the external fixation and enhanced stabilization of a bone fracture, which comprises at least two pins adapted to pass through skin, flesh and bone on opposite sides of the fracture site;

• at least one first rigid bar having predetermined torsional, flexural and axial stiffness characteristics;
• at least one second rigid bar having similar characteristics to said at least one first rigid bar;
• at least two pin-to-bar clamps and at least one bar-to-bar clamp, each of said pin-to-bar clamps connecting at least one of said pins to one of said rigid bars in a manner such that said clamps are translatable along said bar or bars, the attachment of each of the pins to its associated pin-to-bar clamp and of each bar to each pin-to-bar clamps being through an articulating ball which allows universal rotational adjustment of the pin or bar, respectively;
• each of said pin-to-bar clamps comprising a body portion with a first branch connected to a second branch and having an arm located at the terminus of said first branch, said arm extending perpendicularly to the plane of the body portion and having at least one indent;
• and a capture bar overlying said extending arm, wherein the branches of said body portion embrace the articulating ball which accommodates a rigid bar and the capture bar is provided with at least one indent which is juxtaposed to said indent in said extending arm so that said indents cooperate to accommodate each articulating ball holding a pin;
• and locking means for locking each pin to each pin-to-bar clamp and each pin-to-bar clamp to each rigid bar;
• each of said bar-to-bar clamps comprising two separable portions adjustably connected to each other through a taper lock.