Manipulator for external bone fixation devices

Abstract

A manipulator for reducing a bone fracture has adjustable elements for manipulating external fixation devices which are connected to the bone segments on either side of the fracture. The manipulator includes a circular sector having a first half sector portion and a second half sector portion. The sector portions are coupled for relative sliding movement therebetween for extending and retracting the arc of said circular sector. The manipulator includes a locking element for locking the first and second half sector portion at selected relative positions. Each of said first and second half sector portions has a generally cylindrical recess formed at the outer end thereof. A pair of cylindrical bushings having an outer cylindrical surface with teeth extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bushings are provided. One of the cylindrical bushings are rotatably mounted in each of the generally cylindrical recesses in the first and second half sector portions. Each of the cylindrical bushings are coupled to the respective external fixation device via a shaft extending from the bushing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. A drive element engages the longitudinally extending teeth on each of the bushings for rotating the bushing so that the angle of the shaft with respect to the half sector portions can be varied.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.