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US 5,405,347 AGranted
Adjustable connector for external fixation rods
AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsHarry E. Lee, Thomas Russell, Aniruddha Nazre
Life of this patent
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AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsHarry E. Lee, Thomas Russell, Aniruddha Nazre
Estimating the term…
This invention provides for the angular and lateral adjustment of a pair of fixator rods in an infinite number of planes. The angular adjustment member may be rotated about a center axis of the connector such that the connected fixator rods may be angled relative to one another in any plane called for. Similarly, the lateral adjustment may be rotated about the center axis of the connector such that the two fixator rods may be shifted laterally relative to one another in any direction. The adjustable connector provides for the adjustment of the fixator rods after the rods have been connected to the bone pins. Therefore, after a surgeon has reduced and stabilized the fracture, minor adjustments can be carried out to fully align the bone fragments without disconnecting the fixator rods or the bone pins. After all adjustments have been made, a series of locking bolts or pins can be engaged to hold the adjustable connector in a fixed position.
An adjustable connector configured for connection to an external fixator rod defining a longitudinal axis, the adjustable connector comprising a lateral adjustment means for laterally shifting said external fixator rod in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an angular adjustment means for angularly shifting the external fixator rod relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the lateral adjustment means includes a first member having a slot formed therein and a second member having a rail substantially conforming to the slot, the rail being slidably accommodated by the slot of the first member wherein said second member may be laterally displaced relative to said first member.
An adjustable connector configured for connection between a first fixator rod and a second fixator rod, the adjustable connector defining an axis and including a lateral adjustment means for laterally shifting the fixator rods and an angular adjustment means for placing the fixator rods at an angle relative to one another, the lateral adjustment means and the angular adjustment means being interconnected, first clamp means connected to the lateral adjustment means for connecting the lateral adjustment means to the first fixator rod, second clamp means connected to the angular adjustment means for connecting the lateral adjustment means to the second fixator rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.