External fixation apparatus

An external bone fixation apparatus comprising:

• a frame part adapted to overlie a body extremity, said frame part having a first one end and a second other end,
• a transfixation wire adapted for lateral insertion through said bone and having a proximal end and a distal end,
• a first clamp shiftably carried by said frame part for pivotally connecting said wire proximal end to one end of said frame part,
• second clamp shiftably carried by said frame part for connecting said wire distal end to the other end of said frame part, means carried by said first clamp for tensioning said wire between said first clamp and said second clamp, and
• means carried by said second clamp for providing adjustability of the angular orientation of said wire with respect to said frame part between a plurality of discrete positions, wherein said tensioning means includes a collet having a lateral bore and a bolt extensibly fitted into said collet bore, said bolt having a longitudinal through bore adapted for receiving said wire,
• said first clamp has an opening, said collet is seated within said first clamp opening,
• said wire extends through said bolt bore with said wire proximal end abutting said bolt whereby extensible movement of said bolt from said collet urges said wire proximal end away from said collet to tension said wire between said first clamp and said second clamp, and wherein said collet bore is threaded for rotatably receiving said bolt,
• said first clamp also includes a tab protruding into said first clamp opening, said collet has a notch formed along its side, said tab abutting said collet notch to prevent said collet from rotating within said first clamp opening when said bolt is rotated within said collet bore.

An external bone fixation device comprising a fixation clamp and a fixation wire, said clamp used to connect one end of said fixation wire to a frame part, said fixation clamp adapted for providing adjustability of the angular orientation of said wire with respect to said frame part between a plurality of discrete positions and comprising:

• a clamp body adapted for connecting to said frame part,
• a raised member extending from said clamp body, said raised member having a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface with a continuous longitudinal opening extending through said raised member from the first surface to the second surface, the longitudinal opening has a length and includes the plurality of discrete positions along the length of the opening, and
• a separate wire retainer part adapted for connection to said wire,
• said wire extends through said longitudinal opening wherein said retainer part is connected to said wire and seated against said second surface of said raised member at a selected one of the plurality of discrete positions along the length of said continuous longitudinal opening when said wire is secured to said fixation clamp, and wherein said raised member also has a plurality of slots defined along at least a one side of the longitudinal opening on said second surface, said retainer part includes a flange,
• said flange is seated within one of said slots to secure the position of said retainer part along said longitudinal opening when said wire is secured to said fixation clamp.

An external bone fixation apparatus comprising:

• a frame part adapted to overlie a body extremity, said frame part having a first one end and a second other end,
• a transfixation wire adapted for lateral insertion through said bone and having a proximal end and a distal end,
• a first clamp shiftably carried by said frame part for pivotally connecting said wire proximal end to one end of said frame part,
• second clamp shiftably carried by said frame part for connecting said wire distal end to the other end of said frame part, means carried by said first clamp for tensioning said wire between said first clamp and said second clamp, and
• means carried by said second clamp for providing adjustability of the angular orientation of said wire with respect to said frame part between a plurality of discrete positions, and wherein said tensioning means includes a collet having a lateral bore and a bolt extensibly fitted into said collet bore, said bolt having a longitudinal through bore adapted for receiving said wire,
• said first clamp has an opening, said collet is seated within said first clamp opening,
• said wire extends through said bolt bore with an enlarged shoulder on said wire proximal end abutting said bolt whereby extensible movement of said bolt from said collet urges said wire proximal end away from said collet to tension said wire between said first clamp and said second clamp.