Method and apparatus for external fixation of small bones
OwnerKirk J. Bailey, Sean P. Curry +1inventors
InventorsKirk J. Bailey, Sean P. Curry, John S. Mahaffey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An external fixator for securing a first bone portion in a fixed relationship with respect to a second bone portion. The fixator includes a bone screw clamp for receiving a first bone screw which is connected to the first bone portion and which includes a spherical portion. The fixator further includes a bone screw clamp which is operable to receive a second bone screw which is connected to the second bone portion and which has a spherical portion. The fixator also includes a connection member having a radiographic window to permit radiographic examination of the bone fracture, as well as a cantilever member operable to secure the circle portions of the first and second bone screw clamps to the connection member.
Claims20
An apparatus for securing a first bone portion in a fixed relationship to a second bone portion, the apparatus comprising:
- a first bone screw connected to the first bone portion;
- a second bone screw connected to the second bone portion;
- means for receiving said first bone screw, said means for receiving said first bone screw having a spherical portion;
- means for receiving said second bone screw, said means for receiving said second bone screw having a spherical portion;
- and
- means for securing said means for receiving said first bone screw to said means for receiving said second bone screw, said means for securing being operative to at least partially define a radiographic window to permit radiographic examination of the fixed relationship of the first and second bone portions in a direction substantially parallel to said first bone screw, said radiographic window extending directly between said spherical portion of said means for receiving said first bone screw and said spherical portion for said means for receiving said second bone screw.
An apparatus for securing a first bone portion in a fixed relationship to a second bone portion by a first bone screw connected to the first bone portion and a second bone screw connected to the second bone portion, the apparatus comprising:
- a first clamping member for receiving the first bone screw, said first clamping member including a spherical portion;
- a second clamping member for receiving the second bone screw, said second clamping member including a spherical portion;
- and
- a connecting member for securing said first clamping member to said second clamping member, said connecting member including an intermediate portion having a longitudinal axis spaced apart from a line passing through said spherical portion of said first clamping member and said spherical portion of said second clamping member in a direction substantially normal to the first bone screw.
An apparatus for securing a first bone portion in a fixed relationship to a second bone portion by a first bone screw connected to the first bone portion and a second bone screw connected to the second bone portion, the apparatus comprising:
- a first clamping member for receiving the first bone screw;
- a second clamping member for receiving the second bone screw;
- and
- a connecting member for securing said first clamping member to said second clamping member, said connecting member having a substantially U-shaped configuration for at least partially defining a radiographic window to permit radiographic examination of the fixed relationship of the first and second bone portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.