External fixator system

An external fixator clamp comprising:

• a unitary u-shaped clamp body having a slot for transversely receiving a connecting rod and a hole disposed transversely to the slot;
• a nut;
• and
• a bolt including a thread and a head, the head comprising a hook for hooking a fixator pin shaft;
• the bolt being inserted through the hole in the clamp body, retained at the head by a fixator pin and secured at the thread by the nut.

An external fixator system comprising:

• a connecting rod;
• a fixator pin;
• a unitary u-shaped clamp comprising a slot for transversely receiving the connecting rod, and a hole disposed transversely through the slot;
• a nut;
• and
• a bolt including a head and a thread inserted through the hole, retained at the head by the fixator pin and secured at the thread by the nut.

A method for coupling a fixator pin to a connecting rod comprising the steps of:

• forming a slot in a clamp;
• the slot having a region of reduced width;
• inserting the connecting rod transversely into the slot such that the connecting rod interferes with the reduced width slot region, causing the clamp to snap onto the connecting rod;
• forming a hook on a bolt head;
• hooking a fixator pin with the hook;
• inserting the bolt through a hole disposed transversely through the slot;
• retaining the head of the bolt with the fixator pin;
• and
• securing the bolt with a nut.

A method for coupling a fixator pin to a connecting rod comprising the steps of:

• forming a slot having a channel for receiving a connecting rod in a clamp;
• inserting a connecting rod into the channel;
• inserting a bolt including a head and a thread through a hole disposed transversely through the slot, the bolt head comprising a hook for receiving a fixator pin;
• hooking a fixator pin with the hook, the fixator pin retaining the head of the bolt;
• and
• securing the thread of the bolt with the nut.

A method for coupling a fixator pin to a connecting rod comprising the steps of:

• forming a slot in a clamp;
• inserting a connecting rod transversely into the slot;
• forming a hook on a bolt head;
• rotatably inserting the bolt through a hole disposed transversely through the slot;
• hooking the fixator pin with the hook;
• retaining the head of the bolt with the fixator pin;
• and
• securing the bolt with a nut.

A method for installing a fixator pin comprising:

• attaching a clamp transversely on a connecting rod, the clamp being dimensioned to slidably receive a cannula;
• slidably mounting a cannula to the clamp;
• inserting the cannula through soft tissue to a bone surface;
• and
• inserting a fixator pin through the cannula into the bone, the cannula protecting the soft tissue from interference with the fixator pin.

A method for installing an external fixator pin comprising:

• mounting a clamp on a connecting rod in a transverse direction;
• slidably securing a pin placing tool, comprising a trochar disposed within an inner cannula and an outer cannula, to the clamp;
• advancing the pin placing tool through soft tissue to the surface of a fractured bone;
• removing the trochar from the inner cannula;
• drilling a pilot hole through the bone with the drill bit;
• removing the drill bit and inner cannula from the outer cannula;
• threading a fixator pin through the outer cannula into the pilot hole;
• withdrawing the outer cannula from the soft tissue;
• and
• mounting the fixator pin to a clamp.