Tubular splint
OwnerArmand N. Blackmoreinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The tubular splint has a tubular shell with a slot extending from one end to the other. A first clamp bracket with a plurality of bores is fixed to the tubular shell adjacent to a first side of the slot. A second clamp bracket, with a plurality of threaded bores that are in substantially axial alignment with the plurality of bores in the first clamp bracket, is fixed to the tubular shell adjacent to a second side of the slot. A screw passes through each bore and screws into one of the plurality of threaded bores. A worm is journaled on one of the clamp brackets, engages a worm wheel on each screw and rotates all of the screws simultaneously. A wedge member can be secured to the bone and engaged by the shell.
Claims15
A tubular splint comprising:
- a tubular shell having a first end, a second end, means for receiving a bone, said means extending from the first end to the second end and a shell slot extending from the first end to the second end;
- a first clamp bracket on said tubular shell adjacent to a first side of the shell slot, and a plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket spaced along a line extending from the first end to the second end of said tubular shell;
- a second clamp bracket on said tubular shell adjacent to a second side of the shell slot, and a plurality of threaded bores in the second clamp bracket each of which is in axial alignment with one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket;
- and
- a plurality of screws each of which passes through one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket and screws into one of the plurality of threaded bores in the second clamp bracket.
A tubular splint comprising:
- a tubular shell having a first end, a second end and a shell slot extending from the first end to the second end;
- a first clamp bracket integral with said tubular shell and adjacent to a first side of the shell slot and a plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket;
- a second clamp bracket integral with said tubular shell and adjacent to a second side of the shell slot, and a plurality of threaded bores through the second clamp bracket each of which is in axial alignment with one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket;
- a plurality of screws each of which passes through one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket and screws into one of the plurality of threaded bores through the second clamp bracket;
- a worm wheel secured to each of the plurality of screws;
- a worm journaled on the first clamp bracket and in mesh with all of the worm wheels;
- and
- a retainer mounted on the first clamp bracket which limits axial movement of the worm relative to the first clamp bracket.
A method of splinting a bone employing a tubular shell having a first end, a second end, a shell slot extending from the first end to the second end, a first clamp bracket integral with the tubular shell and adjacent to a first side of the shell slot, and a second clamp bracket integral with the tubular shell and adjacent to a second side of the shell slot comprising:
- selecting said tubular shell with a shell length and a shell diameter that is appropriate for the bone to receive the splint;
- separating the first clamp bracket from the second clamp bracket;
- positioning the tubular shell adjacent to the bone;
- releasing the first clamp bracket and the second clamp bracket to move toward each other and encircle the bone:
- passing each of a plurality of screws through a bore through one of plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket and screwing each of the screws into a threaded bore in the second clamp bracket;
- tightening the plurality of screws until an inside surface of the tubular shell engages and starts to apply pressure to the bone;
- and
- simultaneously tightening the plurality of screws until the bone is held securely in the first end and the second end of the tubular shell.
A tubular splint comprising:
- a tubular shell having a first end, a second end and a shell slot extending from the first end to the second end;
- a first clamp bracket on said tubular shell adjacent to a first side of the shell slot, and a plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket spaced along a line extending from the first end to the second end of said tubular shell;
- a second clamp bracket on said tubular shell adjacent to a second side of the shell slot, and a plurality of threaded bores in the second clamp bracket each of which is in axial alignment with one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket;
- a plurality of screws each of which passes through one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket and screws into one of the plurality of threaded bores in the second clamp bracket;
- a worm wheel secured to each of the plurality of screws;
- and
- a worm journalled on the first clamp bracket and in mesh with all of the worm wheels.
A tubular splint comprising;
- a tubular shell having a first end, a second end and a shell slot extending from the first end to the second end;
- a first clamp bracket on said tubular shell adjacent to a first side of the shell slot, and a plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket spaced along a line extending from the first end to the second end of said tubular shell;
- a second clamp bracket on said tubular shell adjacent to a second side of the shell slot, and a plurality of threaded bores in the second clamp bracket each of which is in axial alignment with one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket;
- a plurality of screws each of which passes through one of the plurality of bores through the first clamp bracket and screws into one of the plurality of threaded bores in the second clamp bracket;
- and
- a tubular wedge with a wedge slot, an inside sleeve surface that generally conforms to the shape of a bone and an outside sleeve surface that is engageable by said tubular shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.