Low profile distractor apparatuses

A distractor apparatus comprising:

• a mounting body, the mounting body comprising a body yoke and a pivot nut positioned in the mounting body and pivotable with respect to the mounting body;
• a tensioning mechanism coupled to the mounting body, wherein the tensioning mechanism is threadably engaged with the pivot nut, the tensioning mechanism comprising a threaded rod having a control knob positioned on one end and a rod yoke positioned on an opposite end;
• and
• a distractor arm coupled to the tensioning mechanism and pivotally coupled to the mounting body for rotation relative to the mounting body, wherein:
• a first end of the distractor arm is pivotally coupled to the rod yoke and the body yoke is pivotally coupled to the distractor arm between the first end and a free end of the distractor arm;
• rotation of the tensioning mechanism applies a distraction force on the distractor arm to rotate the distractor arm in the body yoke thereby pivoting the distractor arm with respect to the mounting body such that the distraction force applied to the distractor arm with the tensioning mechanism along a tensioning axis of the tensioning mechanism is translated from the tensioning axis to an effector axis through the distractor arm;
• and
• the tensioning axis of the tensioning mechanism is non-coaxial and substantially parallel with the effector axis of the distractor arm.

A distractor apparatus for applying a distraction force to a limb of a patient, the distractor apparatus comprising:

• a mounting body comprising a body yoke;
• a frame coupled to the mounting body, the frame comprising at least one pivot nut positioned in the frame such that the at least one pivot nut is pivotable with respect to the frame;
• a tensioning mechanism threadably engaged with the at least one pivot nut, the tensioning mechanism comprising a threaded rod having a control knob positioned on one end and a rod yoke positioned on an opposite end;
• a distractor arm comprising a receiving hook disposed in a free end of the distractor arm, wherein:
• a first end of the distractor arm opposite the free end is pivotally coupled to the rod yoke;
• the body yoke is pivotally coupled to the distractor arm between the free end and the first end;
• and
• rotation of the tensioning mechanism pivots the distractor arm in the body yoke with respect to the mounting body such that the distraction force applied along a tensioning axis of the tensioning mechanism is translated through the distractor arm to an effector axis of the distractor arm, wherein the tensioning axis is non-coaxial and substantially parallel with the effector axis.