External fixator assembly
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorsSergio Muniz, Barclay Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
External fixator assemblies, systems, and methods thereof. An external fixator system may include a plurality of fixator assemblies configured to connect a plurality of pins, for example, positioned on opposite sides of a fractured bone, with one more rods. The fixator assemblies may include a plurality of clamp assemblies positioned along a shaft and which are configured to rotate relative to one another when the fixator assembly is in an unlocked position.
Claims19
An external fixator assembly comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end having at least one external thread;
- a plurality of clamp assemblies extending along the shaft from the distal end to the proximal end;
- a biasing member disposed between adjacent of the plurality of clamp assemblies;
- and
- a cap assembly disposed over the proximal end of the shaft, the cap assembly being adapted to bias the plurality of clamp assemblies toward the distal end of the shaft, wherein the cap assembly comprises a ratcheting buttress adapted to translate along the shaft from the proximal end toward the distal end.
An external fixator assembly comprising:
- a shaft comprising:
- a distal end having a flange;
- and
- a proximal end having at least one external thread;
- a clamp assembly disposed along the shaft, proximal of the distal flange;
- and
- a ratchet assembly biasing the clamp assembly toward the distal flange, the ratchet assembly comprising:
- a ratcheting buttress having:
- a radially extending buttress flange and a hole extending through the flange, the hole being sized to allow the shaft to extend therethrough;
- and
- a plurality of fingers extending proximally around the hole, each of the plurality of fingers having a plurality of internal ratchet teeth adapted to engage the at least one external thread on the proximal end on the shaft;
- and
- a ratchet housing having:
- a distal end having a radially extending housing flange adapted to engage the buttress flange;
- and
- a proximal end having at least one internal thread adapted to threadably engage the at least one external thread on the shaft.
A ratchet assembly for an external fixator assembly, the ratchet assembly comprising:
- a ratcheting buttress having:
- an annular flange having a buttress axial hole formed therein;
- a tang extending outwardly from the annular flange in a first direction;
- and
- a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the annular flange in the first direction, the plurality of fingers surrounding the hole, wherein each of the plurality fingers includes a plurality of internal ratchet teeth;
- and
- a ratchet housing having:
- an annular flange having a housing axial hole formed therein, the annular flange having:
- an external contoured surface;
- a first radially extending cavity adapted to receive the annular flange of the ratchet buttress;
- and
- an axially extending slot adapted to receive the tang;
- and
- a body attached to the flange, the body having:
- a plurality of external flat surfaces extending around an outer perimeter thereof;
- a second radially extending cavity adapted to receive the plurality of fingers;
- and
- an internally threaded passage adjacent to the second radially extending cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.