External bone fixation apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for the external fixation and stabilization of a bone fracture, characterized in that it comprises at least two pins 1 adapted to pass through skin, flesh and bone on opposite sides of the fracture site F; at least one first rigid bar 2 having predetermined torsional, flexural and axial stiffness characteristics; at least two pin-to-bar clamps 3, each connecting at least one of said pins to said bar in a manner such that said clamps are translatable along said bar, the attachment of each of the pins to its associated clamp and of the bar to each clamp being each through an articulating ball which allows universal rotational adjustment of the pin or bar, respectively, each of said clamps comprising a body portion 4 with a first branch 5 connected to a second branch 6, and arm 7 located at the terminus of said first branch, said arm extending perpendicularly to the plane of the body portion and having at least one indent 8, and a capture bar 9 overlying said extending arm, wherein the branches of said body portion embrace the articulating ball 13 which accommodates said rigid bar and the capture bar is provided with at least one indent 10 which is juxtaposed to said indent in said extending arm so that said indents cooperate to accommodate each articulating ball 11 holding a pin; and locking means 15, 16, 17, 18 for locking each pin to each clamp and each clamp to said rigid bar.

Claim 2

An apparatus for the external fixation and stabilization of a bone fracture, characterized in that it comprises at least two pins 1 adapted to pass through skin, flesh and bone on opposite sides of the fracture site F; at least one first rigid bar 2 having predetermined torsional, flexural and axial stiffness characteristics; at least two pin-to-bar clamps 3, each connecting at least one of said pins to said bar in a manner such that said clamps are translatable along said bar, the attachment of each of the pins to its associated clamp and of the bar to each clamp being each through an articulating ball which allows universal rotational adjustment of the pin or bar, respectively, each of said clamps comprising a body portion 4 with a first branch 5 connected to a second branch 6, and arm 7 located at the terminus of said first branch, said arm extending perpendicularly to the plane of the body portion and having at least one indent 8, and a capture bar 9 overlying said extending arm, wherein the branches of said body portion embrace the articulating ball 13 which accommodates said rigid bar and the capture bar is provided with at least one indent 10 which is juxtaposed to said indent in said extending arm so that said indents cooperate to accommodate each articulating ball 11 holding a pin; and locking means 15, 16, 17, 18 for locking each pin to each clamp and each clamp to said rigid bar.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises four pins 1 arranged in two pairs, each pair attached to a single clamp 3, wherein the extending arm 7 of each clamp extends on both sides of the first branch 5 of the body portion 4.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally includes at least one second rigid bar 2A operatively attached to said first rigid bar 2 through a bar-to-bar clamp comprising two separable portions 20, 21 adjustably connected to each other through a taper lock.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first rigid bar 2 and said clamps 3 are made from X-ray translucent material.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first rigid bar 2 is one of a series of bars each made from a material having different torsional, flexural and axial stiffness characteristics from those of other members of the series, said bars being adapted to be interchanged in the apparatus to provide external fixation of diminishing stiffness as the healing of the fracture to which the apparatus is applied progresses.

Claim 10

An apparatus for the external fixation and enhanced stabilization of a bone fracture, characterized in that it comprises at least two pins 1 adapted to pass through skin, flesh and bone on opposite sides of the fracture site; at least one first rigid bar 2 having predetermined torsional, flexural and axial stiffness characteristics; at least one second rigid bar 2A having similar characteristics to said at least one first rigid bar; at least two pin-to-bar clamps 3 and at least one bar-to-bar clamp 20, 21 each of said pin-to-bar clamps connecting at least one of said pins to one of said rigid bars in a manner such that said clamps are translatable along said bar or bars, the attachment of each of the pins to its associated pin-to-bar clamp and of each bar to each pin-to-bar clamps being through an articulating ball which allows universal rotational adjustment of the pin or bar, respectively; each of said pin-to-bar clamps comprising a body portion 4 with a first branch 5 connected to a second branch 6 and having an arm 7 located at the terminus of said first branch, said arm extending perpendicularly to the plane of the body portion and having at least one indent 8; and a capture bar 9 overlying said extending arm, wherein the branches of said body portion embrace the articulating ball 13 which accommodates a rigid bar and the capture bar is provided with at least one indent 10 which is juxtaposed to said indent in said extending arm so that said indents cooperate to accommodate each articulating ball 11 holding a pin; and locking means 15, 16, 17, 18 for locking each pin to each pin-to-bar clamp and each pin-to-bar clamp to each rigid bar; each of said bar-to-bar clamps comprising two separable portions 20, 21 adjustably connected to each other through a taper lock.

Claim 11

An apparatus for the external fixation and enhanced stabilization of a bone fracture, characterized in that it comprises at least two pins 1 adapted to pass through skin, flesh and bone on opposite sides of the fracture site; at least one first rigid bar 2 having predetermined torsional, flexural and axial stiffness characteristics; at least one second rigid bar 2A having similar characteristics to said at least one first rigid bar; at least two pin-to-bar clamps 3 and at least one bar-to-bar clamp 20, 21 each of said pin-to-bar clamps connecting at least one of said pins to one of said rigid bars in a manner such that said clamps are translatable along said bar or bars, the attachment of each of the pins to its associated pin-to-bar clamp and of each bar to each pin-to-bar clamps being through an articulating ball which allows universal rotational adjustment of the pin or bar, respectively; each of said pin-to-bar clamps comprising a body portion 4 with a first branch 5 connected to a second branch 6 and having an arm 7 located at the terminus of said first branch, said arm extending perpendicularly to the plane of the body portion and having at least one indent 8; and a capture bar 9 overlying said extending arm, wherein the branches of said body portion embrace the articulating ball 13 which accommodates a rigid bar and the capture bar is provided with at least one indent 10 which is juxtaposed to said indent in said extending arm so that said indents cooperate to accommodate each articulating ball 11 holding a pin; and locking means 15, 16, 17, 18 for locking each pin to each pin-to-bar clamp and each pin-to-bar clamp to each rigid bar; each of said bar-to-bar clamps comprising two separable portions 20, 21 adjustably connected to each other through a taper lock.

Claim 16

An apparatus for the external fixation and stabilization of a bone fracture, as claimed in any preceding claim. characterized in that at least one of said pins is coupled to a rigid bar through a clamp containing two separate portions adjustably connected to each other through a taper lock.