Compression device for use with a bone fracture plate

Claim 1

A COMPRESSION DEVICE FOR PULLING TWO PIECES OF A FRACTURED BONE TOGETHER WITH THE USE OF A BONE PLATE ATTACHED TO ONE OF THE PIECES OF BONE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER INCLUDING A DISTAL END ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE OTHER OF SAID PIECES OF BONE, A MOVABLE SECOND MEMBER HAVING A DISTAL END AND INCLUDING MEANS AT SAID DISTAL END FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND MEMBER TO SAID BONE PLATE, A MOVABLE ACTUATING PIECE, MEANS SLIDABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID MOVABLE ACTUATING PIECE RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID FIRST MEMBER AND SAID SECOND MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ACTUATING PIECE IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE BONE PLATE AND TO THE BONE TO WHICH SAID DEVICE IS ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED BETWEEN RETRACTED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS, SAID INTERCONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR RELATIVELY MOVING SAID DISTAL ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ACTUATING PIECE TOWARDS ONE OF SAID POSITIONS AND FOR MOVING SAID DISTAL ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ACTUATING PIECE TOWARDS THE OTHER OF SAID POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE ACTUATING PIECE BETWEEN SAID EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS.