Bone compression device

Claim 2

A bone compression device comprising: first and second arms including respective first and second pins on their respective one ends; tightening means including first and second pairs of first and second couplings, said first couplings being formed with retaining means and said second couplings being formed with threaded bores; pivot means mounting said first pair of couplings in spaced apart relationship on said first arm and said second pair of couplings in spaced apart relationship on said second arm; and a pair of externally threaded tightening rods screwed into said threaded bores and including respective securing means rotatably connected with said retaining means whereby said rods may be rotated in one direction to space said pins apart a selected distance for insertion in respective bores drilled in a fractured bone on opposite sides of a fracture site, said pins inserted in said bores and said rods rotated in the opposite direction to draw the bone fragments on opposite sides of said fracture together to compress said fracture.

Claim 3

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 1 that includes: mounting means for removably mounting said first pin on said first arm and including releasable adjustment means for securing said first pin in position in said mounting means whereby said first pin may be removed and replaced with a different sized pin.

Claim 4

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 1 that includes: first and second mounting means for mounting said first and second pins on said first and second arms and respective first and second adjustment means for adjusting the distance which said first and second pins project from said respective first and second arms.

Claim 5

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first and second arms include respective first and second longitudinal passages telescopically receiving said respective first and second pins and releasable adjustment means for holding said pins in selected telescopical position in said passages whereby said holding means may be released to adjust both of said pins to project a selected distance from said arms for receipt in respective bores drilled in a bone or to adjust said one pin to project less than said selected distance from said first arm for receipt in a bore in a compression plate.

Claim 6

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 1 that includes: guide means interposed between said arms for maintaining said arms parallel to one another.

Claim 7

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 1 that includes: first and second tubes mounted on said first and second arms for telescopical receipt of said respective first and second pins.

Claim 8

A bone compression device comprising: a compression plate formed on one extremity with a pin attachment element; first and second coextensive arms; first and second elongated pin means formed on their respective one extremities with respective bone engaging portions, said second bone engaging portions having a surface defining a compression plate attachment element engaging said pin attachment element, the opposite extremities of said pin means forming holding portions; first and second holding means on said respective first and second arms and receiving said respective holding portions of said pin means, said second holding means receiving said second holding portion telescopically and including releasable adjustment means engaging said second holding portion; tightening means for interconnecting said arms for drawing said arms together and including at least first and second couplings pivotally mounted on said first and second arms and first and second tightening rods engagable between said first and second couplings and said second and first arms and operative to draw said arms together while said pivotal couplings accommodate manipulation of said arms to extend at different angles with respect to one another whereby said adjustment means may be released to enable said second pin means to be telescoped to an extended position with the bone engaging position thereof terminating in the plane of the tip of said first pin means for insertion of said bone engaging portions in respective bores drilled in a fractured bone on opposite sides of a fracture therein and said tightening means tightened to compress said fracture and alternatively, said compression plate may be anchored to said bone on one side of said fracture, said adjustment means loosened, said second pin means retracted to a retracted position with said plate engaging element extending short of a plane through the end of the bone engaging portion of said first pin means so said bone engaging portion may be inserted in a bore drilled in said bone on the side of said fracture opposite said one side, said plate engaging element engaged with said pin engaging element, said tightening means actuated to draw said arms together to compress said fracture so the extremity of said plate opposite said first extremity may be affixed to said bone on the said side of said fracture opposite said one side to maintain said fracture compressed after said device is removed therefrom.

Claim 9

A bone compression device comprising: a compression plate formed on one extremity with a pin attachment element; first and second coextensive arms; first and second elongated pin means formed on their respective one extremities with respective bone engaging portions, said second bone engaging portions having a surface defining a compression plate attachment element engaging said pin attachment element, the opposite extremities of said pin means forming holding portions; first and second holding means on said respective first and second arms and receiving said respective holding portions of said pin means, said second holding means receiving said second holding portion telescopically and including releasable adjustment means engaging said second holding portion; tightening means for interconnecting said arms for drawing said arms together and including at least first and second couplings pivotally mounted on said first and second arms and first and second tightening rods engagable between said first and second couplings and said second and first arms and operative to draw said arms together while said pivotal couplings accommodate manipulation of said arms to extend at different angles with respect to one another whereby said adjustment means may be released to enable said second pin means to be telescoped to an extended position with the bone engaging position thereof terminating in the plane of the tip of said first pin means for insertion of said bone engaging portions in respective bores drilled in a fractured bone on opposite sides of a fracture therein and said tightening means tightened to compress said fracture and alternatively, said compression plate may be anchored to said bone on one side of said fracture, said adjustment means loosened, said second pin means retracted to a retracted position with said plate engaging element extending short of a plane through the end of the bone engaging portion of said first pin means so said bone engaging portion may be inserted in a bore drilled in said bone on the side of said fracture opposite said one side, said plate engaging element engaged with said pin engaging element, said tightening means actuated to draw said arms together to compress said fracture so the extremity of said plate opposite said first extremity may be affixed to said bone on the said side of said fracture opposite said one side to maintain said fracture compressed after said device is removed therefrom.

Claim 10

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said tightening means includes a pair of spaced apart couplings mounted on each of said first and second arms, at least one coupling of each pair being formed with respective threaded bores extending therethrough and a pair of relatively small diameter threaded rods engaged between said couplings, with each of said rods being engaged with one of said threaded bores and including respective enlarged in cross section fingergrasp heads.

Claim 11

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 8 wherein: said arms are at least 4 inches long; said second pin means is at least 3 inches long.

Claim 12

A bone compression device as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said first and second holding means are formed with respective first and second pairs of first and second downwardly opening passages, said first and second pins means being received in said first passages of said first and second pairs of passages and said device includes; a second pair of pin means selectively received in said second passages of said first and second pairs of passages.