Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
An expansible connector for fractured bones, comprising a sleeve adapted for insertion into a fractured bone so as to bridge the fracture thereof, said sleeve having a trailing end portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment, and an openended expansible leading end portion adapteD to be located in the other fragment, said leading end portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots subdividing it into radially expansible shanks; a central passage in said sleeve extending longitudinally thereof; an expansion member located in said passage at the open end of said leading end portion and having an exposed surface facing said open end; threaded means in said passage for drawing said expansion member deeper into said passage in a sense expanding said shanks; and a plurality of cage portions each provided at a front end of one of said shanks, and extending across said open end at least in part covering said end face in unexpanded condition of said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
An expansible connector for fractured bones, comprising a sleeve adapted for insertion into a fractured bone so as to bridge the fracture thereof, said sleeve having a trailing end portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment, and an openended expansible leading end portion adapteD to be located in the other fragment, said leading end portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots subdividing it into radially expansible shanks; a central passage in said sleeve extending longitudinally thereof; an expansion member located in said passage at the open end of said leading end portion and having an exposed surface facing said open end; threaded means in said passage for drawing said expansion member deeper into said passage in a sense expanding said shanks; and a plurality of cage portions each provided at a front end of one of said shanks, and extending across said open end at least in part covering said end face in unexpanded condition of said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
An expansible connector for fractured bones, comprising a sleeve adapted for insertion into a fractured bone so as to bridge the fracture thereof, said sleeve having a trailing end portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment, and an open-ended expansible leading end portion adapteD to be located in the other fragment, said leading end portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots subdividing it into radially expansible shanks; a central passage in said sleeve extending longitudinally thereof; an expansion member located in said passage at the open end of said leading end portion and having an exposed surface facing said open end; threaded means in said passage for drawing said expansion member deeper into said passage in a sense expanding said shanks; and a plurality of cage portions each provided at a front end of one of said shanks, and extending across said open end at least in part covering said end face in unexpanded condition of said sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
An expansible connector for fractured bones, comprising a sleeve adapted for insertion into a fractured bone so as to bridge the fracture thereof, said sleeve having a trailing end portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment, and an open-ended expansible leading end portion adapteD to be located in the other fragment, said leading end portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots subdividing it into radially expansible shanks; a central passage in said sleeve extending longitudinally thereof; an expansion member located in said passage at the open end of said leading end portion and having an exposed surface facing said open end; threaded means in said passage for drawing said expansion member deeper into said passage in a sense expanding said shanks; and a plurality of cage portions each provided at a front end of one of said shanks, and extending across said open end at least in part covering said end face in unexpanded condition of said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said cage portions is of one piece with the respectively associated shank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as defined in claim 1, said sleeve having an outer circumferential surface; and further comprising a circumferential groove provided in said surface in the region of juncture of said leading and trailing end portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as defined in claim 1, said expansion member being provided with a central threaded bore extending longitudinally of said passage, and said threaded means extending into said bore and meshing with the threads thereof.