Supporting device for fractured tubular bones

Claim 2

A supporting device for fractured tubular bones which have a longitudinally extending curved interior cavity, comprising an elongated supporting sleeve having a leading and a trailing end portion and being curved in at least substantial conformance with said cavity, said supporting sleeve being provided with a curved longitudinal passage having a widened section at said trailing end portion; an expansion element at said leading end portion located forwardly thereof; expander means associated with said expansion element, said expander means including rod-shaped means extending through said passage between said end portions and adapted to expand said element in response to axial displacement towards said trailing end portion, and displacing means at least partially received in said widened section in engagement with said rod-shaped means and operative for effecting displacement thereof only axially of said supporting sleeve in direction towards said trailing end portion, said displacing means being a hollow internally threaded cap sleeve having an open end facing away from said leading end portion, and said rod-shaped means having external screw threads which mesh with the internal threads of said cap sleeve; and a cap screw having external threads dimensioned to mesh with the internal threads of said cap sleeve.

Claim 3

A supporting device as defined in claims 1, said expander means further comprising an expander portion provided on said rod-shaped means and engaging said expansion element for effecting expansion of the same in response to said axial displacement of said rod-shaped means in direction towards said trailing end portion.

Claim 4

A supporting device as defined in claim 1, said rod-shaped means having an outer diameter which is substantially smaller than the inner diameter of said passage, so that said rod-shaped means is received in said passage with clearance.

Claim 5

A supporting device as defined in claim 1; and further comprising cooperating screwthreads provided on said leading end portion of said sUpporting sleeve and on said expansion element, respectively, for permitting releasable connection of the latter with the former.

Claim 6

A supporting device for fractured tubular bones which have a longitudinally extending curved interior cavity, comprising an elongated supporting sleeve having a leading and a trailing end portion and being curved in at least substantial conformance with said cavity, said supporting sleeve being provided with a curved longitudinal passage having a widened section at said trailing end portion; an expansion element at said leading end portion located forwardly thereof; expander means associated with said expansion element, said expander means including rod-shaped means extending through said passage between said end portions and adapted to expand said element in response to axial displacement towards said trailing end portion, and displacing means at least partially received in said widened section in engagement with said rod-shaped means and operative for effecting displacement thereof only axially of said supporting sleeve in direction towards said trailing end portion, said displacing means being a hollow internally threaded cap sleeve having an open end facing away from said leading end portion, and said rod-shaped means having external screw threads which mesh with the internal threads of said cap sleeve, said rod-shaped means having a length such that a terminal portion thereof extends outwardly through said open end when said rod-shaped means has been axially displaced by a distance requisite for expanding said expansion element; and a cap unit configurated for threading engagement with said terminal portion and having a head adapted to bear against said bone.

Claim 7

A supporting device for fractured tubular bones which have a longitudinally extending curved interior cavity, comprising an elongated supporting sleeve having a leading and a trailing end portion and being curved in at least substantial conformance with said cavity, said supporting sleeve being provided with a curved longitudinal passage having a widened section at said trailing end portion; an expansion element at said leading end portion located forwardly thereof; expander means associated with said expansion element, said expander means including rod-shaped means extending through said passage between said end portions and adapted to expand said element in response to axial displacement towards said trailing end portion, and displacing means at least partially received in said widened section in engagement with said rod-shaped means and operative for effecting displacement thereof only axially of said supporting sleeve in direction towards said trailing end portion, said displacing means being a hollow internally threaded cap sleeve having an open end facing away from said leading end portion, and said rod-shaped means having external screw threads which mesh with the internal threads of said cap sleeve, said rod-shaped means having a length such that a terminal portion thereof extends outwardly through said open end when said rod-shaped means has been axially displaced by a distance requisite for expanding said expansion element; and a cap unit configurated for threading engagement with said terminal portion and having a head adapted to bear against said bone.

Claim 8

A supporting device as defined in claim 5; further comprising an annular member dimensioned to externally surround said trailing end portion of said supporting sleeve; and cooperating rotation-preventing portions provided on said trailing end portion and on said annular member, respectively, said cap unit being configurated for engaging said annular member and retaining it against movement axially of said sleeve.

Claim 9

A supporting device as defined in claim 6, said annular member having one axial end facing towards said leading end portion of said sleeve; and wherein said rotation-preventing portions comprise axially extending slots provided in said annular member extending rearwardly from said one axial end thereof, and axially extending ribs provided on said trailing end portion of said sleeve and received in the respective slots.

Claim 10

A supporting device as defined in claim 6, said annular member having an axial end facing away from said leading end portion; and further comprising an annular component having a first portion dimensioned to be receivable in said annular member at said axial end thereof, and a second portion dimensioned to at least in part overlie an axial endface of said annular member at said axial end thereof.

Claim 11

A supporting device as defined in claim 8; further comprising a hooked portion provided on one of said annular member and annular component and being adapted to hook onto the edge of a hole which is provided in said bone for insertion of said sleeve into said cavity.

Claim 12

A supporting device as defined in claim 9, wherein said hooked portion is provided on said annular member.

Claim 13

A supporting device as defined in claim 9, wherein said hooked portion is provided on said annular component.

Claim 14

A supporting device for fractured tubular bones which have a longitudinally extending curved interior cavity, comprising an elongated supporting sleeve having a leading and a trailing end portion and being curved in at least substantial conformance with said cavity, said supporting sleeve being provided with a curved longitudinal passage having a widened section at said trailing end portion; an expansion element at said leading end portion located forwardly thereof; expander means associated with said expansion element, said expandeR means including rod-shaped means extending through said passage between said end portions and adapted to expand said element in response to axial displacement towards said trailing end portion, and displacing means at least partially received in said widened section in engagement with said rod-shaped means and operative for effecting displacement thereof only axially of said supporting sleeve in direction towards said trailing end portion, said displacing means being a hollow internally threaded cap sleeve having an open end facing away from said leading end portion, and said rod-shaped means having external screw threads which mesh with the internal threads of said cap sleeve, said rod-shaped means having a length such that a terminal portion thereof extends outwardly through said open end when said rod-shaped means has been axially displaced by a distance requisite for expanding said expansion element; and an extension rod having an outer diameter smaller than the root diameter of said external screw threads, a bore in an axial end face of said terminal portion, and cooperating threads on said extension rod and in said bore.

Claim 15

A supporting device for fractured tubular bones which have a longitudinally extending curved interior cavity, comprising an elongated supporting sleeve having a leading and a trailing end portion and being curved in at least substantial conformance with said cavity, said supporting sleeve being provided with a curved longitudinal passage having a widened section at said trailing end portion; an expansion element at said leading end portion located forwardly thereof; expander means associated with said expansion element, said expandeR means including rod-shaped means extending through said passage between said end portions and adapted to expand said element in response to axial displacement towards said trailing end portion, and displacing means at least partially received in said widened section in engagement with said rod-shaped means and operative for effecting displacement thereof only axially of said supporting sleeve in direction towards said trailing end portion, said displacing means being a hollow internally threaded cap sleeve having an open end facing away from said leading end portion, and said rod-shaped means having external screw threads which mesh with the internal threads of said cap sleeve, said rod-shaped means having a length such that a terminal portion thereof extends outwardly through said open end when said rod-shaped means has been axially displaced by a distance requisite for expanding said expansion element; and an extension rod having an outer diameter smaller than the root diameter of said external screw threads, a bore in an axial end face of said terminal portion, and cooperating threads on said extension rod and in said bore.