Patent US4604996A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4604996A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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External skeletal fixator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-03-11
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Granted: 1986-08-12
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Expires: 2005-03-11
Abstract
Abstract An external skeletal fixator for treating an injured mammalian limb, such as a horse's foreleg, includes a plurality of transfixation pins which transfix the bone at separated sites along the limb proximal the injury and terminate beyond the limb; means, exemplified by an organic polymer, for rigidly connecting pin terminii to a weight bearing member carried beneath the foot of the limb; together with means, e.g., affixing said weight bearing member to the foot of the limb, for immobilizing the limb distal the injury, whereby the weight of the mammal is transferred from the limb proximal the injury to the weight bearing member, permitting the mammal to ambulate while the injury heals.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Nunamaker
- 👤 Dean W. Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61D; A61D9/00; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/60; A61B17/64; A61B17/6441
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An external skeletal fixator for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises a plurality of transfixation pins which transfix bone at separated sites along the limb proximal the injury and terminate beyond the limb; means for rigidly connecting pins terminii to a weight bearing member carried beneath the foot of the limb; together with means for immobilizing the limb distal the injury; whereby the weight of the mammal is transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member, permitting the mammal to ambulate while the injury heals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An external skeletal fixator for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises a plurality of transfixation pins which transfix bone at separated sites along the limb proximal the injury and terminate beyond the limb; means for rigidly connecting pins terminii to a weight bearing member carried beneath the foot of the limb; together with means for immobilizing the limb distal the injury; whereby the weight of the mammal is transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member, permitting the mammal to ambulate while the injury heals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fixator of claim 1 wherein said pins terminii and said weight bearing member are connected by means of a rigid organic polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fixator of claim 1 wherein one or more elongated standards paralleling the limb are rigidly affixed to said weight bearing member, and said standards are rigidly connected to said pin terminii.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fixator of claim 3 wherein tubular molds coaxially encircling said standards provide annular voids penetrated by said pins terminii and containing a rigid organic polymer, thereby connecting said standards to said pins terminii.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fixator of claim 4 wherein said organic polymer is a thermosetting resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fixator of claim 5 wherein said thermosetting resin is selected from the group consisting of epoxy, urethane, phenolic, and polyester resins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fixator of claim 1 wherein said weight bearing member is affixed to the foot of the limb, thereby immobilizing the limb distal the injury.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The fixator of claim 1 wherein additional transfixation pins transfix bone at separated sites along the limb distal the injury and terminate beyond the limb, and said means for rigidly connecting said pins terminii proximal the injury to said weight bearing member also rigidly connect said additional pins terminii to said weight bearing member, thereby immobilizing the limb distal the injury.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
An external skeletal fixator for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises a frame assembly including a pair of elongated rigid standards paralleling the limb and rigidly affixed to a weight bearing member secured beneath the foot of the limb; a plurality of transfixation pins which transfix bone at separated sites along the limb proximal the injury and terminate beyond the limb on each side adjacent said standards; tubular molds coaxially encircling said srtandards, providing annular voids penetrated by said pins terminii; together with a rigid organic polymer contained in said voids rigidly connecting said standards to said pins terminii; whereby the weight of the mammal is transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
An external skeletal fixator for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises a frame assembly including a pair of elongated rigid standards paralleling the limb and rigidly affixed to a weight bearing member secured beneath the foot of the limb; a plurality of transfixation pins which transfix bone at separated sites along the limb proximal the injury and terminate beyond the limb on each side adjacent said standards; tubular molds coaxially encircling said srtandards, providing annular voids penetrated by said pins terminii; together with a rigid organic polymer contained in said voids rigidly connecting said standards to said pins terminii; whereby the weight of the mammal is transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises transfixing a plurality of transfixation pins through bone at separated sites along the limb proximal the injury to teminate beyond the limb; providing a weight bearing member beneath the foot of the limb; connecting said pins terminii rigidly to said weight bearing member; and immobilizing the limb distal the injury; whereby the weight of the mammal is transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member, permitting the mammal to ambulate while the injury heals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises transfixing a plurality of transfixation pins through bone at separated sites along the limb proximal the injury to teminate beyond the limb; providing a weight bearing member beneath the foot of the limb; connecting said pins terminii rigidly to said weight bearing member; and immobilizing the limb distal the injury; whereby the weight of the mammal is transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member, permitting the mammal to ambulate while the injury heals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 which includes connecting said pins terminii to said weight bearing member by means of a rigid organic polymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 which includes rigidly affixing one or more elongated standards paralleling the limb to said weight bearing member, and rigidly connecting said standards to said pins terminii.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 12 which includes coaxially encircling said standards with tubular molds to provide annular voids, penetrating said voids with said pins terminii, adding a polymerizable organic fluid to said molds, and polymerizing said fluid to a rigid organic polymer, thereby connecting said standards to said pins terminii.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said organic fluid is a thermosetting resin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said thermosetting resin is selected from the group consisting of epoxy, urethane, phenolic, and polyester resins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 which includes affixing the foot of the limb to said weight bearing member, thereby immobilizing the limb distal the injury.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 10 which includes transfixing additional transfixation pins through bone at separated sites along the limb distal the injury to terminate beyond the limb, and employing said means for rigidly connecting said pins terminii proximal the injury to said weight bearing member to also rigidly connect said additional pins terminii to said weight bearing member, thereby immobilizing the limb distal the injury.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
123 words
An external skeletal fixator kit for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises a plurality of transfixation pins adapted to transfix bone at separated sites along the limb and terminate beyond the limb; a frame assembly including both a weight bearing member adapted to be secured beneath the foot of the limb and one or more elongated standards rigidly affixed to said weight bearing member to parallel the limb adjacent said pins terminii; together with means for rigidly connecting said pins terminii to said standards; whereby application of the fixator to the injured limb allows the weight of the mammal to be transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member, permitting the mammal to ambulate while the injury heals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
123 words
An external skeletal fixator kit for treating an injured mammalian limb which comprises a plurality of transfixation pins adapted to transfix bone at separated sites along the limb and terminate beyond the limb; a frame assembly including both a weight bearing member adapted to be secured beneath the foot of the limb and one or more elongated standards rigidly affixed to said weight bearing member to parallel the limb adjacent said pins terminii; together with means for rigidly connecting said pins terminii to said standards; whereby application of the fixator to the injured limb allows the weight of the mammal to be transferred from the limb proximal the injury to said weight bearing member, permitting the mammal to ambulate while the injury heals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The kit of claim 18 which includes tubular molds to coaxially encircle said standards and provide annular voids to be penetrated by said pins terminii and contain a rigid organic polymer to connect said pins terminii to said standards.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The kit of claim 19 which includes a polymerizable organic fluid to be added to said molds and polymerized to said rigid organic polymer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-11 | 1990-02-10 | 1990-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-11 | 1994-02-10 | 1994-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-11 | 1998-02-10 | 1998-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |