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US4667660A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Universal orthopedic traction tongs assembly

Assignee: DePuy ACE Medical Co
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Filing: 1985-02-19
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Granted: 1987-05-26
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Expires: 2005-02-19
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Abstract

Abstract A cervical traction tong assembly for mounting cranial pins to the head of a spinal fracture patient. The cervical tong assembly includes an arcuate central support member having a pair of movable coupling assemblies connected to the ends thereof for radial movement relative to the central support. A pair of straps for carrying cranial pins are rotatably mounted to each of the coupling assemblies. The coupling assemblies and the rotatable straps may be adjusted to position cranial pins at desired locations upon a patient's head and to provide a traction force vector at any predetermned angle.

Inventors

  • 👤 David S. Eingorn

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 01:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H1/00; A61H1/02; A61H1/0218; A61H2201/00; A61H2201/16; A61H2201/1602; A61H2201/1604; A61H2201/1607; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/19; Y10T24/1941; Y10T24/1952

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 284 words
An orthopedic traction tongs assembly for attachment to the head of a user patient by cranial pins for applying tension to the patient's head at selected vector angles measured with reference to a first imaginary axis line extending vertically upward through the center of the patient's head and a second imaginary axis line which orthogonally intersects the first line and extends through the center of the patient's head from front to back, comprising: main support means formed generally in the configuration of a rigid arc for extending from one side of the patient's head over the top of the patient's head to the other side thereof; a first coupling assembly connected to a first end of the main support means; a second coupling assembly connected to the second end of the main support means each coupling assembly being movable on the main support means, generally radially inwardly or outwardly in relation to the arc formed by the main support means; means for securing each coupling assembly to each end of the main support means, allowing each coupling assembly, to move on the main support means, generally radially inwardly or outwardly in relation to the arc formed by the main support means; a pair of pin support means connected to each of the first and second coupling assemblies for mounting cranial pins for attachment to the patient's skull, at least one of the pin support means being rotatably mounted to its coupling assembly for permitting attachment of the cranial pin, mounted to the rotatable pin support means, at a selected location on the patient's skull; and a cranial pin, mounted to the rotatable support means, which provides tension at a selected location on patient's skull.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 284 words
An orthopedic traction tongs assembly for attachment to the head of a user patient by cranial pins for applying tension to the patient's head at selected vector angles measured with reference to a first imaginary axis line extending vertically upward through the center of the patient's head and a second imaginary axis line which orthogonally intersects the first line and extends through the center of the patient's head from front to back, comprising: main support means formed generally in the configuration of a rigid arc for extending from one side of the patient's head over the top of the patient's head to the other side thereof; a first coupling assembly connected to a first end of the main support means; a second coupling assembly connected to the second end of the main support means each coupling assembly being movable on the main support means, generally radially inwardly or outwardly in relation to the arc formed by the main support means; means for securing each coupling assembly to each end of the main support means, allowing each coupling assembly, to move on the main support means, generally radially inwardly or outwardly in relation to the arc formed by the main support means; a pair of pin support means connected to each of the first and second coupling assemblies for mounting cranial pins for attachment to the patient's skull, at least one of the pin support means being rotatably mounted to its coupling assembly for permitting attachment of the cranial pin, mounted to the rotatable pin support means, at a selected location on the patient's skull; and a cranial pin, mounted to the rotatable support means, which provides tension at a selected location on patient's skull.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The orthopedic traction tongs assembly of claim 1 wherein two pin support means are rotatably mounted to one of the first and second coupling assemblies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 94 words
The traction tongs assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second coupling assemblies includes: a first bracket portion on the corresponding end of the main support, said first bracket portion having a plurality of alternating grooves and teeth therein; a coupler body including a second bracket portion, said second bracket portion including a plurality of grooves and teeth corresponding to the teeth and grooves, respectively, of first bracket portion; and means for selectively securing the first and second bracket portion together with the grooves and teeth thereof secured in interlocking engagement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 68 words
The orthopedic traction tongs assembly of claim 3 wherein the securing means comprises a threaded passage in the first bracket portion an elongate passage formed in the second bracket portion, and a bolt having a shaft threaded for engagement with the threaded passage and a head for engagement with the second bracket portion when the shaft is inserted through the elongate passage and engaged with the threaded passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 63 words
The orthopedic tongs assembly of claim 4 wherein each coupling assembly includes a first leg extending from the coupler body to which the second bracket portion is mounted; a second leg connected to the first leg and generally perpendicular thereto; a pair of ears extending from opposite sides of the second leg; and means for securing the pin support means to the ears.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 103 words
The orthopedic traction tongs assembly of claim 5 wherein the means for securing the ears includes: a passage in each ear; a plurality of alternating generally radial teeth and grooves formed on each ear around the corresponding passage; a passage through an end of each pin support means; a plurality of radial teeth and grooves around the passage in said pin support means; and a bolt for mounting within the passages of the ears and the pin support means for urging the teeth and grooves of the pin support means into locking engagement with the grooves and teeth, respectively of the corresponding ear.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3604412A Cited
US3923046A Cited
US4169478A Cited
US4360028A Cited
US4444179A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-05-25 1990-11-24 1991-05-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-05-25 1994-11-24 1995-05-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-05-25 1998-11-24 1999-05-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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