US5062844A — Method and apparatus for the fixation of bone fra…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

A bone fixator apparatus for fixation of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities comprising: (a) a plurality of half rings, each having inner and outer annular curved surfaces, and spaced parallel, flat upper and lower surfaces, each half ring being made of a plastic-carbon composite material, the half rings being selectively connectable to form pairs that define multiple rings upon assembly such as by bolting, each ring defining a plane; (b) the plastic-carbon composite half rings including one or more carbon fiber braid members oriented generally parallel to the plane of the half ring; (c) a plurality of holes spaced along the half rings; (d) circumferential reinforcement means positioned adjacent the holes for strengthening the half ring adjacent the holes; and (e) a plurality of tie rods assemblies including rod members extending during use between half rings and through at least some of the holes in the half rings, and fasteners for securing each half ring to one or more tie rods, for maintaining spacing between the half rings during use.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

A bone fixator apparatus for fixation of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities comprising: (a) a plurality of half rings, each having inner and outer annular curved surfaces, and spaced parallel, flat upper and lower surfaces, each half ring being made of a plastic-carbon composite material, the half rings being selectively connectable to form pairs that define multiple rings upon assembly such as by bolting, each ring defining a plane; (b) the plastic-carbon composite half rings including one or more carbon fiber braid members oriented generally parallel to the plane of the half ring; (c) a plurality of holes spaced along the half rings; (d) circumferential reinforcement means positioned adjacent the holes for strengthening the half ring adjacent the holes; and (e) a plurality of tie rods assemblies including rod members extending during use between half rings and through at least some of the holes in the half rings, and fasteners for securing each half ring to one or more tie rods, for maintaining spacing between the half rings during use.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the end portions of each half ring are molded with the ring, but out of the plane of the ring.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the half ring is of a molded material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 2 or 3 wherein the rings are carbon fiber reinforced epoxy.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 145 words

A bone fixator apparatus for fixation of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities, comprising: (a) a plurality of generally circular rings, each having inner and outer curved surfaces, and generally flat, parallel space upper and lower surfaces; (b) a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in each ring extending between the upper and lower flat surfaces; (c) at least one of the rings being of a composite plastic-carbon fiber material; (d) a plurality of tie rod assemblies including rod members extending between the rings and through at least some of the holes in the rings and fasteners removably affixable to the rods for maintaining spacing between the rings during use; and (e) circumferential reinforcement means for reinforcing the rings along at least one of its curved surfaces comprising carbon fibers oriented in the plane of the ring at one of the curved surfaces.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 145 words

A bone fixator apparatus for fixation of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities, comprising: (a) a plurality of generally circular rings, each having inner and outer curved surfaces, and generally flat, parallel space upper and lower surfaces; (b) a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in each ring extending between the upper and lower flat surfaces; (c) at least one of the rings being of a composite plastic-carbon fiber material; (d) a plurality of tie rod assemblies including rod members extending between the rings and through at least some of the holes in the rings and fasteners removably affixable to the rods for maintaining spacing between the rings during use; and (e) circumferential reinforcement means for reinforcing the rings along at least one of its curved surfaces comprising carbon fibers oriented in the plane of the ring at one of the curved surfaces.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the circumferentially spaced openings are reinforced with random carbon fiber placement adjacent the holes.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plastic-carbon fiber composite ring has a flexural rigidity of between about 2.0×10 4 and 5.0×10 5 pounds-inch 2 .

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plastic-carbon fiber composite ring is carbon fiber reinforced epoxy.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the ring is machined from laminated plates of carbon reinforced epoxy.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rings are of a molded carbon fiber reinforced epoxy.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 85 words

A method of forming radiolucent rings and half rings for use in bone fixation for the fixture of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities wherein tie rods and fasteners maintain spacing between two or more half rings or rings during use, comprising the steps of: (a) laminating a plurality of plates of carbon reinforced epoxy material; (b) machining the laminated plates to a final desired ring or half ring shape; and (c) drilling a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes in each ring.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 85 words

A method of forming radiolucent rings and half rings for use in bone fixation for the fixture of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities wherein tie rods and fasteners maintain spacing between two or more half rings or rings during use, comprising the steps of: (a) laminating a plurality of plates of carbon reinforced epoxy material; (b) machining the laminated plates to a final desired ring or half ring shape; and (c) drilling a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes in each ring.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method of claim 11 wherein in step "b", the final shape is a half ring, and the half ring is formed with two free end portions, each with an offset step portion that permits overlapping of two half rings at their respective offset step portions to form a single ring with a single ring plane, and further comprising the step of drilling a hole in each offset step portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 11 wherein the laminated plates have carbon fibers oriented at various angles with quasi-isotropic elastic properties.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 11 wherein the modulus of elasticity is about nine million p.s.i.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 100 words

A method of forming radiolucent rings and half rings for use in bone fixation for the fixture of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities wherein tie rods and fasteners maintain spacing between two or more rings during use, comprising the steps of: (a) molding a ring body of a composite of plastic and graphite fibers into a desired ring or half ring shape with a mold having a cavity wherein a sufficient number of graphite fibers are oriented in the plane of the ring to produce a flexural rigidity of at least 2.0×10 4 pounds-inch 2 .

Claim 19

Independent Claim 100 words

A method of forming radiolucent rings and half rings for use in bone fixation for the fixture of fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities wherein tie rods and fasteners maintain spacing between two or more rings during use, comprising the steps of: (a) molding a ring body of a composite of plastic and graphite fibers into a desired ring or half ring shape with a mold having a cavity wherein a sufficient number of graphite fibers are oriented in the plane of the ring to produce a flexural rigidity of at least 2.0×10 4 pounds-inch 2 .

Claim 20

Independent Claim 85 words

A method of forming radiolucent rings and half rings lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities wherein tie rods and fasteners maintain spacing between two or more rings during use, comprising the steps of: (a) a mold defining the desired ring or half-ring shape is provided and a graphite fiber reinforcement braid is placed in the mold and circumferentially about the mold; and (b) using a plurality of cylindrical posts within the mold cavity to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in the ring.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 85 words

A method of forming radiolucent rings and half rings lengthening, and the correction of bone deformities wherein tie rods and fasteners maintain spacing between two or more rings during use, comprising the steps of: (a) a mold defining the desired ring or half-ring shape is provided and a graphite fiber reinforcement braid is placed in the mold and circumferentially about the mold; and (b) using a plurality of cylindrical posts within the mold cavity to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in the ring.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 16 wherein there are two graphite reinforcement braids placed respectively on opposite sides of a circumferential line that intersects the plurality of posts.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 17 wherein the mold is ring-like in shape, having innermost and an outermost respective circumferential edge portions and the graphite reinforcement braids are positioned respectively at the innermost circumferential edge of the mold and at the outermost circumferential edge of the mold.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of placing random carbon fiber material generally between the two graphite reinforcement braids.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 15 or 16 further comprising the step of selecting a section modulus for the ring so that the ring is stronger than a comparably shaped steel ring of the same or greater weight.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 15 or 16 further comprising the steps of reinforcing the holds by placing sleeves over each of the posts prior to molding, and molding the sleeves to the ring element as part of the ring element.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 21 wherein the sleeves are of a polymer material.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 15 or 16 wherein in step "a" multiple rings are formed in the mold by placing spacer layers between adjacent, stacked rings.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 21 wherein some of the rings are of different sizes.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 15 or 16 wherein a full ring is formed that can be divided into two half rings.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-11-04	1995-05-06	1995-11-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-11-04	1999-05-06	1999-11-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-11-04	2003-05-06	2003-11-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for the fixation of bone fractures, limb lengthening and the correction of deformities

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