US5087258A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ring splint to set, affix and regulate the tension position of bone segments
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-06-04
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Granted: 1992-02-11
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Expires: 2008-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A fixation device for fractured bones includes a pair of spaced arcuate supports having square or rectangular cross sections. Each of the supports is embraced by a plurality of first U-shaped holders and a plurality of second U-shaped holders, and the holders can be releasably clamped at selected positions along the supports. The first holders carry pivotable and rotatable guides, and the guides are provided with passages which receive wires to be anchored in a bone. The wires are threaded throughout their lengths and the free ends of the wires project outwardly of the guides and are provided with tensioning nuts. Additional nuts for holding the wires in position may be disposed on the central portions of the wires. Each of the second holders of one support is connected to a respective second holder of the other support by way of a strut. Each strut has slotted sleeves adjacent to the corresponding second holders and the ends of the sleeves nearest the second holders define ball-and-socket joints with the latter. The opposite ends of the sleeves are internally threaded and receive externally threaded adjusting elements designed to permit changes in the lengths of the struts. The slots in the sleeves allow the ball-and-socket joints as well as the adjusting elements to be fixed in predetermined positions by means of screws which pass through the slots. The adjusting elements of each strut are connected by a carrier including a pair of spaced columns which define a longitudinally extending gap on the strut axis. One or more anchors for additional wires are mounted on the respective carriers so as to be shiftable relative thereto. The additional wires extend through the corresponding gaps into the bone.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Schewior
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/60; A61B17/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
A ring splint for setting and fixing bones and regulating stress in the same, comprising a pair of spaced, arcuate members each of which constitutes a ring or ring segment, said arcuate members having rectangular or square cross sections; a plurality of elongated struts connecting said arcuate members to one another and having respective longitudinal axes, each of said struts including a pair of tension sleeves, and each of said tension sleeves having a first bearing portion for adjustably coupling the associated strut to one of said arcuate members and a second bearing portion spaced from the respective first bearing portion, at least one bearing portion of each strut being designed to permit angular adjustment of the respective strut, and each of said struts further including an interchangeable, spindle-like element receivable in a respective second bearing portion for rotation relative thereto so as to adjust the length of the respective strut, each of said struts being provided with a slit-like gap which extends along the longitudinal axis thereof; a plurality of wires for holding a bone in a predetermined position, said wires being provided with continuous threads; a plurality of wire bearings each of which includes a U-shaped element designed to embrace one of said arcuate members in such a manner as to be shiftable along the respective arcuate member, each of said wire bearings a further including a perforated element having a passage for one of said wires, said U-shaped elements and perforated elements being provided with cooperating connecting portions for rotatably connecting a U-shaped element to the respective perforated element in a plug-like fashion, and each of said wire bearings also including a coupling element receivable in one of said first bearing portions to adjustably couple the respective wire bearing and arcuate member to a corresponding strut; a plurality of fasteners for clamping said U-shaped elements, perforated elements and spindle-like elements; and a plurality of nuts screwable onto said wires so as to tension and guide the same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
A ring splint for setting and fixing bones and regulating stress in the same, comprising a pair of spaced, arcuate members each of which constitutes a ring or ring segment, said arcuate members having rectangular or square cross sections; a plurality of elongated struts connecting said arcuate members to one another and having respective longitudinal axes, each of said struts including a pair of tension sleeves, and each of said tension sleeves having a first bearing portion for adjustably coupling the associated strut to one of said arcuate members and a second bearing portion spaced from the respective first bearing portion, at least one bearing portion of each strut being designed to permit angular adjustment of the respective strut, and each of said struts further including an interchangeable, spindle-like element receivable in a respective second bearing portion for rotation relative thereto so as to adjust the length of the respective strut, each of said struts being provided with a slit-like gap which extends along the longitudinal axis thereof; a plurality of wires for holding a bone in a predetermined position, said wires being provided with continuous threads; a plurality of wire bearings each of which includes a U-shaped element designed to embrace one of said arcuate members in such a manner as to be shiftable along the respective arcuate member, each of said wire bearings a further including a perforated element having a passage for one of said wires, said U-shaped elements and perforated elements being provided with cooperating connecting portions for rotatably connecting a U-shaped element to the respective perforated element in a plug-like fashion, and each of said wire bearings also including a coupling element receivable in one of said first bearing portions to adjustably couple the respective wire bearing and arcuate member to a corresponding strut; a plurality of fasteners for clamping said U-shaped elements, perforated elements and spindle-like elements; and a plurality of nuts screwable onto said wires so as to tension and guide the same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The splint of claim 1, wherein said nuts include pairs of position nuts having polyhedral peripheral surfaces for engagement with a bone, the position nuts of each pair being designed to abut one another when threaded onto one of said wires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The splint of claim 1, wherein said nuts include tension nuts having spherical bearing surfaces and threaded end portions; and further comprising protective caps designed to be screwed onto said end portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The splint of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of elongated, threaded screw sleeves, each of said screw sleeves being receivable in one of said second bearing portions and being designed to receive one of said spindle-like elements, and each of said screw sleeves being provided with at least two longitudinal slits to permit the transmission of clamping forces from a tension sleeve to a spindle-like element by fasteners extending through the longitudinal slits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The splint of claim 1, wherein each of said spindle-like elements is provided with a threaded portion, a flange having a surface or circular opening on the circumference thereof for reception of a key, and an annular groove for reception of a screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The splint of claim 1, further comprising locking elements for said U-shaped elements, each of said locking elements including a carrier plate and a pair of pins mounted on the carrier plate and extending perpendicular thereto, said pins having free ends provided with slits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The splint of claim 1, further comprising additional wire bearings on said struts, threaded spindles connectible to said struts so as to extend in axial direction thereof, and adjusting nuts for adjustment of said additional wire bearings, said adjusting nuts being screwable onto said spindles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The splint of claim 1, wherein each of said struts comprises a pair of elongated carriers extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective strut; and further comprising a transverse frame element for each of said struts, each of said frame elements at least partly surrounding the associated carriers and defining a plane which is normal to the respective longitudinal axis, and each of said frame elements being connectible to an associated spindle-like element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The splint of claim 1, wherein each of said coupling elements comprises two coupling sections having respective longitudinal axes which are inclined to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The splint of claim 1, wherein each of said struts comprise two strut sections which are rotatable relative to one another; and further comprising a coupling for each of said struts connecting the respective strut sections to one another for rotation in opposite directions, each of said couplings being provided with an annular groove for reception of a clamping screw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The splint of claim 1, wherein said arcuate members comprise fibers which are continuously and unidirectionally wound in circumferential direction of said arcuate members, said fibers having plastic sheaths and being embedded in a matrix.
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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) | 1995-02-10 | 1995-08-12 | 1996-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-08-12 | 2000-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-10 | 2003-08-12 | 2004-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |