External fixator linkage

• US 20080051685A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MGV Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MGV Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Benenati, Vincent A., Vitale, Michael, Ahmad, Gregory S.
• Application Number:
  US11/509,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051685A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/62 Ring frames, i.e. devices extending around the bones to be positioned A61B17/6433 , A61B17/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/6425 specially adapted to be fitted across a bone joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms

Abstract

Described is a linkage for coupling an external fixtaor to a brace supporting an appendage. The linkage comprises, a pair of mounting members, a pair of first elongate members, a pair of position fixing members, a second pair of elongate members and a pair of quick release mechanisms. The mounting members are selectively coupleable to the external fixator. Each of the first elongate members is rotatably coupled to a corresponding one of the mounting members. Each of the position fixing members includes first and second locking channels for slidably receiving a corresponding one of the first elongate members in the first locking channel. Each of the second elongate members is slidably received in a corresponding one of the second locking channels. The quick release mechanisms couple the pair of the first elongate members to the pair of mounting members.

Claims

1. A linkage for coupling an external fixtaor to a brace supporting an appendage, the linkage comprising:

a pair of mounting members selectively coupleable to the external fixator;

a pair of first elongate members, each of the first elongate members being rotatably coupled to a corresponding one of the mounting members;

a pair of position fixing members, each of the position fixing members including first and second locking channels, each of the position fixing members slidably receiving a corresponding one of the first elongate members in the first locking channel;

a pair of second elongate members, each of the second elongate members slidably received in a corresponding one of the second locking channels; and

a pair of quick release mechanisms coupling the pair of the first elongate members to the pair of mounting members.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the external fixator is a circular fixator.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting members are L-brackets.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the second elongate members includes a connector adapted to couple to a joint connected to the brace.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the position fixing members are blocks and the first and second channels are bores formed therethrough.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the quick release mechanisms are one of pins and quick release handles.

7. A system, comprising:

a brace supporting an appendage;

a joint coupled to the brace; and

a linkage coupling the joint to a circular fixator via a pair of mounting members selectively coupleable to the circular fixator, the linkage comprising a pair of first elongate members, each of the first elongate members rotatably coupled to a corresponding one of the mounting members, the linkage further comprising a pair of position fixing members, each of the position fixing members including first and second locking channels, each of the position fixing members slidably receiving a corresponding one of the first elongate members in the first locking channel, the linkage further comprising a pair of second elongate members, each of the second elongate members slidably received in a corresponding one of the second locking channels, the linkage further comprising a pair of quick release mechanisms coupling the pair of the first elongate members to the pair of mounting members.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the joint is configured to vary an angle between the spatial frame and the brace.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the joint simulates movement of a bodily joint between the appendage and a limb on which the circular fixator is mounted.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the circular fixator is part of one of a Taylor spatial frame and an Ilizarov-Taylor spatial frame.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the brace is one of a boot, a glove, a wrap, a shell, a band and a sleeve.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the joint utilizes a static mode to statically maintain the angle between the circular fixator and the brace.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the joint includes a ratchet mechanism.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein the joint utilizes a dynamic mode to apply a pressure forcing the brace to rotate in a predetermined direction around the joint.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the joint includes one of a spring-loaded gearing mechanism and a resistance-band mechanism.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein the joint is a hinge.

17. A device, comprising:

a circular fixator mountable to a spatial frame;

a linkage including a first portion coupled to the circular fixator and a second portion coupled to the first portion and a joint, the joint being coupled to a brace supporting an appendage; and

a pair of quick release mechanisms coupling the first portion to the circular fixator.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the first and second portions are first and second elongate members arranged substantially perpendicular to each other and slidably coupled to each other via a locking mechanism.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism is a block including a first channel receiving the first elongate member and a second channel receiving the second elongate member, each of the channels including a lock.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein the spatial frame is a Taylor spatial frame.