Apparatus for distracting or compressing longitudinal bone segments

• US 3,900,025 A
• Filed: 04/24/1974
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter P. Barnes Jr
• Original Assignee: Walter P. Barnes Jr
• Inventors: Barnes, Walter P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/463,463
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 128/92D,92R,92A,92G,92E,84R,84B,85
• US Class Current: 606/71
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8004 with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones

Abstract

An orthopedic apparatus for selectively distracting or compressing contiguous longitudinal bone segments comprising a first and second support member each of which can be placed longitudinally coextensively adjacent respective bone segments. A first longitudinal bore extends within the first support member for receiving and threadably engaging one portion of a threaded driving rod, and a second longitudinal bore, axially aligned with the first longitudinal bore, extends within the second support member for receiving and threadably engaging another portion of the threaded driving rod. Upon rotation of the threaded driving rod the first and second support members are longitudinally simultaneously adjusted. The apparatus can be inserted into the limb according to standard orthopedic surgical procedures and then mounted adjacent the bone segments after which the support members are periodically adjusted to stimulate the growth of new bone matter between the distracted bone segments. A method for distracting longitudinal bone segments by insertably mounting an adjustable distracting apparatus adjacent longitudinal bone segments and periodically adjusting the apparatus to stimulate a build up of new bone growth between the bone segments.

Claims

1. An orthopedic apparatus of a size for implantation within a limb in direct contact with a bone for selectively positioning contiguous longitudinal bone segments, said apparatus comprising:

a first elongated support member;

a second elongated support member;

means on said first support member for placement longitudinally adjacent one of said bone segments in direct contact therewith;

means on said second support member for placement longitudinally adjacent another bone segment contiguous to said one bone segment and in direct contact therewith and substantially longitudinally aligned with said first support member;

means for releasably mounting said first and second support members to said bone segments;

a manually operable adjusting member;

means on said first and second support members for imparting longitudinal movement to one of said support members in response to operation of said adjusting member and for maintaining substantial longituDinal alignment of said first and second support members; and

, means for preventing rotational movement of said first and second support members during said longitudinal movement thereof.

2. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said placement means on said first and second support members comprises a concave contoured surface on each of said support members.

3. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said releasable-mounting means on said first and second support members comprises:

a plurality of pin members for placement within said bone segments; and

, a plurality of apertures in said first and second support members for receiving said pin members.

4. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and comprising:

means mounting said adjusting member for rotational movement in response to operation thereof; and

, said movement-imparting means includes means for imparting longitudinal movement in respective opposed directions to said first and second support members in response to rotational movement of said adjusting member.

5. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

each support member includes a first portion and a second portion;

said first portion having means for placement longitudinally adjacent a respective bone segment; and

, said rotation-preventing means comprises means on each second portion for slidably connecting the second portion of one support member to the second portion of the other support member.

6. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said adjusting member includes driving gear means; and

, said movement-imparting means comprises first and second gear means on the respective second portions of the first and second support members for simultaneous engagement with said driving gear means.

7. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 6, and further including movement-restricting means for permitting longitudinal movement of the support members in a first set of opposed directions while preventing longitudinal movement in a second set of opposed directions opposite of said first set.

8. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 7, and comprising:

means for mounting said movement-restricting means in a first position in which said movement-restricting means permits diverging longitudinal movement of the support members while preventing converging longitudinal movement thereof; and

, means for mounting said movement-restricting means in a second position in which said movement-restricting means prevents diverging longitudinal movement of the support members while permitting converging longitudinal movement thereof.

9. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said movement-restricting means includes:

a gear on one of said support members;

a pawl;

means for mounting said pawl in a first position on said one support member for a first biased engagement with said gear; and

, means for mounting said pawl in a second position on said one support member for a second biased engagement with said gear.

10. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said rotation-preventing means comprises:

a first bore extending longitudinally within said first support member;

a second bore extending longitudinally within said second support member and axially aligned with said first bore;

a rod having opposed end portions;

means for fixing one end portion of said rod to said first bore; and

, means for slidably mounting another end portion of said rod to said second bore.

11. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said adjusting member comprises a threaded second rod including first and second oppositely threaded sections.

12. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said rotational-movement mounting means comprises:

a third bore extending longitudinally within said first support member; and

, a fourth bore extending longitudinally within said second support member and axially aligned with said third bore.

13. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said movement-imparting means comprises:

means on said third bore for threadably engaging said first threaded section; and

, means on said fourth bore for threadably engaging said second threaded section.

14. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said movement-imparting means further includes means for imparting longitudinal movement to one of said support members in response to rotational movement of said adjusting member.

15. An orthopedic apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said adjusting member comprises a threaded second rod including first and second opposed end portions;

said rotational-movement mounting means comprises;

a. a third bore extending longitudinally within said first support member; and

, b. a fourth bore extending longitudinally within said second support member and axially aligned with said third bore; and

, said movement-imparting means comprises;

a. means on said fourth bore for threadably engaging said first end portion of said threaded second rod;

b. a first gear;

c. means mounting said first gear to said first support member for rotational movement of the first gear; and

, means mounting said second end portion of the threaded second rod within said third bore for imparting longitudinal movement to said second support member in response to rotational movement of said first gear.