System for measuring stiffness of a fractured bone
First Claim
1. In combination, for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced clamps each of which was fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two spaced bone screws, and wherein the external fixation and said spaced clamps have been removed for a goniometer evaluation of bone-strength;
- said combination comprising;
(a) a bone-screw clamp having two jaw members and two bolts on spaced alignments through both jaw members, for fixing said jaw members in simultaneous squeezing engagement with two bone screws on one longitudinal side of the fracture;
(b) a bracket having a flat base with bolt apertures spaced for registry with said bolts, whereby to clamp said base on one side of one of said jaw members upon securing said bone-screw clamp to the engaged two bone screws;
said bracket having a headed body portion extending away from said base, said body portion having a bore inclined at an acute angle to the plane of said flat base;
(c) a stiff arcuate arm member of radius at least twice the diameter of the fractured bone, said arm member being adjustably positionable in the bore of said headed part, and selectively operable means for securing said arm member to said bracket in an adjusted position thereof; and
(d) a goniometer-end mount having a selectively lockable ball-joint connection to a base unit, wherein the base unit has an elongate bore for adjustable positioning of said base unit along said arm member, and selectively operable means for clamping said base unit to said arm member in an adjusted position thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bone-stiffness measuring instrument comprises a set or kit of readily assembled and adjusted components, namely a goniometer, a light-weight load cell, and a small computer package, adapted to continuously respond to the outputs of the load cell and goniometer and to display and/or record (i.e., store) measured stiffness data; plus hardware in duplicate, namely, a bone-screw clamp and bracket for fixed reference to bone-screws that are externally exposed on each of the respective sides of the fracture (following removal of an external fixator), a stiff arcuate arm member of radius at least twice the diameter of the fractured bone, and a goniometer-end mount. The arcuate arm member is adjustably fixed to the bracket for bone-screw reference, and the goniometer-end mount is also adjustably fixed to the arcuate arm member, with a releasably lockable ball-joint connection for adjusted orientation of an end mounting to the goniometer.
19 Citations
45 Claims
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1. In combination, for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced clamps each of which was fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two spaced bone screws, and wherein the external fixation and said spaced clamps have been removed for a goniometer evaluation of bone-strength;
- said combination comprising;
(a) a bone-screw clamp having two jaw members and two bolts on spaced alignments through both jaw members, for fixing said jaw members in simultaneous squeezing engagement with two bone screws on one longitudinal side of the fracture; (b) a bracket having a flat base with bolt apertures spaced for registry with said bolts, whereby to clamp said base on one side of one of said jaw members upon securing said bone-screw clamp to the engaged two bone screws;
said bracket having a headed body portion extending away from said base, said body portion having a bore inclined at an acute angle to the plane of said flat base;(c) a stiff arcuate arm member of radius at least twice the diameter of the fractured bone, said arm member being adjustably positionable in the bore of said headed part, and selectively operable means for securing said arm member to said bracket in an adjusted position thereof; and (d) a goniometer-end mount having a selectively lockable ball-joint connection to a base unit, wherein the base unit has an elongate bore for adjustable positioning of said base unit along said arm member, and selectively operable means for clamping said base unit to said arm member in an adjusted position thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- said combination comprising;
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16. A kit of adjustably connectable components for use in selective mounting of one of two longitudinal ends of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced clamps each of which was fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two spaced bone screws, and wherein the external fixation and said spaced clamps have been removed for goniometer evaluation of bone strength;
- said kit comprising;
(a) a bone-screw clamp having two jaw men%bets and two bolts on spaced alignments through both jaw members, for fixing said jaw members in simultaneous squeezing engagement with two bone screws on one longitudinal side of the fracture; (b) a bracket having a flat base with bolt apertures spaced for registry with said bolts, whereby to clamp said base on one side of one of said jaw members upon securing said bone-screw clamp to the engaged two bone screws;
said bracket having a headed body portion extending away from said base, said body portion having a bore inclined at an acute angle to the plane of said flat base;(c) a stiff arcuate arm member of radius at least twice the diameter of the fractured bone, said arm member being adjustably positionable in the bore of said headed part, and selectively operable means for securing said arm member to said bracket in an adjusted position thereof; and (d) a goniometer-end mount having a selectively lockable ball-joint connection to a base unit, wherein the base unit has an elongate bore for adjustable positioning of said base unit along said arm member, and selectively operable means for clamping said base unit to said arm member in an adjusted position thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- said kit comprising;
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33. In combination, for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced clamps each of which was fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two spaced bone screws, and wherein the external fixation and said spaced clamps have been removed for a goniometer evaluation of bone-strength;
- said combination comprising
(a) a bone-screw clamp having two jaw members and two bolts on spaced alignments through both jaw members, for fixing said jaw members in simultaneous squeezing engagement with two bone screws on one longitudinal side of the fracture; (b) a bracket having a flat base with bolt apertures spaced for registry with said bolts, whereby to clamp said base on one side of one of said jaw members upon securing said bone-screw clamp to the engaged two bone screws;
said bracket having a headed body portion extending away from said base, said body portion having a bore inclined at an acute angle to the plane of said flat base;(c) a stiff arcuate arm member of radius at least twice the diameter of the fractured bone, said arm member being adjustably positionable in the bore of said headed part, and selectively operable means for securing said arm member to said bracket in an adjusted position thereof; and (d) a goniometer-end mount having a ball-joint connection to a base unit, wherein the base unit has an elongate bore for adjustable positioning of said base unit along said arm member, and selectively operable means for clamping said ball-joint connection and for clamping said base unit to said arm member.
- said combination comprising
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34. A kit of adjustably connectable components for use in selectively mounting of one of two longitudinal ends of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced clamps each of which was fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two spaced bone screws, and wherein the external fixation and said spaced clamps have been removed for goniometer evaluation of bone strength;
- said kit comprising;
(a) a bone-screw clamp having two jaw members and two bolts on spaced alignments through both jaw members, for fixing said jaw members in simultaneous squeezing engagement with two bone screws on one longitudinal side of the fracture; (b) a bracket having a flat base with bolt apertures spaced for registry with said bolts, whereby to clamp said base on one side of one of said jaw members upon securing said bone-screw clamp to the engaged two bone screws;
said bracket having a headed body portion extending away from said base, said body portion having a bore inclined at an acute angle to the plane of said flat base;(c) a stiff arcuate arm member of radius at least twice the diameter of the fractured bone, said arm member being adjustably positionable in the bore of said headed part, and selectively operable means for securing said arm member to said bracket in an adjusted position thereof; and (d) a goniometer-end mount having a ball-joint connection to a base unit, wherein the base unit has an elongate bore for adjustable positioning of said base unit along said arm member, and selectively operable means for clamping said ball-joint connection and for clamping said base unit to said arm member.
- said kit comprising;
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35. In combination, for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced locations each of which was fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two spaced bone screws, and wherein external fixation has been disconnected for a goniometer evaluation of bone-strength;
- said combination comprising;
(a) a goniometer-end mount adapted for longitudinally orienting one end of an elongate goniometer, said mount including level-sensitive indicating means for an alignment transverse to the mounted longitudinal orientation of a goniometer end; (b) rigid base structure including selectively operable adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigid reference of said base unit to the bone screws at one of said locations; and (c) means including a selectively clampable ball-joint connection operative between said goniometer-end mount and said rigid base structure.
- said combination comprising;
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36. In combination, for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evalution of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, (i) wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced clamps each of which has been fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two bone screws, (ii) wherein the respective clamps and their respective bone screws are at opposite longitudinal offset from the fracture, and (iii) where the external fixation has been disconnected for a goniometer evaluation of bone-strength;
- said combination comprising;
(a) a goniometer-end mount having upper structure for keyed longitudinal accommodation and for generally horizontal orientation of one end of an elongate goniometer in a vertical plane which includes the elongation axis of the bone; (b) said mount having lower structure connected to said upper structure and including selectively adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigid bone-screw referenced positioning of said upper structure in external vertical offset above the bone and on the same longitudinal side of the fracture as the side of the associated bone screws; and (c) said mount further including level-sensing means adjacent said one end and oriented to sense tilt of said one end about the longitudinal axis at said one end.
- said combination comprising;
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37. In combination, for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of an elongate bone via first and second clamps which are referenced to the bone at longitudinally spaced locations along the bone, said combination comprising:
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(a) a goniometer-end mount having upper structure for keyed longitudinal accommodation and for generally horizontal orientation of one end of an elongate goniometer in a vertical plane which includes the elongation axis of the bone between said spaced locations; (b) said mount having lower structure connected to said upper structure and including selectively adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigid bone-screw referenced positioning said upper structure in external vertical offset above the bone at the longitudinal location of said one clamp; and (c) said mount further including level-sensing means adjacent said one end and oriented to sense tilt of said one end about the longitudinal axis at said one end.
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38. In combination, for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of an elongate bone via first and second clamps which are referenced to the bone at longitudinally spaced locations along the bone, said combination comprising:
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(a) a goniometer-end mount having first structure for keyed longitudinal accommodation and for generally horizontal orientation of one end of an elongate goniometer in a vertical plane which includes the elongation axis of the bone between said spaced locations; (b) said mount having second structure connected to said first structure and including selectively adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigidly referenced connection to one of said clamps and positioning said first structure in external vertical offset with respect to the bone at the longitudinal location of said one clamp; and (c) said mount further including level-sensing means adjacent said one end and oriented to sense tilt of said one end about the longitudinal axis at said one end. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A kit of adjustably connectable components for use in selective mounting of one of two longitudinal ends of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced locations each of which was fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two spaced bone screws, and wherein the external fixation has been disconnected for a goniometer evalution of bone-strength;
- said kit comprising;
(a) a goniometer-end mount adapted for longitudinally orienting one end of an elongate goniometer, said mount including level-sensitive indicating means for an alignment transverse to the mounted longitudinal orientation of a goniometer end; (b) rigid base structure including selectively operable adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigid reference of said base unit to the bone screws at one of said locations; and (c) means including a selectively clampable ball-joint connection operatively between said goniometer-end mount and said rigid base structure.
- said kit comprising;
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41. A kit of adjustably connectable components for use in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of a bone fracture which has been under external fixation for a period of bone-recovery time, (i) wherein the external fixation has been between longitudinally spaced clamps each of which has been fixed to externally projecting ends of at least two bone screws, (ii) wherein the respective clamps and their respective bone screws are at opposite longitudinal offsets from the fracture, and (iii) wherein the external fixation has been disconnected for a goniometer evaluation of bone-strength;
- said kit comprising;
(a) a goniometer-end mount having upper structure for keyed longitudinal accommodation and for generally horizontal orientation of one end of an elongation goniometer in a vertical plane which includes the elongation axis of the bone; (b) said mount having lower structure connected to said upper structure and including selectively adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigid bone-screw referenced positioning of said upper structure in external vertical offset above the bone and on the same longitudinal side of the fracture as the side of the associated bone screws; and (c) said mount further including level-sensing means adjacent said one end and oriented to sense tilt of said one end about the longitudinal axis at said one end.
- said kit comprising;
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42. A kit of adjustably connectable components for use in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of an elongate bone via first and second clamps which are referenced to the bone at longitudinally spaced locations along the bone, said kit comprising:
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(a) a goniometer-end mount having upper structure for keyed longitudinal accommodation and for generally horizontal orientation of one end of an elongate goniometer in a vertical plane which includes the elongation axis of the bone between said spaced locations; (b) said mount having lower structure connected to said upper structure and including selectively adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigid bone-screw referenced positioning of said upper structure in external vertical offset above the bone at the longitudinal location of said one clamp; and (c) said mount further including level-sensing means adjacent said one end and oriented to sense tilt of said one end about the longitudinal axis at said one end.
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43. A kit of adjustably connectable components for use in duplicate in selective mounting of a bending-stress goniometer in an evaluation of the strength of an elongate bone via first and second clamps which are referenced to the bone at longitudinally spaced locations along the bone, said kit comprising:
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(a) a goniometer-end mount having first structure for keyed longitudinal accommodation and for generally horizontal orientation of one end of an elongate goniometer in a vertical plane which includes the elongation axis of the bone between said spaced locations; (b) said mount having second structure connected to said first structure and including selectively adjustable and releasably clampable means for rigid bone-screw referenced positioning said first structure in external vertical offset with respect to the bone at the longitudinal location of said one clamp; and (c) said mount further including level-sensing means adjacent said one end and oriented to sense tilt of said one end about the longitudinal axis at said one end. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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Specification