Transport carriage for an external fixator

• US 5,725,526 A
• Filed: 03/28/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Traumamark, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanneken, James F., Lakatos, Ronald, Meyers, John E., Allard, Randall N., Jackson, Kenneth S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shai, Daphna
• Application Number:
  US08/623,093
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 606/54, 606/57, 606/58, 606/59, 606/105
• US Class Current: 606/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms

Abstract

The transport carrier of this invention is configured for use with an external fixator having a hexagonal rod. The carrier includes a threaded sleeve which accommodates the hexagonal rod of the fixator. A compressible ball collet and retaining nut are carried by the sleeve and serve to lock the sleeve into position on the rod in a known manner. A clamp is carried by the sleeve and rotationally fixed relative to the rod by a key and key way, yet may shift along the sleeve. The clamp is configured to connect to one or more bone pins using a ball collet and retaining nut to fix the clamp to the pin. The bone pins connect to a bone fragment such that as the clamp shifts along the sleeve, the bone fragment is transported between two portions of a bone. An internally threaded sleeve is carried by the externally threaded sleeve and engages the clamp. Upon rotation of the internally threaded sleeve, the clamp and externally threaded sleeve move longitudinally along the sleeve.

Claims

1. A transport carrier for connection to an external fixation device for use in orthopaedic procedures, the carrier includes a first sleeve being externally threaded, means carried by said first sleeve configured to lock said first sleeve to said external fixation device, a clamp means carried by said first sleeve configured to engage at least one bone pin, second sleeve means being internally threaded and in threaded engagement with said first sleeve and rotatable relative thereto to shift said clamp means along said first sleeve, and means to selectively rotationally fix the second sleeve to the first sleeve.

2. The transport carrier of claim 1 further wherein said clamp means includes a pair of spaced apart rings, wherein the first sleeve extends through an interior of said rings, said second sleeve being positioned between said rings on said first sleeve.

3. The transport carrier of claim 1 further including means to rotationally fix the clamp means relative to the first sleeve.

4. A transport carrier for connection to a non-circular external fixation rod, said carrier including an externally threaded sleeve, a locking device for selectively locking the externally threaded sleeve to said external fixation rod, a clamp having a body and a pair of aligned rings being carried by the externally threaded sleeve such that the externally threaded sleeve extends freely through an interior opening of each of the rings, the clamp including means for accommodating at least one bone pin in clamping engagement relative to the clamp, an internally threaded sleeve being carried by the externally threaded sleeve and in threaded engagement therewith such that as the internally threaded sleeve is rotated relative to the externally threaded sleeve, the internally threaded sleeve shifts longitudinally along the externally threaded sleeve, the internally threaded sleeve being carried on the externally threaded sleeve between the rings of the clamp, and means for selectively rotationally fixing said internally threaded sleeve relative th the externally threaded sleeve.

5. The transport carrier of claim 4 further including means for rotationally fixing the clamp relative to the externally threaded sleeve.

6. A transport carrier for connection to an external fixation device for use in orthopaedic procedures, the carrier includes a first sleeve being externally threaded, means carried by said first sleeve configured to lock said first sleeve to said external fixation device, a clamp means carried by said first sleeve configured to engage at least one bone pin, second sleeve means being internally threaded and in threaded engagement with said first sleeve and rotatable relative thereto to shift said clamp means along said first sleeve, wherein said clamp means includes a pair of spaced apart rings, wherein the first sleeve extends through an interior of said rings, said second sleeve being positioned between said rings on said first sleeve.

7. The transport carrier of claim 6 further including means to rotationally fix the clamp means relative to the first sleeve.

8. The transport carrier of claim 6 further including means to selectively rotationally fix the second sleeve to the first sleeve.