External fixator
First Claim
1. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
- a distal member configured to be secured to a distal mounting element mounted in a metacarpal bone;
a proximal member configured to be secured to a proximal mounting element mounted in the radius; and
a coupling connecting the proximal member and the distal member,wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the fixator has a length and includes a flexible wire of substantially fixed length, wherein the flexible wire creates a flexible portion of the coupling, and wherein the flexible portion extends along a minor fraction of the length of the fixator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Bone fixators for securing and/or repairing fractures and/or other defects of a distal radius and wrist. The bone fixators may include, among others, (1) a distal mounting element configured to be mounted in a metacarpal bone, or other hand bone, (2) a proximal mounting element configured to be mounted in the radius, the ulna, or other arm bone, (3) a distal member configured to be secured to the distal mounting element, (4) a proximal member configured to be secured to the proximal mounting element, and/or (5) a coupling, connecting the proximal member and the distal member, configured to allow immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and/or translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member.
263 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
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a distal member configured to be secured to a distal mounting element mounted in a metacarpal bone; a proximal member configured to be secured to a proximal mounting element mounted in the radius; and a coupling connecting the proximal member and the distal member, wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the fixator has a length and includes a flexible wire of substantially fixed length, wherein the flexible wire creates a flexible portion of the coupling, and wherein the flexible portion extends along a minor fraction of the length of the fixator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
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at least one distal mounting element configured to be mounted in a metacarpal bone; at least one proximal mounting element configured to be mounted in the radius; a distal member, configured to secure the distal mounting element relative to the distal member; a proximal member, configured to secure the proximal mounting element relative to the proximal member; and a coupling connecting the proximal member and the distal member, wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the coupling includes a substantially linear, flexible wire that allows the coupling to flex at a plurality of positions along the wire, and wherein the coupling has a resiliency provided at least mostly by the wire, and wherein the coupling includes a ball and socket joint. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
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at least one distal mounting element configured to be mounted in a metacarpal bone; at least one proximal mounting element configured to be mounted in the radius; a distal member, configured to secure the distal mounting element relative to the distal member; a proximal member, configured to secure the proximal mounting element relative to the proximal member; and a coupling configured to connect the proximal member and the distal member, wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the coupling has a resiliency that allows the coupling to respond resiliently to flexion, wherein the coupling has a permitted range of flexion that is adjustable without affecting the resiliency, and wherein the coupling is configured such that both the angle and the distance between the proximal member and the distal member may be adjusted independently and then fixed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
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at least one distal mounting element configured to be mounted in a metacarpal bone; at least one proximal mounting element configured to be mounted in the radius; a distal member, configured to secure the distal mounting element relative to the distal member; a proximal member, configured to secure the proximal mounting element relative to the proximal member; and a coupling configured to connect the proximal member and the distal member, wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the coupling has a resiliency that allows the coupling to respond resiliently to flexion, wherein the coupling has a permitted range of flexion that is adjustable without affecting the resiliency, and wherein the coupling is configured such that the vertical angle and the lateral angle between the proximal member and the distal member may be independently adjusted and then fixed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
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at least one distal mounting element configured to be mounted in a metacarpal bone; at least one proximal mounting element configured to be mounted in the radius; a distal member, configured to secure the distal mounting element relative to the distal member; a proximal member, configured to secure the proximal mounting element relative to the proximal member; and a coupling configured to connect the proximal member and the distal member, wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the coupling has a resiliency that allows the coupling to respond resiliently to flexion, wherein the coupling has a permitted range of flexion that is adjustable without affecting the resiliency, and wherein a permitted range of the flexion for a pair of opposing directions is adjustable independently for each direction. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
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a distal member configured to be secured to a distal mounting element mounted in a metacarpal bone; a proximal member configured to be secured to a proximal mounting element mounted in the radius; and a coupling connecting the proximal member and the distal member, wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the coupling includes an elongate member having a flexibility that allows the coupling to flex at a plurality of positions along the elongate member, and wherein the coupling also includes a plurality of discrete annular spacers received on the elongate member and engaged with one another. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A bone fixator for repairing fractures and/or other dislocations of a distal radius and wrist, comprising:
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a distal member configured to be secured to a distal mounting element mounted in a metacarpal bone; a proximal member configured to be secured to a proximal mounting element mounted in the radius; and a coupling connecting the proximal member and the distal member, wherein the coupling is configured to permit immobilization, as well as adjustable flexion, rotation, and translation of the distal member relative to the proximal member, wherein the coupling includes an elongate member having a flexibility that allows the coupling to flex at a plurality of positions along the elongate member, wherein the coupling also includes a plurality of annular spacers received on the elongate member and engaged with one another, and wherein the coupling is configured such that the vertical angle and the lateral angle between the proximal member and the distal member may be independently adjusted and then fixed. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification