External fixation assembly and method of use
First Claim
1. A method for applying external fixation to a bone defect comprising the steps of:
- A. inserting a fixator pin through a skin opening and into bone, the pin comprisingi. a hollow shaft having an insertion end for insertion into the bone and an attachment end for positioning externally to the bone for communication with a vacuum source, said shaft forming a bore that extends along a longitudinal axis of the shaft and having a port in communication with the bore;
ii. a threaded section of the shaft for securing the pin in the bone; and
iii. a plurality of apertures that extend through a wall of the shaft in fluid communication with the bore, said apertures located proximate a region of the attachment end and external to the insertion end to provide a plurality of apertures for communication with a location external to the bone;
B. connecting the pin to a fixator device;
C. positioning a porous reduced-pressure distribution element around the pin, said porous reduced-pressure distribution element adapted to distribute negative pressure;
D. covering the skin opening and the porous reduced-pressure distribution element with a removable cover to create a sealed enclosure around the pin, the cover disposed at a location relative to the apertures of the pin such that the enclosure communicates with the apertures to provide negative pressure to the enclosure through the apertures;
E. connecting a vacuum source with the hollow shaft of the pin via a flexible tube removably connectable with the port on the pin to supply negative pressure to the pin; and
F. activating the vacuum source to apply a reduced pressure to the sealed enclosure through the pin apertures.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An external fixation assembly includes a plurality of hollow pins that are inserted into a patient'"'"'s bone. Each pin has an interior bore and a plurality of apertures extending through the pin wall from the bore. The pin may be coupled to a source of vacuum pressure operable to create reduced pressure in the tissue surrounding the pin. A cover is placed around the pin and sealed to provide a fluid-tight enclosure that maintains reduced pressure around the pin. A method for applying external fixation using the fixator pins described above includes the steps of inserting each pin through a skin opening, positioning the pin apertures near selected tissue, covering the skin opening with a sealed enclosure, connecting the pins to a source of vacuum pressure, and activating the source of vacuum pressure to create reduced pressure in the patient'"'"'s tissue at or near the bone.
503 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for applying external fixation to a bone defect comprising the steps of:
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A. inserting a fixator pin through a skin opening and into bone, the pin comprising i. a hollow shaft having an insertion end for insertion into the bone and an attachment end for positioning externally to the bone for communication with a vacuum source, said shaft forming a bore that extends along a longitudinal axis of the shaft and having a port in communication with the bore; ii. a threaded section of the shaft for securing the pin in the bone; and iii. a plurality of apertures that extend through a wall of the shaft in fluid communication with the bore, said apertures located proximate a region of the attachment end and external to the insertion end to provide a plurality of apertures for communication with a location external to the bone; B. connecting the pin to a fixator device; C. positioning a porous reduced-pressure distribution element around the pin, said porous reduced-pressure distribution element adapted to distribute negative pressure; D. covering the skin opening and the porous reduced-pressure distribution element with a removable cover to create a sealed enclosure around the pin, the cover disposed at a location relative to the apertures of the pin such that the enclosure communicates with the apertures to provide negative pressure to the enclosure through the apertures; E. connecting a vacuum source with the hollow shaft of the pin via a flexible tube removably connectable with the port on the pin to supply negative pressure to the pin; and F. activating the vacuum source to apply a reduced pressure to the sealed enclosure through the pin apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification