External fixation connection rod for rapid and gradual adjustment
First Claim
1. A connecting rod for an external fixation device, the connecting rod defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a telescopic housing comprising a housing body having an axial bore defined therethrough;
an inner sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore of the telescopic housing, the inner sleeve and the telescopic housing being releasably coupled by a fastener, the inner sleeve comprising;
a sleeve body having an axial bore defined therethrough;
an indexing flange coupled to a distal end of the sleeve body; and
a tip coupled to a distal surface of the indexing flange;
an adjustment mechanism disposed about the tip of the inner sleeve, the adjustment mechanism comprising;
a first rotating member having an axial bore defined therethrough, the axial bore comprising;
a polygonal recess in a distal end; and
an inner recess in a proximal end operable to receive the indexing flange of the inner sleeve;
a second rotating member having a threaded axial bore defined therethrough, the second rotating member comprising;
a polygonal head at a distal end operable to mate with the polygonal recess of the first rotating member; and
a proximal portion comprising an inner recess operable to receive the tip of the inner sleeve;
a biasing member placed adjacent to the proximal portion of the second rotating member; and
an externally threaded elongated member threadably coupled within the second rotating member of the adjustment mechanism;
wherein in a first, locked position, the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member receives the indexing flange of the inner sleeve, thereby preventing the adjustment mechanism from rotating about the inner sleeve and the elongated member;
wherein in a second, unlocked position, the first rotating member is distally translated relative to the second rotating member and the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member disengages from the indexing flange of the inner sleeve, thereby allowing the adjustment mechanism to rotate about the inner sleeve and the elongated member;
wherein when the adjustment mechanism is rotated about the inner sleeve and the elongated member, the elongated member is translated within the axial bore defined in the inner sleeve during gradual adjustment, thereby lengthening or shortening an overall length of the connecting rod; and
wherein when the adjustment mechanism is rotated about the inner sleeve and the elongated member, the adjustment mechanism is biased by the biasing member to return to the first, locked position when the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member aligns with and receives the indexing flange of the inner sleeve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An external fixation connection rod that allows for rapid and gradual length adjustment. In some embodiments, the fixation connection rod includes an inner sleeve received within a telescopic rod to allow for rapid adjustment of an overall length of the fixation connection rod. In some embodiments, the fixation connection rod includes an adjustment mechanism to allow for gradual adjustment of the overall length of the fixation connection rod by lengthening or shortening a threaded elongated member within the inner sleeve, and the adjustment mechanism includes a first rotation member, a second rotation member, and a spring. Distal translation of the first rotation member relative to the second rotation member allows the adjustment mechanism to move from a first, locked position to a second, unlocked position, allowing the first rotation member and the second rotation member to rotate about the inner sleeve and the threaded elongated member during gradual adjustment.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A connecting rod for an external fixation device, the connecting rod defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
-
a telescopic housing comprising a housing body having an axial bore defined therethrough; an inner sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore of the telescopic housing, the inner sleeve and the telescopic housing being releasably coupled by a fastener, the inner sleeve comprising; a sleeve body having an axial bore defined therethrough; an indexing flange coupled to a distal end of the sleeve body; and a tip coupled to a distal surface of the indexing flange; an adjustment mechanism disposed about the tip of the inner sleeve, the adjustment mechanism comprising; a first rotating member having an axial bore defined therethrough, the axial bore comprising; a polygonal recess in a distal end; and an inner recess in a proximal end operable to receive the indexing flange of the inner sleeve; a second rotating member having a threaded axial bore defined therethrough, the second rotating member comprising; a polygonal head at a distal end operable to mate with the polygonal recess of the first rotating member; and a proximal portion comprising an inner recess operable to receive the tip of the inner sleeve; a biasing member placed adjacent to the proximal portion of the second rotating member; and an externally threaded elongated member threadably coupled within the second rotating member of the adjustment mechanism; wherein in a first, locked position, the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member receives the indexing flange of the inner sleeve, thereby preventing the adjustment mechanism from rotating about the inner sleeve and the elongated member; wherein in a second, unlocked position, the first rotating member is distally translated relative to the second rotating member and the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member disengages from the indexing flange of the inner sleeve, thereby allowing the adjustment mechanism to rotate about the inner sleeve and the elongated member; wherein when the adjustment mechanism is rotated about the inner sleeve and the elongated member, the elongated member is translated within the axial bore defined in the inner sleeve during gradual adjustment, thereby lengthening or shortening an overall length of the connecting rod; and wherein when the adjustment mechanism is rotated about the inner sleeve and the elongated member, the adjustment mechanism is biased by the biasing member to return to the first, locked position when the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member aligns with and receives the indexing flange of the inner sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of adjusting the position of first and second external fixation devices, comprising:
providing a connecting rod having a longitudinal axis and comprising; a telescopic housing comprising a housing body having an axial bore defined therethrough; an inner sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore of the telescopic housing, the inner sleeve and the telescopic housing being releasably coupled by a fastener, the inner sleeve comprising; a sleeve body having an axial bore defined therethrough; an indexing flange coupled to a distal end of the sleeve body; and a tip coupled to a distal surface of the indexing flange; an adjustment mechanism disposed about the tip of the inner sleeve, the adjustment mechanism comprising; a first rotating member having an axial bore defined therethrough, the axial bore comprising;
a polygonal recess in a distal end; and
an inner recess in a proximal end operable to receive the indexing flange of the inner sleeve;a second rotating member having a threaded axial bore defined therethrough, the second rotating member comprising;
a polygonal head at a distal end operable to mate with the polygonal recess of the first rotating member; and
a proximal portion comprising an inner recess operable to receive the tip of the inner sleeve;a biasing member placed adjacent to the proximal portion of the second rotating member; and an externally threaded elongated member threadably coupled within the second rotating member of the adjustment mechanism; receiving the indexing flange of the inner sleeve into the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member, thereby preventing the adjustment mechanism from rotating about the inner sleeve and the elongated member in a first, locked position; translating the first rotating member relative to the second rotating member and the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member along the longitudinal axis of the connecting rode and rotating the first rotating member about the inner sleeve, thereby disengaging the first rotating member from the indexing flange of the inner sleeve and allowing the adjustment mechanism to rotate about the inner sleeve and the elongated member in a second, unlocked position; rotating the adjustment mechanism about the inner sleeve and the elongated member, thereby translating the elongated member within the axial bore defined in the inner sleeve during gradual adjustment of an overall length of the connecting rod; and biasing the biasing member to return to the first, locked position when the adjustment mechanism is rotated about the inner sleeve and the elongated member and when the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member aligns with and receives the indexing flange of the inner sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
Specification