Clamping pin

• US 8,641,714 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker Trauma SA (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Steiner, Christian, Fiechter, Meinrad, Knuchel, Beat, Burgherr, Vinzenz
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHANAS, JACQUELINE T
• Application Number:
  US13/314,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 606 54- 59, 403/109.1, 403/109.5, 403/109.8, 403/136, 403/191, 403/248, 403/325, 403/374.1, 403/409.1, 403/370, 403367-368, 403/374.3, 285/33, 285/121.2
• US Class Current: 606/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/60 for external osteosynthesis, e.g. distractors, contractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/62 Ring frames, i.e. devices extending around the bones to be positioned A61B17/6433 , A61B17/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32501 Cam or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7064 by wedge or cam

Abstract

A clamping pin is provided for mounting in an opening of a medical device. The clamping pin comprises an axially extending screw, a first clamping element having a surface inclined to a longitudinal screw axis and provides a first part of a clamping section. A second clamping element has a surface inclined to the longitudinal axis and provides a second part of the clamping section which is complementary to the opening in the medical device. The inclined surfaces of the first and second clamping elements contact. A screw extends at least partly through both the first and second clamping elements. The screw engages one of the clamping elements such that the axial distance between the two clamping elements and the diameter of the clamping section that can come in contact with a surface of the opening in the medical device will be changed upon actuation of the screw.

Claims

1. A clamping pin intended to be inserted into and held in an opening of a medical device, wherein the clamping pin comprising:

a screw having a longitudinal axis;

a clamping section being complementary to an opening in a medical device;

a first clamping element having an inclined surface that is inclined to the longitudinal axis and a first part of the clamping section, and

a second clamping element having an inclined surface that is inclined to the longitudinal axis and a second part of the clamping section, the second clamping element having an internal threaded section;

wherein the inclined surface of the first clamping element is in contact with the inclined surface of the second clamping element;

wherein the screw extends only partly through an inner bore of the second clamping element and entirely through an inner bore of the first clamping element and wherein the screw engages the threaded section of the second clamping element inner bore such that the axial distance between the clamping elements and the diameter of the clamping section that can come in contact with a surface of the opening in the medical device will be changed upon actuation of the screw, the second clamping element inner bore receiving a connection module for connecting the clamping pin to a further element;

wherein the clamping pin comprises a compression spring with several windings, which is arranged such that it provides an axial force onto the first clamping element such that said first clamping element is pushed away from the second clamping element such that the diameter (D) of the clamping section decreases, wherein movement of the first clamping element towards the second clamping element against the spring force causes an increased diameter (D) wherein the increased diameter (D) comes into contact with said surface of the opening in order to provide a spring-biased connection between the medical device and the clamping pin and wherein the diameter (D) can be increased further by actuating said screw in order to provide a clamping force.

2. The clamping pin according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the clamping elements comprises an element protruding over an outer circumferential surface thereof or into the circumferential surface, wherein said element can be used to move said first clamping element against the second clamping element.

3. The clamping pin according to claim 2, wherein said protruding element is a lug.

4. The clamping pin according to claim 1, wherein the spring is arranged within a spring room that is provided by an opening in at least one of the clamping elements.

5. The clamping pin according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping element is close in shape by any degree to the second clamping element when viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

6. The clamping pin according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of said clamping elements is circular, rectangular, quadratic, elliptical or polygonal.

7. The clamping pin according to claim 1, wherein two gripping surfaces are arranged angular to each other such that a tool is engageable in order to be rotated.

8. The clamping pin according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the clamping elements comprises a functional section that is adjacent to the clamping sections, wherein the functional section is a clamping structure to clamp a pin or a rod.

9. The clamping pin according to claim 8, wherein the functional section is a cylinder providing an outer surface onto which one of the first or second clamping elements is mountable.

10. The clamping pin as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second clamping elements having an elongated outer surface, said inner bore and said outer surface of the first and second clamping elements defining an inclined wall therebetween having two elongated planar side surfaces, said side surfaces tapering in a radial direction with respect to said longitudinal axis from a first end towards a second end of the inclined wall, a sliding engagement between the first and second clamping elements occurring on facing side surfaces of the first and second clamping elements during movement therebetween in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

11. The clamping pin as set forth in claim 1 wherein the inclined surfaces are planar surfaces and that the clamping section has a circular form as viewed along the longitudinal axis.

12. The clamping pin as set forth in claim 1 wherein the further element is a second clamping pin.

13. A clamping pin arrangement comprising two clamping pins intended to be inserted into and held in an opening of a medical device, wherein each clamping pin comprises

a screw having a longitudinal axis,

a clamping section being complementary to an opening of a medical device;

a first clamping element having an inner bore and an inclined surface that is inclined to the longitudinal axis and a first part of the clamping section, and

a second clamping element having an inner bore and an inclined surface that is inclined to the longitudinal axis and a second part of the clamping section, the second clamping element having a threaded portion,

wherein the inclined surface of the first clamping element is in contact with the inclined surface of the second clamping element

wherein the screw extends entirely through the inner bore of the first clamping element and only partly through the inner bore the second clamping element and threadably engages the threaded portion and entering through the first clamping element and wherein the screw engages in the second clamping element such that the axial distance between the clamping pins and the diameter of the clamping section that can come in contact with a surface of the opening in the medical device will be changed upon actuation of the screw,

wherein the clamping pin comprises a compression spring with several windings, which is arranged such that it provides an axial force onto the first clamping elements such that said first clamping element is pushed away from the second clamping element such that the diameter (D) of the clamping section decreases, wherein movement of the first clamping element towards the second clamping element against the spring force causes an increased diameter (D) wherein the increased diameter (D) comes into contact with said surface of the opening in order to provide a spring-biased connection between the medical device and the clamping pin and wherein the diameter (D) can be increased further by actuating said screw in order to provide a clamping force, wherein said two clamping pins are aligned along the longitudinal axis and connected by means of a connection module.

14. The clamping pin as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first and second clamping elements having an elongated outer surface, said inner bore and said outer surface of the first and second clamping elements defining an inclined wall therebetween having two elongated planar side surfaces, said side surfaces tapering in a radial direction with respect to said longitudinal axis from a first end towards a second end of the inclined wall, a sliding engagement between the first and second clamping elements occurring on facing side surfaces of the first and second clamping elements during movement therebetween in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

15. The clamping pin as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one of the clamping elements comprises an element protruding over an outer circumferential surface thereof, wherein said element can be used to move said first clamping element against or away from the second clamping element.