Fast adjust external fixation connection rod
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;
a first joint coupled to an end portion of the housing body; and
a first rotating member received in the first joint, wherein the first rotating member is operable to rotate relative to the first joint about a first axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, and the first rotating member comprises a first connection mechanism operable to releasably couple the first rotating member to a first ring;
an adjustment sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore, the adjustment sleeve and the telescopic housing being releasably coupled by a fastener; and
an elongated member coupled to the adjustment sleeve, the elongated member comprising;
a rod;
a second joint coupled to an end portion of the rod;
a second rotating member received in the second joint, wherein the second rotating member is operable to rotate relative to the second joint about a second axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, and the second rotating member comprises a second connection mechanism operable to releasably couple the second rotating member to a second ring;
wherein, the first and second connection mechanisms are operable to substantially limit the rotational movement of the first and second rotating members, respectively; and
wherein at least one of the first and second joints comprises a slot, the respective connection mechanism is operable to releasably couple the respective rotating member to the respective fixator ring using a ring fastener passing through the slot and coupled to the respective rotating member, and the cooperation of the slot and the ring fastener limit the rotation of the respective rotating member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides various embodiments of an external fixation connection rod having articulatable joints that can be attached to external supports, such as rings. In some embodiments, the fixation connection rod includes a telescopic rod and connecting mechanisms for coupling the joints of the connection rod to the external supports. and the connecting mechanisms are operable to substantially lock the orientation of the joints. In some other embodiments, the connection rod includes a housing having parallel axial bores defined therethrough and sleeves slidably disposed in the axial bores. Also included in the present disclosure are methods of maintaining the orientation of first and second fixator rings for immobilizing bone segments.
97 Citations
20 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; a first joint coupled to an end portion of the housing body; and a first rotating member received in the first joint, wherein the first rotating member is operable to rotate relative to the first joint about a first axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, and the first rotating member comprises a first connection mechanism operable to releasably couple the first rotating member to a first ring; an adjustment sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore, the adjustment sleeve and the telescopic housing being releasably coupled by a fastener; and an elongated member coupled to the adjustment sleeve, the elongated member comprising; a rod; a second joint coupled to an end portion of the rod; a second rotating member received in the second joint, wherein the second rotating member is operable to rotate relative to the second joint about a second axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, and the second rotating member comprises a second connection mechanism operable to releasably couple the second rotating member to a second ring; wherein, the first and second connection mechanisms are operable to substantially limit the rotational movement of the first and second rotating members, respectively; and wherein at least one of the first and second joints comprises a slot, the respective connection mechanism is operable to releasably couple the respective rotating member to the respective fixator ring using a ring fastener passing through the slot and coupled to the respective rotating member, and the cooperation of the slot and the ring fastener limit the rotation of the respective rotating member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of maintaining the orientation of first and second rings for immobilizing bone segments, comprising:
-
providing a connecting rod having a longitudinal axis and comprising; a telescopic housing comprising an axial bore defined therethrough; an adjustment sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore, the adjustment sleeve and the telescoping housing being operable to be releasably coupled by a sleeve fastener; and an elongated member coupled to the adjustment sleeve; wherein a first joint is coupled to an end portion of the housing, and a first rotating member is received in the first joint, and further wherein the first rotating member comprises a first connection mechanism operable to releasably couple the first rotating member to the first ring and substantially limit the rotational movement of the first rotating member; and wherein a second joint is coupled to an end portion of the elongated member, and a second rotating member is received in the second joint, and further wherein the second rotating member comprises a second connection mechanism operable to releasably couple the second rotating member to the second ring and substantially limit the rotational movement of the second rotating member; adjusting the longitudinal position of the adjustment sleeve relative to the telescopic housing, thereby rotating the first and second rotating members about first and second axes, respectively, wherein the first and second axes are both orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod; releasably coupling the adjustment sleeve to the telescopic housing using the sleeve fastener; using the first connection mechanism to releasably couple the first rotating member to the first ring and substantially limit the rotational movement of the first rotating member; and using the second connection mechanism to releasably couple the second rotating member to the second ring and substantially limit the rotational movement of the second rotating member; wherein at least one of the first and second joints comprises a slot, the respective connection mechanism is operable to releasably couple the respective rotating member to the respective fixator ring using a ring fastener passing through the slot and coupled to the respective rotating member, and the cooperation of the slot and the ring fastener limit the rotation of the respective rotating member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A connecting rod for an external fixation device comprising:
-
a telescopic housing having a housing body, wherein a first portion of the housing body comprises a first axial bore defined therethrough, and a second portion of the housing body comprises a second axial bore defined therethrough, the first and second axial bores having first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, and further wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are parallel and coplanar; first and second sleeves slidably disposed within the first and second axial bores, respectively, the first sleeve having an adjustment mechanism rotatably disposed on an end portion of the first sleeve; and an elongated member coupled to the adjustment mechanism; wherein the housing body comprises first and second apertures defined in walls of the first and second portions of the housing body, respectively, the first and second apertures being aligned along the first and second axes, respectively; wherein a first fastener is disposed through the first aperture of the housing body and received in a fastener aperture defined in the first sleeve, and a second fastener is disposed through the second aperture of the housing body and received in a fastener aperture defined in the second sleeve, the first and second fasteners being operable to releasably couple the first and second sleeves to the housing body, respectively; and wherein a joint coupled either to an end portion of the elongated member or an end portion of the second sleeve comprises a slot, a connection mechanism and a rotating member, the connection mechanism is operable to releasably couple the rotating member to a fixator ring using a fastener passing through the slot and coupled to the rotating member, and the cooperation of the slot and the fastener limit the rotation of the rotating member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification