External fixator strut
First Claim
1. An external fixation strut having a longitudinal axis defined therein, the fixation strut comprising:
- a strut housing having an axial bore defined therethrough;
a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of the strut housing, the first ball joint including a first ball joint cage and a first ball member, the first ball member being rotatably coupled to the first ball joint cage, the first ball joint cage including a bore defined therethrough, and the first ball member including a circumferential groove defined therein;
a pin inserted through the bore of the first ball joint cage and at least partially into the circumferential groove of the first ball member to at least partially limit rotation of the first ball member relative to the first ball joint cage;
an adjustment sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore, the adjustment sleeve and the strut housing being releasably coupled by a connector;
an elongated member;
a second ball joint coupled to an end portion of the elongated member; and
an adjustment mechanism having a bore defined therethrough, the elongated member being disposed through the bore, the adjustment mechanism being operable to adjust a longitudinal position of the elongated member relative to the adjustment sleeve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides an external fixation strut for an external fixation device having a ball joints that can be attached to the outer or inner surface of the ring and locked to increase overall stability of the external fixation device. Some embodiments of the fixation strut include a first ball joint coupled to a first end portion of a strut housing, the strut housing having an axial bore defined therethrough. A second ball joint is coupled to a second end portion of an elongated member. The elongated member is coupled to an adjustment mechanism, which is coupled to an upper end portion of an adjustment sleeve. The adjustment sleeve is slidably disposed in the axial bore of the strut housing, and is used to effect coarse strut length adjustments. Gradual strut adjustments are effected by translating the elongated member.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An external fixation strut having a longitudinal axis defined therein, the fixation strut comprising:
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a strut housing having an axial bore defined therethrough; a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of the strut housing, the first ball joint including a first ball joint cage and a first ball member, the first ball member being rotatably coupled to the first ball joint cage, the first ball joint cage including a bore defined therethrough, and the first ball member including a circumferential groove defined therein; a pin inserted through the bore of the first ball joint cage and at least partially into the circumferential groove of the first ball member to at least partially limit rotation of the first ball member relative to the first ball joint cage; an adjustment sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore, the adjustment sleeve and the strut housing being releasably coupled by a connector; an elongated member; a second ball joint coupled to an end portion of the elongated member; and an adjustment mechanism having a bore defined therethrough, the elongated member being disposed through the bore, the adjustment mechanism being operable to adjust a longitudinal position of the elongated member relative to the adjustment sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An external fixation strut comprising:
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a strut housing having an axial bore defined therethrough and an aperture defined in a wall of the strut housing, the aperture extending longitudinally along the strut housing; an adjustment sleeve slidably disposed within the axial bore, the adjustment sleeve and the strut housing being releasably coupled by a connector, the adjustment sleeve including a radial bore, and the connector including a screw disposed through the aperture of the strut housing and received in the radial bore; an elongated member; a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of the strut housing, the first ball joint including a first ball joint cage including a bore defined therethrough; a first ball member rotatably coupled to the first ball joint cage and including a circumferential groove defined therein; a pin inserted through the bore of the first ball joint cage and at least partially into the circumferential groove of the first ball member to at least partially limit rotation of the first ball member relative to the first ball joint cage; and a first ball stud extending outwardly from the first ball member, the first ball stud being operable to be received in a ring aperture in an outer or inner surface of a first external fixator ring; a second ball joint coupled to an end portion of the elongated member; and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts a longitudinal position of the elongated member relative to the adjustment sleeve.
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20. A method of interconnecting first and second fixator rings with a strut, adjusting the strut to a pretreatment strut length, and making strut length adjustments during treatment, the rings each including a plurality of apertures defined in an inner or outer surface of the ring, the method comprising:
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providing a first part of the strut, the first part including a first ball joint coupled to an end portion of a strut housing, the strut housing having an axial bore defined therethrough, the first ball joint including a first ball stud, a first ball joint cage and a first ball member, the first ball member being rotatably coupled to the first ball joint cage, the first ball joint cage including a bore disposed therethrough, and the first ball member including a circumferential groove defined therein; inserting a pin through the bore of the first ball joint cage and at least partially into the circumferential groove of the first ball member to at least partially limit rotation of the first ball member relative to the first ball joint cage; providing a second part of the strut, the second part including a second ball joint coupled to an end portion of an elongated member;
the elongated member being coupled to an adjustment mechanism, the adjustment mechanism being coupled to an adjustment sleeve, and the second ball joint including a second ball stud;disposing the adjustment sleeve within the axial bore of the strut housing; connecting the first ball stud of the first ball joint to a first aperture of the first fixator ring; connecting the second ball stud of the second ball joint to a second aperture of the second fixator ring; positioning the adjustment sleeve relative to the strut housing to arrive at the pretreatment strut length; releasably coupling the adjustment sleeve to the strut housing; and translating, using the adjustment mechanism, the elongated member to adjust the strut length. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification