External fixator ring
First Claim
1. An external fixator ring comprising:
- a ring with a central opening defined therethrough, the ring having inner and outer ring surfaces, upper and lower ring surfaces, and an outer longitudinal edge in the outer ring surface perpendicular to the upper and lower ring surfaces;
one or more apertures extending through the upper ring surface to the lower ring surface;
one or more angled flanges extending from the outer ring surface, each angled flange comprising a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface, wherein the first and second mounting surfaces are angled at approximately 120 degrees relative to each other; and
one or more strut connection apertures defined in the first and second mounting surfaces of the one or more angled flanges, the one or more strut connection apertures extending at least partially into the first and second mounting surfaces along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the outer longitudinal edge, wherein each of the one or more strut connection apertures is operable to be connected to a ring connection strut.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure includes an external fixator ring that includes a central opening, inner and outer ring surfaces and upper and lower ring surfaces. In some embodiments, one or more apertures are defined in the inner or outer surface for receiving securing devices. The apertures in the inner or outer surface are adapted to provide rigid attachment for connection struts while allowing for a range of motion between the interconnected rings. In some other embodiments, the external fixator ring further comprises angled flanges extending radially from the inner or outer surface. The angle flanges each include a mounting surface, apertures are defined in the mounting surface of the angle flanges for receiving securing devices.
76 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An external fixator ring comprising:
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a ring with a central opening defined therethrough, the ring having inner and outer ring surfaces, upper and lower ring surfaces, and an outer longitudinal edge in the outer ring surface perpendicular to the upper and lower ring surfaces; one or more apertures extending through the upper ring surface to the lower ring surface; one or more angled flanges extending from the outer ring surface, each angled flange comprising a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface, wherein the first and second mounting surfaces are angled at approximately 120 degrees relative to each other; and one or more strut connection apertures defined in the first and second mounting surfaces of the one or more angled flanges, the one or more strut connection apertures extending at least partially into the first and second mounting surfaces along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the outer longitudinal edge, wherein each of the one or more strut connection apertures is operable to be connected to a ring connection strut. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An external fixator ring comprising:
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a ring defined about a central axis with a central opening defined therethrough, the ring having inner and outer ring surfaces and upper and lower ring surfaces, wherein the central axis is perpendicular to the upper and lower ring surfaces; one or more angled flanges extending radially from the outer ring surface, wherein each of the one or more flanges comprises a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface, wherein the first and second mounting surfaces are angled at approximately 120 degrees relative to each other, the first and second mounting surfaces each having one or more apertures defined therein, the apertures extending at least partially into the first and second mounting surfaces along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the central axis, wherein each aperture is operable for connecting to a ring connection strut. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of assembling an external fixation device, the method comprising:
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providing first and second external fixator rings, the first and second rings each having a central opening defined therethrough, the first and second rings each further having inner and outer ring surfaces, and upper and lower ring surfaces, an outer longitudinal edge in the outer ring surface perpendicular to the upper and lower ring surfaces, and one or more apertures for connecting to a ring connecting strut defined in one or more angled flanges extending from the outer ring surface, each angled flange comprising a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface, wherein the first and second mounting surfaces are angled at approximately 120 degrees relative to each other, the one or more apertures are defined in the first and second mounting surfaces of the one or more angled flanges, and the one or more apertures extend at least partially into the first and second mounting surfaces along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the outer longitudinal edge; providing the ring connection strut having first and second end portions; mounting the ring connection strut to the first and second external fixator rings by securing the first end portion of the ring connection strut in the one or more apertures defined in the angled flange of the first ring and securing the second end portion of the ring connection strut in the one or more apertures defined in the angled flange of the second ring. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of assembling an external fixation device, the method comprising:
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providing first and second external fixator rings, the first and second rings each having a central opening defined therethrough, the first and second rings each further having inner and outer ring surfaces, upper and lower ring surfaces, an outer longitudinal edge in the outer ring surface perpendicular to the upper and lower ring surfaces, and one or more angled flanges extending radially from the outer ring surface, wherein the one or more angled flanges comprise a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface, wherein the first and second mounting surfaces are angled at approximately 120 degrees relative to each other, the first and second mounting surfaces each having one or more apertures defined therein for connecting to a ring connection strut, the apertures extending at least partially into the first and second mounting surfaces along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the outer longitudinal edge; providing the ring connection strut having first and second end portions; mounting the ring connection strut to the first and second rings by securing the first end portion of the ring connection strut in the aperture in the one or more angled flanges of the first ring and securing the second end portion of the ring connection strut in the aperture in the one or more angled flanges of the second ring. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification