EXTERNAL FIXATOR RING

• US 20160206349A1
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
• Original Assignee: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
• Inventors: Ross, John D., Samchukov, Mikhail L., Cherkashin, Alexander M., Birch, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A61B 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

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.

Claims

1. An external fixator ring comprising:

a ring with a central opening defined therethrough, the ring having inner and outer ring surfaces and upper and lower ring surfaces;

one or more apertures extending through the upper ring surface to the lower ring surface;

one or more receiving apertures defined in the inner or outer surface, the one or more receiving apertures extending at least partially into the inner or outer surface and having a smooth inner surface operable to receive one or more studs providing attachment for a connection element; and

,

one or more securing mechanisms operable to lock the stud in the one or more receiving apertures.

2. The external fixator ring of claim 1, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms further comprises an aperture operable to receive a locking member for substantially locking the studs in the receiving apertures.

3. The external fixator ring of claim 1, wherein the one or more receiving apertures and the one or more securing mechanisms meet at a recess defined in the inner or outer ring surface.

4. The external fixator ring of claim 1, further comprising one or more flanges extending radially from the inner or outer ring surface, wherein the one or more flanges each comprise one or more mounting surfaces for defining the one or more receiving apertures, the mounting surfaces having apertures defined for receiving one or more additional studs providing attachment for an additional connection element.

5. The external fixator ring of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more flanges further comprise a securing surface disposed between a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface;

the securing mechanism comprises a securing aperture defined in the securing surface.

6. The external fixator ring of claim 5, wherein the one or more flanges comprise trapezoidal flanges.

7. The external fixator ring of claim 6, wherein the receiving aperture and the securing aperture are aligned at an angle that substantially corresponds to the shape of the angled tip of the locking member.

8. The external fixator ring of claim 7, wherein the locking member comprises a set screw configured for engaging the end portion of one or more studs.

26. The external fixator ring of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism includes two securing apertures, each operable to receive a set screw for substantially locking one of two studs received in one of two receiving apertures, such that the studs can each be independently locked by a different set screw.

27. The external fixator ring of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving aperture has a smooth inner surface;

the stud has an end portion having a groove defined thereon; and

the securing mechanism comprises a threaded bore operable to receive a screw, the screw being operable to engage the groove of the stud when the screw is received in the threaded bore, thereby substantially locking the stud in place.

28. The external fixator ring of claim 2, further comprising one or more studs operable to be received in the receiving aperture, wherein each of the one or more studs further comprise a conical tip operable to increase the contact surface between the stud and the walls of the receiving aperture.

9. An external fixator ring comprising:

a ring with a central opening defined therethrough, the ring having inner and outer ring surfaces and upper and lower ring surfaces;

one or more mounting surfaces defined in the inner or outer surface, wherein at least one mounting surface has a receiving aperture defined therein for receiving one or more studs providing attachment for a connection element;

a securing surface defined adjacent to the one or more mounting surfaces, the securing surface operable to receive a locking member.

10. The external fixator ring of claim 9, wherein the securing surface is further operable to lock the connection element received in the smooth inner surface of the one or more receiving apertures when the locking member received in a securing aperture defined in the securing surface engages the connection element in a recess in the inner or outer surface.

11. The external fixator ring of claim 9, wherein:

the receiving aperture has a smooth inner surface, and the connection element comprises one or more studs each having an end portion, the end portion of the stud having a groove defined therein; and

the securing aperture comprises a threaded bore operable to receive the locking member, wherein the locking member comprises a screw, the screw being operable to engage the groove of the stud when the screw is received in the threaded bore, thereby substantially locking the stud in place.

12. The external fixator ring of claim 11, further comprising one or more studs operable to be received in the receiving aperture, wherein each of the one or more studs further comprise a conical tip operable to increase the contact surface between the stud and the walls of the receiving aperture.

13. The external fixator ring of claim 11, wherein the locking member further comprises an engagement portion operable to swivel until it securely fits into the groove.

14. The external fixator ring of claim 11, wherein the mounting surface and the securing surface are formed on one or more flanges, and wherein the one or more flanges are angled.

15. The external fixator ring of claim 14, wherein the one or more flanges comprise a plurality of flanges, the flanges being equally spaced along the outer surface of the ring.

16. The external fixator ring of claim 14, wherein the securing surface includes two securing apertures, each operable to receive a set screw for substantially locking one of two studs received in one of two receiving apertures, such that the studs can be independently locked by a different set screw.

17. (canceled)

18. A method of assembling an external fixation device, the method comprising:

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 surfaces, wherein one or more receiving apertures are defined in the inner or outer surface for receiving a stud and wherein one or more securing apertures are defined in the inner or outer surface for receiving a securing device;

providing a ring connection strut having first and second end portions further comprising one or more studs fixed to the first and second end portions;

mounting the ring connection strut to the first and second rings by securing the studs in the one or more receiving apertures via the one or more securing apertures.

19-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method of assembling an external fixation device, the method comprising:

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 an inner and outer surface having a receiving surface defined therein for receiving a stud and having a securing surface defined therein;

providing a ring connection strut having first and second end portions further comprising one or more studs fixed to the first and second end portions;

mounting the ring connection strut to the first and second rings by securing the stud of the first end portion to the receiving surface of the first ring and securing the stud of the second end portion to the receiving surface of the second ring.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second rings each comprise one or more flanges extending radially from the inner or outer surface, wherein the one or more flanges each comprise a mounting surface and a securing surface, and further wherein one or more receiving apertures of each ring are defined in the mounting surface of the one or more flanges of each ring.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

one or more securing apertures are defined in the securing surface of the one or more flanges of the first ring;

securing the stud in the receiving aperture in the one or more flanges of the first ring comprises inserting a threaded screw into the securing aperture.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the receiving aperture in the one or more flanges of the first ring has a smooth inner surface configured to receive a stud having an end portion, the end portion of the stud having a groove defined therein, and further wherein securing the stud in the receiving aperture in the one or more flanges of the first ring comprises inserting a first screw into the securing aperture to engage the groove of the stud when the screw is received in the securing aperture.