Surgery – Instruments – Orthopedic instrumentation
Patent
1997-05-19
1998-10-27
Tucker, Guy V.
Surgery
Instruments
Orthopedic instrumentation
606 54, A61B 1764
Patent
active
058272844
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is filed under 35 USC 371 based on PCT/CH95/00189, filed Sep. 4, 1995.
This invention relates to a device for external fixation of fractures, in particular of the extremities and the pelvis, having at least a traction/compression rod as well as several bone screws, such as Schanz screws, or bone pegs, such as Steinmann pins, and connecting clamps for making the connection between the bone screws and the force-transmitting traction/compression rod.
Open, infected fractures as well as comminuted fractures are treated surgically with this device, which in technical language is mainly referred to as a fixateur extern. When using this device it is not necessary to expose the bone in the fracture area, in contrast to internal fixation by implants. The considerably simplified application permits the employment of such a device also by paramedics, such as emergency technicians and military corpsmen. The main area of employment of the device for the external fixation of fractures is essentially in war and catastrophic medical treatment and in accident surgery as a quick, temporary or definitive treatment. The capability of stressing a bone fixed in this manner immediately following the application by surgery is so great, that a patient can then be released from treatment immediately. This is an economically important factor in many countries with insufficient medical care and an acute lack of hospital beds. It is apparent that economical considerations are of eminent importance when purchasing such devices.
A conventional device for external fixation of fractures is taught by EP-A-O 524 441, which comprises connecting clamps which encloses a cylindrical support body, with two axially offset through-openings in the form of eccentric recesses in the support body. These recesses are dimensioned to correspond to the diameter of the bone screws or the traction/compression rod. The traction/compression rod or the bone screws are held in the support body by retaining sleeves, on which a corresponding nut is indirectly or directly forced.
Examining the latest developments in this field it is noted that most of the new developments lead in the direction of perfection with increasingly accurate adaptation possibilities and expensive accessories. One of the most expensive parts of the entire device is the connecting clamp which is, used to provide the connection between a bone screw and the force-transmitting traction/compression rod. A widely used connecting clamp can be seen at least in a suggested manner in the representation of FIG. 1. Such a clamp has a U-shaped holding element with a bore penetrating through both cheeks and a block with a through-bore of the same dimensions seated between the two cheeks. The traction/compression rod is guided through the through-bore and is clamped by displacing the block in relation to the U-shaped body with a screw. The clamp includes a pair of clamping cheeks which are pressed together by a further screw. Furthermore, the angular position of the two cheeks in relation to each other is secured and the relative angular position of the clamping cheeks is fixed in place on the body of the clamp. All elements of the clamp make high demands on their manufacture, must be produced with extreme precision and accordingly are expensive and correspondingly sensitive to overloads and damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a device of the type mentioned above, which has a connecting clamp that can be produced at considerably less cost and that requires less precision but yet has a high degree of adaptability regarding the angular position of the different parts extending with respect to each other which must be connected.
This object is achieved with a device of the type mentioned above, having features described in this specification.
When producing small batches or in production with the simplest possible tools, the connecting clamp advantageously comprises a support body which can be made from a s
REFERENCES:
patent: 2406987 (1946-09-01), Anderson
patent: 4271832 (1981-06-01), Evans et al.
patent: 4978348 (1990-12-01), Ilizarov
F. Behrens and K. Searls, "External Fixation of the Tibia" published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, vol. 68-B, No. 2 (Mar. 1986), pp. 246-254.
Illi Oscar E.
Weigum Hans
Hans Weigum
Tucker Guy V.
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