Fracture fixing device

Claim 2

An orthopaedic fracture fixing device comprising a tube, an elongate spring member located under tension along the bore of said tube, and a pair of terminal means connected with respective ends of said spring member, said terminal means extending externally of the tube laterally relative to the longitudinal direction of said tube across the ends of the tube for securing said spring member relative to a bone and holding said spring member, under tension, against relaxation into said tube.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1 wherein said terminal means each comprise a pin adapted for fixation in said bone by penetration thereinto, which component is deployed laterally relative said spring member, and said tube is slotted in a longitudinal sense from at least one end thereof to slidably receive said component.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1 wherein said terminal means each comprise a discrete first terminal member connected with the respective end of said spring member, and a discrete second terminal member, separably interconnected with said first terminal member.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 3 wherein said first terminal member is of apertured form, and said second terminal member is formed with two apertures, and said terminal means each further comprise a length of wire of which an intermediate portion passes through said first terminal member, and the free end portions of said wire pass respectively through said two apertures, to connect said tErminal members by twisting said wire free end portions.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 3 wherein each of said first and second terminal members is of apertured form, the aperture of said second terminal member receiving the apertured part of said first terminal member therethrough, and each of said terminal means further comprising a locking pin passing through said apertured part.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 3 wherein said second terminal member is of apertured form, and said first terminal member is passed at least partly through said second terminal member and thereafter rotated about said longitudinal direction to extend across said second terminal member.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 3 wherein the external surface of said tube is threaded at least part way along the length thereof; an additional fracture fixing member internally threaded for screw connection with said threaded external surface.

Claim 9

A fracture fixing assembly comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 3 in each of which the respective tube is externally threaded over an intermediate portion thereof, and an elongate intramedullary member having a plurality of threaded lateral bores therethrough individually receiving said devices in screw connection.

Claim 10

A fracture fixing assembly comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 3 and at least one elongate bone plate constituting said second terminal in common for one set of corresponding ends of said devices.

Claim 11

A fracture fixing assembly comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 7 in each of which said threading extends over an end portion of the respective tube, and an elongate bone plate having a plurality of threaded lateral bores therethrough to individually receive said devices in screw connection.

Claim 12

An orthopaedic fracture fixing device, comprising: a rigid tube having a longitudinal bore; a coil spring received in and extending along said bore; a first terminal means extending laterally externally of the tube adjacent one end of the tube; first means connecting one end of the spring to said first terminal means; a second terminal means extending laterally externally of the tube adjacent the other end of the tube; second means connecting the other end of the spring to the second terminal means, the length of the spring relative to the tube being such that the second terminal means is pulled against the other end of the tube by the spring and maintains the spring in tension; interdigitable protrusion and recess means on said second terminal means and said tube other end, arranged to not interdigitate until the tube is rotated about its longitudinal axis to a predetermined disposition relative to the second terminal means whereupon the tension on said spring means pulls the protrusion and recess means into interdigitation, thus moving the second terminal means toward the first terminal means; the length of the spring relative to the tube being such that the spring remains tensioned when said protrusion and recess means are interdigitated; whereby the first and second terminal means may be connected to a bone on opposite sides of a fracture thereof with the protrusion and recess means not interdigitated, and the tube rotated relative to the second terminal means to interdigitate the protrusion and recess means, thus permitting the spring to shorten, drawing the first and second terminal means together and thus reducing the fracture.

Claim 13

An orthopaedic fracture fixing device, comprising: a rigid tube having a longitudinal bore; a coil spring received in and extending along said bore; a first terminal means extending laterally externally of the tube adjacent one end of the tube; first means connecting one end of the spring to said first terminal means; a second terminal means extending laterally externally of the tube adjacent the other end of the tube; second means connecting the other end of the spring to the second terminal means, the length of the spring relative to the tube being such that the second terminal means is pulled against the other end of the tube by the spring and maintains the spring in tension; interdigitable protrusion and recess means on said second terminal means and said tube other end, arranged to not interdigitate until the tube is rotated about its longitudinal axis to a predetermined disposition relative to the second terminal means whereupon the tension on said spring means pulls the protrusion and recess means into interdigitation, thus moving the second terminal means toward the first terminal means; the length of the spring relative to the tube being such that the spring remains tensioned when said protrusion and recess means are interdigitated; whereby the first and second terminal means may be connected to a bone on opposite sides of a fracture thereof with the protrusion and recess means not interdigitated, and the tube rotated relative to the second terminal means to interdigitate the protrusion and recess means, thus permitting the spring to shorten, drawing the first and second terminal means together and thus reducing the fracture.