Patent US3850166A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3850166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fracture reduction system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-30
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-03-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a portable mechanical system for reducing lower limb fractures by the concurrent application of relative linear and rotational displacement of the fractured limb segments. The reduction device is externally reactive on the digital end of the lower limb and on an axially distributed region of the upper limb, the lower and upper limbs being in static equilibrium with respect to all forces and moments exerted on the digital end of the lower limb by the device. Means are provided to indicate the amount of force being applied to the fractured limb when it is under tension. Means are further provided for selectively mounting X-ray cassettes to the device in at least two orthogonal planes for taking X-rays of the limb when it is in the device under load. Means are provided to adapt the device to fractures of the forearm or the lower leg. The mechanism is self-aligning with respect to the limb being reduced, and by being self-reactive with respect to the associated upper limb of the patient allows a qualified person to reduce a fracture quickly and effectively despite movement of the patient, and without the need for a qualified assistant. The device consists essentially of a U-shaped tubular frame from which a self-aligning, rotative, screw adjustable assembly is mounted to achieve the tensional and torsional forces necessary to effect the proper fracture reduction.
Inventors
- 👤 S Tamny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A portable system for the reduction of lower limb fractures including apparatus which comprises a frame including restraint means adapted to engage only the upper limb and including means adapted to engage the digital end of the lower limb and to impose forces on the exterior of the digital end of the lower limb while concurrently restraining an axially distributed region of the upper limb in rigid attachment to said frame, and first means connected to the frame for providing independent coaxial relative linear and rotational displacement of the fractured segments of the lower limb, said system configured such that, when applied to reduce a lower limb fracture, the apparatus and the lower and upper limbs are in static equilibrium with respect to all reductive forces exerted on the digital end of the lower limb by the apparatus without restraint by other external forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A portable system for the reduction of lower limb fractures including apparatus which comprises a frame including restraint means adapted to engage only the upper limb and including means adapted to engage the digital end of the lower limb and to impose forces on the exterior of the digital end of the lower limb while concurrently restraining an axially distributed region of the upper limb in rigid attachment to said frame, and first means connected to the frame for providing independent coaxial relative linear and rotational displacement of the fractured segments of the lower limb, said system configured such that, when applied to reduce a lower limb fracture, the apparatus and the lower and upper limbs are in static equilibrium with respect to all reductive forces exerted on the digital end of the lower limb by the apparatus without restraint by other external forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1 including means for adjusting and indicating the relative rotation of the lower limb independent of linear displacement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1 including means for adjusting and indicating the linear force imposed on the lower limb independent of rotational displacement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system according to claim 1 which further includes means functional in connection with said system to reduce a lower leg fracture comprising an insert for substantially compleTe inclusion within the structure of a foot cast, said insert containing means engageable with said first means in at least two spaced locations to transmit coaxial linear and rotational displacement for fracture reduction and removable therefrom upon fixation of the fracture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The system as recited in claim 1 which further includes means removably appliable to said system and selectively engageable with the frame while in reductive association with the lower limb to alternately mount x-ray cassettes in at least two orthogonal planes generally parallel to the axis of said limb and selectively at two or more axial positions between the proximal and distal ends of said limb, said means configured to interchangeably retain film cassettes of various dimensions as measured in the plane of the film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 1 where the portion of the frame adapted to react with the exterior of the upper limb comprises means providing axially distributed restraints of the upper limb substantially normal to the limb at least in two orthogonal planes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 1 where the first means is self aligning to the lower limb so that the relative linear and rotational displacements thereof are axially disposed with respect to the limb.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 1 including means interchangeably engageable with the first means and adapting the apparatus for the selective reduction of both forearm and lower leg fractures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 4, where said insert is threadably engageable with removable fasteners.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 9 which further includes walking heel means adapted for threadable engagement with the cast insert when lower leg fracture reduction and cast application are complete.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for the reduction of lower limb fractures comprising a frame having an elongated central portion and a portion on each end substantially normal to said central portion in the same direction, one of the said end portions being of appropriate length and adapted to lie in parallel adjacent relation to the major axial extent of the upper limb when the central portion is generally parallel to but remote from the lower limb, means to attach the one end portion only to the exterior of the upper limb providing axially distributed restraints of the upper limb with respect to said frame substantially normal to the limb in at least two orthogonal planes, and a force transmitting head mounted to the other end portion adapted to grasp the exterior of the digital end of the lower limb and to apply independently adjustable coaxial linear and rotational displacement thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for the reduction of lower limb fractures comprising a frame having an elongated central portion and a portion on each end substantially normal to said central portion in the same direction, one of the said end portions being of appropriate length and adapted to lie in parallel adjacent relation to the major axial extent of the upper limb when the central portion is generally parallel to but remote from the lower limb, means to attach the one end portion only to the exterior of the upper limb providing axially distributed restraints of the upper limb with respect to said frame substantially normal to the limb in at least two orthogonal planes, and a force transmitting head mounted to the other end portion adapted to grasp the exterior of the digital end of the lower limb and to apply independently adjustable coaxial linear and rotational displacement thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 where the head comprises an elongated threaded rod slidably engaged and in substantially perpendicular relation with the other end portion of the frame, an elongated load carrying bar mounted in substantially normal relation to the end of the rod in substantially parallel facing relation to the one end portion of the frame, means to attach the exterior of the digital end of the lower limb to selective locations along the length of the bar, nut means threadably received onto the other end of the rod adjustable to control the axial position of the bar relative to the other end portion of the frame, and means to selectively lock the angular position of the bar relative to the frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 where said angular locking means comprises a protractor plate operatively constrained by the frame from rotational displacement about the axis of the rod, a link mounted in fixed relation to the load carrying bar, and means to selectively lock the link to the protractor plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 where a load cell is located between the nut means and the other end portion of the frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 where the load cell comprises at least one elastically yieldable element disposed about the rod and one rigid element spanning the yieldable elemenT and adapted to cooperate with the nut means to indicate deflection of the elastic element as a measure of linear tensional force on the rod.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said one end portion of the frame has a cuff associated therewith adapted to engage the major axial extent of the upper limb and adjustable means associated with the cuff to enclose the circumference of the upper limb at least in two axially spaced locations to firmly bind the upper limb to the cuff.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 where the head is self aligning by being pivotally mounted to the other end portion of the frame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 17 including means interchangeably engageable with said other end portion of the apparatus adapting the apparatus for the selective reduction of both forearm and lower leg fractures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 17 which further includes means removably appliable to said apparatus and selectively engageable with the central portion of the frame while in reductive association with the lower limb to alternately mount x-ray cassettes in at least two orthogonal planes generally parallel to the axis of said limb and selectively at two or more axial positions between the proximal and distal ends of said limb, said means configured to interchangeably retain film cassettes of various dimensions as measured in the plane of the film.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |