Methods and apparatus for external fixation of bone fractures

Claim 1

A method of external fixation of of bone fractures comprising the steps of inserting at least one threaded pin into each major fragment of bone with a portion of the threaded pin extending beyond the soft tissue surrounding the fracture, reducing the fracture by drawing the threaded pins into proper position under compression generally transverse to the fracture line, applying a compliant bridge to the threaded pins at the portions exposed from the soft tissue while under compression, said compliant bridge permitting relative adjustment of the pins in one bone fragment with respect to those in another bone fragment and fixing the compliant bridge in rigid position on the pins to hold the threaded pins in place under compression during healing of the bone fractures said compliant bridge having rigidifying means permitting deformation of the bridge while the pins are placed therein and causing said bridge to become rigid while said compression acts on said pins.

Claim 2

A method of external fixation of of bone fractures comprising the steps of inserting at least one threaded pin into each major fragment of bone with a portion of the threaded pin extending beyond the soft tissue surrounding the fracture, reducing the fracture by drawing the threaded pins into proper position under compression generally transverse to the fracture line, applying a compliant bridge to the threaded pins at the portions exposed from the soft tissue while under compression, said compliant bridge permitting relative adjustment of the pins in one bone fragment with respect to those in another bone fragment and fixing the compliant bridge in rigid position on the pins to hold the threaded pins in place under compression during healing of the bone fractures said compliant bridge having rigidifying means permitting deformation of the bridge while the pins are placed therein and causing said bridge to become rigid while said compression acts on said pins.

Claim 3

A method of external fixation of bone fractures comprising the steps of inserting at least one pin into each major fragment of bone with a portion of the pin extending beyond the soft tissue surrounding the fracture, reducing the fracture by drawing the pins into proper position under compression generally transverse to the fracture line, applying a bridge to the pins at the portions exposed from the soft tissue to hold the pins in place under compression during healing of the bone fractures, said bridge comprising a bladder filled with soft cement which is applied to the pin ends and hardened.

Claim 4

A method of external fixation of bone fractures comprising the steps of inserting at least one pin into each major fragment of bone with a portion of the pin extending beyond the soft tissue surrounding the fracture, reducing the fracture by drawing the pins into proper position under compression generally transverse to the fracture line, applying a bridge to the pins at the portions exposed from the soft tissue to hold the pins in place under compression during healing of the bone fractures, said bridge comprising a bladder filled with soft cement which is applied to the pin ends and hardened.

Claim 7

An apparatus for fixation of fractured bones comprising at least two elongated high strength threaded metal pins adapted to be inserted at one end into a fractured bone on opposite sides of the fracture, compliant bridge means adapted to engage said pins at the other end outside the patient''s body and spaced from the bone, compression means acting on the pins generally parallel to the bridge and bone to urge the bone ends together within the compliant bridge means and means causing the compliant bridge to become rigid while said compression means acts on said pins.

Claim 8

An apparatus for fixation of fractured bones comprising at least two elongated high strength threaded metal pins adapted to be inserted at one end into a fractured bone on opposite sides of the fracture, compliant bridge means adapted to engage said pins at the other end outside the patient''s body and spaced from the bone, compression means acting on the pins generally parallel to the bridge and bone to urge the bone ends together within the compliant bridge means and means causing the compliant bridge to become rigid while said compression means acts on said pins.

Claim 9

An apparatus for fixation of fractured bones comprising at least two elongated high strength metal pins adapted to be inserted at one end into a fractured bone on opposite sides of the fracture, bridge means adapted to engage said pins at the other end outside the patient''s body and spaced from the bone and compression means acting on the pins generally parallel to the bridge and bone to urge the bone ends together, said bridge comprising a bladder filled with a hardenable cement adapted to be placed over the said other ends of the pin and hardened in situ.

Claim 10

An apparatus for fixation of fractured bones comprising at least two elongated high strength metal pins adapted to be inserted at one end into a fractured bone on opposite sides of the fracture, bridge means adapted to engage said pins at the other end outside the patient''s body and spaced from the bone and compression means acting on the pins generally parallel to the bridge and bone to urge the bone ends together, said bridge comprising a bladder filled with a hardenable cement adapted to be placed over the said other ends of the pin and hardened in situ.