Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A connector for fractured bones, comprising a plug sleeve adapted for inserting into a bore formed in a fractured bone for bridging the fracture thereof, and having a leading portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment and a trailing portion adapted to communicate with the other bone fragment; an expander screw insertable and engageable in said plug sleeve, said plug sleeve having an outer surface having a shape of a thread, said sleeve being expandable at said leading portion and at said trailing portion, said screw having a head which is faced by said trailing portion in assembly; and expansion means provided at said trailing portion and said leading portion, respectively, the expansion means at said trailing portion being able to open said trailing portion to a lesser degree that the expansion means at said leading portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A connector for fractured bones, comprising a plug sleeve adapted for inserting into a bore formed in a fractured bone for bridging the fracture thereof, and having a leading portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment and a trailing portion adapted to communicate with the other bone fragment; an expander screw insertable and engageable in said plug sleeve, said plug sleeve having an outer surface having a shape of a thread, said sleeve being expandable at said leading portion and at said trailing portion, said screw having a head which is faced by said trailing portion in assembly; and expansion means provided at said trailing portion and said leading portion, respectively, the expansion means at said trailing portion being able to open said trailing portion to a lesser degree that the expansion means at said leading portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said plug sleeve has an internal through bore which has a smaller diameter in said leading portion than that in said trailing portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of said internal bore, made in said trailing portion is slightly smaller in diameter than an outer diameter of the thread of said screw, and the diameter of a portion of said internal bore made in said leading portion is smaller than a core diameter of said screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the expansion means at said leading portion are formed by at least one first longitudinal slot extending from a leading end of said sleeve over a part of its length, and the expansion means at said trailing portion are formed by at least one second longitudinal slot extending from a trailing end of said sleeve over a part of its length and being shorter than said first longitudinal slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The connector as defined in claim 3, wherein a stop is provided at a transition between the portion of said internal bore in said leading portion and the portion of the internal bore in said trailing portion, said internal bore having a shaped portion for receiving therein a screwdriver of a corresponding shape, said shaped portion extending via a defined distance up to said stop against which a tip of the screwdriver rests when the plug sleeve is screwed in.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector as defined in claim 5, wherein said shaped portion is a hexagonal socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said plug sleeve is formed of viscoplastic tissue-compatible plastics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector as defined in claim 7, wherein said plug sleeve is at least partially covered with metal coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
208 words
A connector for fractured bones, comprising a plug sleeve adapted for inserting into a bore formed in a fractured bone for bridging the fracture thereof, and having a leading portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment and a trailing portion adapted to communicate with the other bone fragment; an expander screw insertable and engageable in said plug sleeve, said plug sleeve having an outer surface having a shape of a thread, said sleeve being expandable at said leading portion and at said trailing portion, said screw having a head which is faced by said trailing portion in assembly; and expansion means provided at said trailing portion and said leading portion, respectively, the expansion means at said trailing portion being able to open said trailing portion to a lesser degree that the expansion means at said leading portion, the expansion means at said leading portion being formed by at least one first longitudinal slot extending from a leading end of said sleeve over a part of its length, and the expansion means at said trailing portion being formed by at least one second longitudinal slot extending from a trailing end of said sleeve over a part of its length and being shorter than said first longitudinal slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
208 words
A connector for fractured bones, comprising a plug sleeve adapted for inserting into a bore formed in a fractured bone for bridging the fracture thereof, and having a leading portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment and a trailing portion adapted to communicate with the other bone fragment; an expander screw insertable and engageable in said plug sleeve, said plug sleeve having an outer surface having a shape of a thread, said sleeve being expandable at said leading portion and at said trailing portion, said screw having a head which is faced by said trailing portion in assembly; and expansion means provided at said trailing portion and said leading portion, respectively, the expansion means at said trailing portion being able to open said trailing portion to a lesser degree that the expansion means at said leading portion, the expansion means at said leading portion being formed by at least one first longitudinal slot extending from a leading end of said sleeve over a part of its length, and the expansion means at said trailing portion being formed by at least one second longitudinal slot extending from a trailing end of said sleeve over a part of its length and being shorter than said first longitudinal slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
206 words
A connector for fractured bones, comprising a plug sleeve adapted for inserting into a bore formed in a fractured bone for bridging the fracture thereof, and having a leading portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment and a trailing portion adapted to communicate with the other bone fragment; an expander screw insertable and engageable in said plug sleeve, said plug sleeve having an outer surface having a shape of a thread, said sleeve being expandable at said leading portion and at said trailing portion, said screw having a head which is faced by said trialing portion in assembly; and expansion means provided at said trailing portion and said leading portion, respectively, the expansion means at said trailing portion being able to open said trailing portion to a lesser degree that the expansion means at said leading portion, the expansion means at said leading portion being formed by two opposing first longitudinal slots extending from a leading end of said sleeve over a part of its length, and the expansion means at said trailing portion being formed by two opposing second longitudinal slots extending from a trailing end of said sleeve over a part of its length and being shorter than said first longitudinal slots.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
206 words
A connector for fractured bones, comprising a plug sleeve adapted for inserting into a bore formed in a fractured bone for bridging the fracture thereof, and having a leading portion adapted to be located in one bone fragment and a trailing portion adapted to communicate with the other bone fragment; an expander screw insertable and engageable in said plug sleeve, said plug sleeve having an outer surface having a shape of a thread, said sleeve being expandable at said leading portion and at said trailing portion, said screw having a head which is faced by said trialing portion in assembly; and expansion means provided at said trailing portion and said leading portion, respectively, the expansion means at said trailing portion being able to open said trailing portion to a lesser degree that the expansion means at said leading portion, the expansion means at said leading portion being formed by two opposing first longitudinal slots extending from a leading end of said sleeve over a part of its length, and the expansion means at said trailing portion being formed by two opposing second longitudinal slots extending from a trailing end of said sleeve over a part of its length and being shorter than said first longitudinal slots.