Translation/rotation device for external bone fixation system

Claim 1

A bone fixator apparatus for the fixation of fractures and the correction of congenital bone deformities, comprising: (a) upper and lower spaced apart ring-like structures, each having inner and outer annular curved surfaces, and spaced, parallel flat upper and lower surfaces; (b) a plurality of openings spaced along the ring-like structures, positioned between the inner and outer annular curved surfaces and extending between the upper and lower surfaces; (c) a plurality of tie rod assemblies including rod members extending during use between the ring-like structures, connecting adjacent ring-like structures together to define a frame and including an upper plurality of tie rods and a lower plurality of tie rods; (d) fastener means for securing the upper and lower ring-like structures respectively to the upper and lower tie rods, for maintaining spacing between the ring-like structures during use; (e) translation means interfacing one or more of the upper tie rods and a corresponding one or more of the lower tie rods for moving the upper ring-like structure with respect to the lower ring-like structure along a path transversely with respect to the tie rods, and including a translation body affixed to a first selected one of the upper or lower tie rods; (f) a traveling block member attachable to a second selected tie rod member, the block movable within the translation body and with respect to the first selected tie rod, and (g) laterally extending means for moving the traveling block with respect to the translation body responsive to a rotation of the laterally extending means.