US5997537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ring system for external fixation of bone and related method
Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing LLC
•
Filing: 1998-05-28
•
Granted: 1999-12-07
•
Expires: 2018-05-28
Abstract
Abstract An external fixator for adjustably securing first and second portions of a bone includes a ring assembly and a bone screw clamp assembly interconnected by a central body. The ring assembly secures one or more tension wires adapted to pass through the first portion of the bone. The bone screw clamp assembly secures one or more bone screws adapted to engage a second portion of the bone. The ring assembly includes a generally circular frame having a peripheral groove for securing a tension wire carriage anywhere therealong. The tension wire carriages are adjustable so that the tension wire may be positioned above or below the ring. One or more connector rods are used to rigidify the external fixator by interconnecting the ring assembly and the bone screw clamp assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen B. Walulik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/60; A61B17/64; A61B17/6466; A61B17/6483; A61B17/62; A61B17/6441
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a pin or wire adapted to engage a first portion of the bone; a frame having a generally arcuate length and including a groove extending therealong, said groove being formed in an outer circumferential surface of said frame; and a carriage for interconnecting said pin or wire and said frame, said carriage having a first clamping portion for clamping said carriage in any desired position along said length of said frame, said first clamping portion including a clamping member insertable into said groove; said frame including an upper surface and a lower surface, said groove located between said upper and lower surface; said frame including first and second clamping flanges, each of said clamping flanges oriented substantially perpendicular to said upper and lower surfaces, said carriage adapted to releasably clamp at least one of said first and second clamping flanges.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a pin or wire adapted to engage a first portion of the bone; a frame having a generally arcuate length and including a groove extending therealong, said groove being formed in an outer circumferential surface of said frame; and a carriage for interconnecting said pin or wire and said frame, said carriage having a first clamping portion for clamping said carriage in any desired position along said length of said frame, said first clamping portion including a clamping member insertable into said groove; said frame including an upper surface and a lower surface, said groove located between said upper and lower surface; said frame including first and second clamping flanges, each of said clamping flanges oriented substantially perpendicular to said upper and lower surfaces, said carriage adapted to releasably clamp at least one of said first and second clamping flanges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 1, wherein said carriages include a second clamping portion engaging said pin or wire, said second clamping portion being adjustable relative to said frame clamping portion along and about an axis substantially perpendicular to said upper and lower surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 1, further comprising: a pair of bone screws adapted to engage a second portion of the bone; a bone screw clamping assembly for receiving said pair of bone screws; and an adjustable central body interconnecting said frame and said bone screw clamping assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 3, further comprising a connector rod interconnecting said frame and said bone screw clamping assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 4, further comprising a base clamp including a first portion clamping said connector rod and a second portion clamping one of said pair of bone screws.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a tension wire adapted to retain a first portion of the bone; a pair of tension wire carriages for receiving said tension wire; and a frame having a continuous and generally arcuate length adapted to circumferentially surround said first portion of the bone, said frame including an upper surface and a lower surface, said frame having a continuous transverse cross section including a groove located between said upper and lower surfaces and first and second clamping flanges, each of said clamping flanges oriented substantially perpendicular to said upper and lower surfaces, said carriage adapted to releasably clamp at least one of said first and second clamping flanges, said groove adapted to receive each of said tension wire carriages in any desired position along said length.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a tension wire adapted to retain a first portion of the bone; a pair of tension wire carriages for receiving said tension wire; and a frame having a continuous and generally arcuate length adapted to circumferentially surround said first portion of the bone, said frame including an upper surface and a lower surface, said frame having a continuous transverse cross section including a groove located between said upper and lower surfaces and first and second clamping flanges, each of said clamping flanges oriented substantially perpendicular to said upper and lower surfaces, said carriage adapted to releasably clamp at least one of said first and second clamping flanges, said groove adapted to receive each of said tension wire carriages in any desired position along said length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 6, wherein each said tension wire carriage includes a tension wire clamping portion engaging said tension wire, said tension wire clamping portion being adjustable relative to said frame along and about a line perpendicular to said first and second surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 6, further comprising: a pair of bone screws adapted to engage a second portion of the bone; a bone screw clamping assembly for receiving said pair of bone screws; and an adjustable central body interconnecting said frame and said bone screw clamping assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 8, further comprising a connector rod interconnecting said frame and said bone screw clamping assembly, and a base clamp including a first portion clamping said connector rod and a second portion clamping one of said bone screws.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 8, further comprising means for distracting said frame relative to said bone screw clamping assembly.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a tension wire adapted to retain a first portion of the bone; first and second tension wire carriages for receiving first and second ends of said tension wire, respectively; and a frame having a continuous and generally arcuate length adapted to circumferentially surround said first portion of the bone, said frame having a transverse cross section including a groove and first and second continuous clamping flanges extending generally perpendicular to said length, said groove adapted to receive said first and second tension wire carriages in any desired position along said length; a pair of bone screws adapted to engage a second portion of the bone; a bone screw clamping assembly for receiving said pair of bone screws; and an adjustable central body interconnecting said frame and said bone screw clamping assembly.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a tension wire adapted to retain a first portion of the bone; first and second tension wire carriages for receiving first and second ends of said tension wire, respectively; and a frame having a continuous and generally arcuate length adapted to circumferentially surround said first portion of the bone, said frame having a transverse cross section including a groove and first and second continuous clamping flanges extending generally perpendicular to said length, said groove adapted to receive said first and second tension wire carriages in any desired position along said length; a pair of bone screws adapted to engage a second portion of the bone; a bone screw clamping assembly for receiving said pair of bone screws; and an adjustable central body interconnecting said frame and said bone screw clamping assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 11, wherein said frame includes an upper surface and a lower surface, said groove located between said upper and lower surfaces and opening in a direction substantially parallel to said length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 12, wherein said first clamping flange downwardly extends from said upper surface and said second clamping flange upwardly extends from said lower surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 11, wherein each said tension wire carriage includes a tension wire clamping portion adjustably interconnected to said frame for translation along and rotation about a line substantially perpendicular to said length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 11, further comprising a connector rod interconnecting said frame and said bone screw clamping assembly, and a base clamp including a first portion clamping said connector rod and a second portion clamping one of said bone screws.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 11, further comprising means for distracting said frame relative to said bone screw clamping assembly.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a pin or wire adapted to engage the bone; a frame including first and second spaced apart surfaces defining a groove, said first and second spaced apart surfaces being oriented generally parallel to one another, said frame including first and second clamping flanges, each of said clamping flanges oriented substantially perpendicular to said first and second spaced apart surfaces; and a carriage interconnecting said pin or wire and said frame, said carriage having a clamping portion including a clamping member insertable into said groove, said carriage adapted to releasably clamp at least one of said first and second clamping flanges.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for external fixation of a bone, the apparatus comprising: a pin or wire adapted to engage the bone; a frame including first and second spaced apart surfaces defining a groove, said first and second spaced apart surfaces being oriented generally parallel to one another, said frame including first and second clamping flanges, each of said clamping flanges oriented substantially perpendicular to said first and second spaced apart surfaces; and a carriage interconnecting said pin or wire and said frame, said carriage having a clamping portion including a clamping member insertable into said groove, said carriage adapted to releasably clamp at least one of said first and second clamping flanges.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 17, wherein said frame includes a generally arcuate length and further wherein said groove extends substantially along said length.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 18, wherein said groove is formed in an outer circumferential surface of said frame.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 17, wherein said carriage includes a main body portion and a rotatable member threadably engaged with said main body portion, said rotatable member including an end coupled to said clamping member such that rotation of said rotatable member in a first direction draws said clamping member toward said main body portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus for external fixation of a bone of claim 20, wherein at least one of said first and second clamping flanges is clamped between said clamping member and said main body portion of said carriage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4127119A
Cited
US4535763A
Cited
US4784125A
Cited
US5095919A
Cited
US4923458A
Cited
US5405347A
Cited
USD367529S
Cited
USD367531S
Cited
US5496319A
Cited
US5662650A
Cited
WO1997030650A1
Cited
WO1997030651A2
Cited
US5797908A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |