Female polyaxial joint and method of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11684390-B2
Application number	US-202117143480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2021
Priority date	Jan 7, 2021
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

Female polyaxial joints for connecting a strut to a support frame of an external fixation device are described having a ball socket and a ball member. The ball member includes a spherical portion and a ball member shaft extending from the spherical portion. At least one aperture is positioned on the ball member and traverses through at least a portion of the ball member shaft. An internal surface of the ball member shaft may be threaded and configured to receive a threaded connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An external fixation device, comprising:
at least one support frame having at least one aperture extending from a first surface to a second surface;
a connector having a shaft configured to be received in the at least one aperture;
at least one strut having a housing extending between a first end and a second end, the strut comprising a female polyaxial joint positioned on the first end of the at least one strut, the female polyaxial joint having a ball member with an internal surface configured to engage with the shaft of the connector and secure the strut to the at least one support frame.

2. The external fixation device of claim 1 , the female polyaxial joint includes:
a ball socket; and,
wherein the ball member is rotatably coupled to the ball socket and configured to provide pivoting movement between the strut and the at least one support frame.

3. The external fixation device of claim 2 , wherein the ball member includes a first end forming a spherical portion and a ball member shaft extending from the spherical portion to a second end of the ball member.

4. The external fixation device of claim 3 , wherein the ball member shaft is configured to extend through the at least one aperture of the at least one support frame.

5. The external fixation device of claim 3 , wherein the ball member includes an aperture positioned at the second end of the ball member and extending through the ball member shaft, the aperture providing access to the internal surface configured to engage with the shaft of the connector, the connector being threaded.

6. The external fixation device of claim 5 , wherein the aperture extends through the ball member shaft and at least a portion of the spherical portion of the ball member.

7. The external fixation device of claim 2 , wherein the ball socket is configured to partially enclose the ball member such that the ball member is operably received within the ball socket while maintaining rotational movement.

8. The external fixation device of claim 2 , wherein the ball socket includes at least one projection providing an enclosure to receive the ball member.

9. The external fixation device of claim 2 , wherein the ball socket is formed in the first end of the strut.

10. The external fixation device of claim 2 , wherein the female polyaxial joint further comprises a collar positioned between the ball socket and the at least one support frame.

11. The external fixation device of claim 10 , wherein the collar is configured to provide a gap between the ball member and the at least one support frame.

12. The external fixation device of claim 10 , wherein the collar and the ball member are positioned via a captive fit.

13. The external fixation device of claim 12 , wherein the collar has an internal side and the ball member has an external side configured to engage with the internal side of the collar in a complimentary relationship forming a lock and key anti-rotation fit.

14. The external fixation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strut includes the female polyaxial joint positioned on the first end of the strut and a second female polyaxial joint positioned on the second end of the strut.

15. The external fixation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strut includes the female polyaxial joint positioned on the first end of the strut and a polyaxial stud joint positioned on the second end of the strut.

16. A polyaxial joint for connecting a strut to a support frame of an external fixation device, comprising:
a ball socket; and,
a ball member having a first end with a spherical portion and a ball member shaft extending from the spherical portion to a second end of the ball member, at least one aperture positioned at the second end of the ball member and traversing through at least a portion of the ball member shaft, an internal surface of the ball member shaft being threaded and configured to receive a threaded connector extending through the support frame of the external fixation device from a first surface to a second surface.

17. The polyaxial joint of claim 16 , wherein the spherical portion of the ball member is rotatably coupled to the ball socket and configured to provide pivoting movement between the strut and the support frame of the external fixation device.

18. The polyaxial joint of claim 17 , further comprising a collar positioned on and surrounding the ball member shaft.

19. The polyaxial joint of claim 18 , wherein the collar extends beyond the ball member shaft.

20. A method, comprising:
aligning a female polyaxial joint on a strut with an aperture within a support frame of an external fixation device, the female polyaxial joint having a ball member with an aperture providing access to an internal surface configured to receive a connector;
inserting a shaft of the connector into the aperture of the support frame and into the aperture of the ball member; and,
tightening the connector to secure the strut to the support frame and lock the female polyaxial joint.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Lavoritano Scott
• Montello Albert
• Hearn James
• Notzli Christoph

Classifications

• A61B17/62 Primary

  Ring frames, i.e. devices extending around the bones to be positioned ({A61B17/6433} , A61B17/66 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/564

  Methods for bone or joint treatment · CPC title

• A61B17/6425 Primary

  specially adapted to be fitted across a bone joint · CPC title

• A61B17/6416 Primary

  with non-continuous, e.g. hinged, pin-clamp connecting element (A61B17/6425, A61B17/6441 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/645

  comprising a framework (A61B17/6425, A61B17/6441 take precedence) · CPC title