Circular fixator system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016256194-A1
Application number	US-201414419604-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 2, 2014
Priority date	May 2, 2014
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device includes a plurality of rings. Each ring has a first face, a second face, and at least one slot defined by first and second interior edges of the ring on opposing sides of the slot. The at least one slot penetrates from the first face to the second face. The first face of each ring has a first recess adjacent the slot on the first edge and a second recess adjacent the slot on the second edge. A plurality of posts join each one of the plurality of rings to an adjacent one of the plurality of rings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device, comprising:
a plurality of rings, each ring having a first face, a second face, and at least one slot defined by first and second interior edges of the ring on opposing sides of the slot, the at least one slot penetrating from the first face to the second face, the first face of each ring having a first recess adjacent the slot on the first edge and a second recess adjacent the slot on the second edge; and a plurality of members joining each one of the plurality of rings to an adjacent one of the plurality of rings.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each recess comprises a plurality of receptacles.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein each recess comprises a plurality of curved arcs.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the slot terminates at an opening at each end of the slot, the opening having a dimension that is substantially greater than a width of the slot.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the opening is adapted to receive a nut of a fixation device therethrough, and the slot is adapted to receive a threaded portion of the fixation device therethrough, but the slot has a width that is smaller than a dimension of the nut.

6 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a fixation device comprising a bolt, a nut and a washer, the bolt having a threaded portion sized to fit through the slot, the washer shaped to fit a respective one of the receptacles on the recess on each side of the slot.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the bolt includes a slot in a side surface thereof, for receiving a wire.

8 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising a post having a threaded portion adapted to fit through the slot, the post having a longitudinal slot therethrough for receiving the bolt, the post having a mounting surface for engaging a respective one of the receptacles on the recess on each side of the slot.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the post has a plurality of grooves on at least one side face thereof, and the washer includes a ridge adapted to engage one of the grooves.

10 . The device of claim 6 , wherein:
the slot terminates at an opening at each end of the slot, the opening having a dimension that is substantially greater than a width of the slot, and the device further comprises a plurality of plugs, each plug having a shape and size adapted to be detachably retained in a respective one of the openings, for retaining the bolt in the slot prior to tightening the nut and bolt.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein:
each plug has a compressible tubular end with a plurality of slots therein and a ridge for retaining the plug within a respective one of the openings.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a circular fixator, and one of the plurality of rings is elongated, the elongated ring having a proximal portion and distal portion, the elongated ring configured so that the distal portion can be rigidly attached to the first portion in a first position parallel to or coplanar with the proximal portion, and the distal portion can be rigidly attached to the first portion in a second position having a non-zero angle with respect to the proximal portion.

13 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one positioner comprising:
at least one Y-shaped member having an angled portion, or a cup-shaped member having a concave portion, for supporting a limb of a patient; and a mounting device for attaching the positioner to one of the plurality of rings without a tool.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein:
each recess comprises a plurality of curved arcs; the Y-shaped member or cup shaped member includes a support arm having a slot therethrough; and the mounting device comprises a threaded member adapted to fit through the slot of the one of the plurality of rings and through the slot of the support arm simultaneously, the threaded member having a head at one end thereof, the head having a width smaller than a width of the slots of the rings, and a length greater than the width of the slots of the rings, the length adapted to engage each recess of one of the plurality of rings.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein
the slot of each ring terminates at a respective opening at each end of the slot, the openings having a dimension that is substantially greater than a width of the slot. the mounting device further includes a threaded knob adapted to be received in the recess of the one of the plurality of rings, the threaded knob configured for receiving the threaded member of the mounting device, the threaded knob having a size that is greater than a width of the slots of the rings, but smaller than the dimension of the openings.

16 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one positioner comprising:
a plurality of support devices for supporting a limb of a patient, each support device having a respective arm and a respective concave or angled portion attached to the arm; a body having a plurality of holes for slidably receiving respective ones of the plurality of support devices therethrough; a respective retaining device proximate each of the plurality of holes, for retaining a respective one of the support devices in a continuously selectable position; and a mounting device for detachably mounting the positioner to an edge of one of the plurality of rings.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the concave or angled portion of at least one of the support devices has a plurality of slots for receiving a retaining strap therethrough.

18 . A method for positioning a leg of a patient, comprising:
pre-loading respective fixation devices in a plurality of slots of a circular fixator, each fixation device having a threaded bolt with a side slot in a side edge thereof; positioning the circular fixator around the leg; inserting at least one wire through the leg after the pre-loading; sliding each pre-loaded fixation device until the side slot thereof engages the at least one wire; and securing the fixation devices so as to secure the engaged wire to the circular fixator.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the circular fixator includes at least one ring, having the plurality of slots extending therethrough, and the pre-loading includes placing the threaded bolt of one of the fixation devices through the slot with a nut attached thereto, so that the nut is sufficiently loose to permit the sliding.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the ring has a recess on each of two respective interior edges that define the slot therebetween, and the one of the fixation devices further includes a washer having peripheral edges adapted to fit in the respective recess of each of the edges, and
the sliding step includes moving the one of the fixation device until the peripheral edges are received in the respective recess of each of the edges.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein each threaded bolt has a respective head and a respective nut, and at least one slot of the circular fixator has an opening at each end thereof, the opening having a size larger than a size of the head, and the pre-loading step includes:
inserting the head or nut of one of the fixation devices though one of the openings, so that the ring is between the head and the nut; and inserting a plug in each of the openings after inserting the head or nut, to prevent the fixation device from falling out of the ring.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the circular fixator includes at lea

Assignees

• Wright Medical Tech Inc

Inventors

• Wong Kian-Ming
• Edie Jason

Classifications

• A61B17/171

  for external fixation · CPC title

• A61B17/62 Primary

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

• A61B17/6425

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

• A61B17/645

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