Clamping assembly for external fixation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016287290-A1
Application number	US-201615185313-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A clamping assembly for an external fixation system, comprising a clamp body having an opening for receiving a bone fixation member; a pivotably rotatable locking arm associated with the clamp body, the locking arm being configured to provisionally hold the bone fixation member inside the opening of the clamp body; and a can arm coupled to the locking arm, the cam arm being pivotably rotatable towards the clamp body to definitively hold the bone fixation member inside the opening of the clamp body.

First claim

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A clamping assembly for an external fixation system, comprising:
a clamp body having an opening for receiving a bone fixation member; a pivotably rotatable locking arm associated with the clamp body, the locking arm being configured to provisionally hold the bone fixation member inside the opening of the clamp body; and a plurality of slots formed into the clamp body, wherein at least one of the plurality of slots has an end that terminates into the opening of the clamp body.

12 . The clamping assembly of claim 11 , wherein the opening is defined between a pair of jaws that are configured to snappingly engage the bone fixation member as the bone fixation member is introduced into the opening.

13 . The clamping assembly of claim 12 , wherein the clamp body further comprises a second opening for receiving a second bone fixation member, the second opening being defined between a second pair of jaws that are configured to snappingly engage the second bone fixation member as the second bone fixation member is introduced into the second opening.

14 . The clamping assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a second clamp body operably interconnected with the first clamp body.

15 . The clamping assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first and second clamp bodies share a common through-hole, the through-hole being configured to receive a bolt that is threadable into the locking arm.

16 . The clamping assembly of claim 15 , wherein the locking arm includes internal threads that are configured to mesh with external threads of the bolt as the bolt is rotated about a longitudinal axis.

17 . The clamping assembly of claim 15 , further comprising at least one serrated surface that is configured to arrest rotational movement of the first clamp body relative to the second clamp body about a longitudinal axis of the bolt.

18 . The clamping assembly of claim 17 , wherein the at least one serrated surface is disposed between the first and second clamp bodies.

19 . The clamping assembly of claim 17 , wherein the at least one serrated surface is disposed on at least one of the first and second clamp bodies.

20 . The clamping assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a cam arm coupled to the locking arm, the cam arm being pivotably rotatable towards the clamp body to definitively hold the bone fixation member inside the opening of the clamp body.

21 . The clamping assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a cam pocket for receiving and engaging a portion of the cam arm as the cam arm is pivotably rotatable towards the clamp body.

22 . The clamping assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a tab extending from the clamp body, the tab including a through-hole for receiving a locking pin.

23 . The clamping assembly of claim 22 , wherein the cam arm further comprises an opening that is configured to align with the through-hole to create a common aperture for receiving the locking pin.

24 . The clamping assembly of claim 23 , wherein the locking pin is configured to prevent the cam arm from being lifted away from the clamp body when inserted through the common aperture.

25 . The clamping assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bone fixation member comprises a bone pin, a bone screw, a bone transfixing pin, a frame member, a rod or a bar.

Assignees

• Biomet Mfg Llc

Inventors

• Cresina Jeffery
• Slagle Paul Thomas

Classifications

• A61B17/645 Primary

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

• A61B17/6458 Primary

  with pin-clamps fixed at ends of connecting element · 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

• A61B17/6416

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

• A61B17/66

  {Alignment}, compression or distraction mechanisms · CPC title