Polyaxial pivot housing for external fixation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9463045-B2
Application number	US-201414212596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

A polyaxial pivot housing for an external fixation system, comprising a first plate; a second plate substantially parallel to the first plate; a spherical member positioned between the first and second plates, the spherical member having a threaded post that is configured to attach to a support member of an external fixation frame; and a pivotably rotatable locking arm, the locking arm being configured to orientationally lock the threaded post with respect to the external fixation frame by compressing the first and second plates against the spherical member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A polyaxial pivot housing for an external fixation system comprising:
a first plate;
a second plate substantially parallel to the first plate;
a spherical member positioned between the first and second plates, the spherical member having a threaded post that is configured to attach to a support member of an external fixation frame; and
a pivotably rotatable locking arm, the locking arm being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the spherical member upon being pulled directionally toward the spherical member in order to orientationally lock the threaded post with respect to the external fixation frame by compressing the first and second plates against the spherical member.

2. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 1 , wherein the first plate includes a threaded bore hole configured to attach to an external fixation clamping assembly.

3. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 1 , wherein the first and second plates are connected by a locking bolt.

4. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 1 , further including a locking pin that is configured to prevent movement of the locking arm.

5. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 1 , wherein the first plate includes a first substantially circular recessed cavity that is dimensioned to receive a top portion of the spherical member.

6. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 5 , wherein the second plate includes a second substantially circular recessed cavity that is dimensioned to accept a bottom portion of the spherical member.

7. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a provisional locking feature that allows the alignment of bone fragments held by the external fixation frame to be slightly adjusted by overcoming a friction fit that is caused by compressive forces and soft tissue tension, the provisional locking feature being actuatable without the use of a tool.

8. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a definitive locking feature that allows bone fragments held by the external fixation frame to be secured in a defined alignment orientation, the definitive locking feature being manually actuatable without the use of a tool.

9. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 8 , wherein the definitive locking feature is actuated by moving the pivotably rotatable locking arm towards the spherical member about the longitudinal axis, the movement causing the second plate to compress the spherical member against the first plate.

10. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 9 , further comprising a set screw associated with the pivotably rotatable locking arm, the set screw being configured to prevent a locking bolt that passes through the first and second plates from moving independently of the pivotably rotatable locking am as the locking arm is moved about the longitudinal axis.

11. A polyaxial pivot housing for an external fixation system, comprising:
a first plate;
a second plate substantially parallel to the first plate;
a locking screw connecting the first and second plates;
a spherical member positioned between the first and second plates, the spherical member having a threaded post that is configured to attach to a support member of an external fixation frame; and
a pivotably rotatable locking arm, the locking arm being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the spherical member upon being pulled directionally toward the spherical member in order to orientationally lock the threaded post with respect to the external fixation frame by compressing the first and second plates against the spherical member;
wherein the polyaxial pivot housing has a provisional locking feature and a definitive locking feature, each locking feature being manually actuatable without the use of a tool.

12. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 11 , wherein the first plate includes a threaded bore hole configured to attach to an external fixation clamping assembly.

13. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 11 , further including a locking pin that is configured to prevent movement of the locking arm.

14. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 11 , wherein the first plate includes a first substantially circular recessed cavity that is dimensioned to receive a top portion of the spherical member.

15. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 14 , wherein the second plate includes a second substantially circular recessed cavity that is dimensioned to accept a bottom portion of the spherical member.

16. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 11 , wherein the provisional locking feature is configured to allow the alignment of bone fragments held by the external fixation frame to be slightly adjusted by overcoming a friction fit that is caused by compressive forces and soft tissue tension.

17. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 11 , wherein the definitive locking feature is configured to allow bone fragments held by the external fixation frame to be secured in a defined alignment orientation.

18. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 17 , wherein the definitive locking feature is actuated by moving the pivotably rotatable locking arm towards the spherical member about the longitudinal axis, the movement causing the second plate to compress the spherical member against the first plate.

19. The polyaxial pivot housing of claim 18 , further comprising a set screw associated with the pivotably rotatable locking arm, the set screw being configured to prevent a locking bolt that passes through the first and second plates from moving independently of the pivotably rotatable locking am as the locking arm is moved about the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Biomet Mfg Llc

Inventors

• Cresina Jeffery T
• Slagle Paul

Classifications

• A61B2017/0042

  with special provisions for gripping · CPC title

• A61B17/6458

  with pin-clamps fixed at ends of connecting element · CPC title

• A61B17/645 Primary

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

• A61B17/6416

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

• A61B17/62 Primary

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