U.S. patent application number 16/811536 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-03 for orthopedic compression/distraction device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wright Medical Technology, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Wright Medical Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Thomas CRAMER, David HARNESS, Gary LOWERY, Daniel McCORMICK, Wesley REED, Brian THOREN.
Application Number | 20200375637 16/811536 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005030591 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-03 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200375637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
THOREN; Brian ; et
al. |
December 3, 2020 |
ORTHOPEDIC COMPRESSION/DISTRACTION DEVICE
Abstract
An orthopedic device configured for use as a compressor or a
distractor is provided. The device has two arm members and a
locking sleeve for securely holding an elongated pin is attached to
each of the two arm members. The locking sleeve are hingeably
connected to the outer end of each of the two arm members by a
biaxial hinge block, wherein the biaxial hinge block is configured
to allow the locking sleeve to swivel in two different directions
about two orthogonally oriented axes.
Inventors: |
THOREN; Brian; (Memphis,
TN) ; McCORMICK; Daniel; (North Kingstown, RI)
; REED; Wesley; (Memphis, TN) ; CRAMER;
Thomas; (Gainesville, FL) ; LOWERY; Gary;
(Eads, TN) ; HARNESS; David; (Eads, TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wright Medical Technology, Inc. |
Memphis |
TN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Wright Medical Technology,
Inc.
Memphis
TN
|
Family ID: |
1000005030591 |
Appl. No.: |
16/811536 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15680655 |
Aug 18, 2017 |
10631900 |
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16811536 |
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14212882 |
Mar 14, 2014 |
9770272 |
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15680655 |
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13712300 |
Dec 12, 2012 |
9078710 |
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14212882 |
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61782759 |
Mar 14, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/7077
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/70 20060101
A61B017/70 |
Claims
1.-20. (canceled)
21. A device, comprising: a locking sleeve, including an elongate
shaft defining a pin receiving bore therethrough, the elongate
shaft defining a plurality of slots extending longitudinally from a
first end of the elongate shaft to a first location along a length
of the elongate shaft to provide a plurality of collet arms, each
of the plurality of collet arms including at least one first thread
integrally formed on an exterior surface of the plurality of collet
arms and adjacent to the first end of the elongate shaft, at least
one second thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the
collet arms and adjacent to the at least one first thread, and a
thread-free zone disposed between the at least one first thread and
the at least one second thread.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein the first end of the elongate
shaft includes a chamfer.
23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a collet nut
defining a threaded opening that is sized and configured to engage
the at least one first thread and the at least one second and to
deflect the plurality of collet arms.
24. The device of claim 23, wherein the collet nut includes an
inner surface that is at least partially conical and is configured
to engage the chamfer.
25. The device of claim 23, wherein the collet nut defines a hole
defining an axis that extends perpendicular to an axis defined by
the threaded opening, and wherein the hole is positioned along a
length of the collet nut such that the hole is positioned along the
thread-free zone of the elongate shaft of the locking sleeve when
the collet nut is engaged with the locking sleeve.
26. The device of claim 25, further comprising a set screw sized
and configured to be received within the hole defined by the collet
nut.
27. An orthopedic device, comprising: a body having a length; a
first arm coupled to a first end of the body; a second arm coupled
to the body such that the second arm is movable along the length of
the body; a first locking sleeve coupled to an end of the first
arm; and a second locking sleeve coupled to an end of the second
arm, wherein each of the first and second locking sleeves includes:
an elongate shaft defining a bore therethrough and defining a
plurality of slots extending longitudinally from a first end of the
elongate shaft to a first location along a length of the elongate
shaft to provide a plurality of collet arms, each of the plurality
of collet arms including at least one first thread integrally
formed on an exterior surface of the plurality of collet arms and
adjacent to the first end of the elongate shaft, at least one
second thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the
collet arms and adjacent to the at least one first thread, and a
thread-free zone disposed between the at least one first thread and
the at least one second thread.
28. The orthopedic device of claim 27, wherein the first end of the
elongate shaft includes a chamfer.
29. The orthopedic device of claim 28, further comprising a collet
nut defining a threaded opening that is sized and configured to
engage the at least one first thread and the at least one thread
and to deflect the plurality of collet arms.
30. The orthopedic device of claim 29, wherein the collet nut
includes an inner surface that is at least partially conical and is
configured to engage the chamfer.
31. The orthopedic device of claim 29, wherein the collet nut
defines a hole defining an axis that extends perpendicular to an
axis defined by the threaded opening, and wherein the hole is
positioned along a length of the collet nut such that the hole is
positioned along the thread-free zone of the elongate shaft of the
locking sleeve when the collet nut is engaged with the locking
sleeve.
32. The orthopedic device of claim 31, further comprising a set
screw sized and configured to be received within the hole defined
by the collet nut.
33. The orthopedic device of claim 27, wherein the body includes
ratchet teeth along the length of the body, and wherein a base
portion of the second arm includes a ratchet mechanism configured
to engage the ratchet teeth of the body.
34. The orthopedic device of claim 33, wherein the base portion of
the second arm includes a selector switch for controlling a
permitted movement of the second arm relative to the body.
35. The orthopedic device of claim 33, wherein the base portion of
the second arm includes a key handle for actuating the ratchet
mechanism.
36. An orthopedic device, comprising: a body having a length upon
which a plurality of ratchet teeth are disposed; a first arm
coupled to a first end of the body; a second arm coupled to the
body such that the second arm is movable along the length of the
body by engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth of the body; a
first locking sleeve coupled to an end of the first arm; and a
second locking sleeve coupled to an end of the second arm, wherein
each of the first and second locking sleeves includes: an elongate
shaft defining a bore therethrough and defining a plurality of
slots that extend longitudinally from a first end of the elongate
shaft to a first location along a length of the elongate shaft to
provide a plurality of collet arms, each of the plurality of collet
arms including at least one first thread integrally formed on an
exterior surface of the plurality of collet arms and adjacent to
the first end of the elongate shaft, at least one second thread
integrally formed on an exterior surface of the collet arms and
adjacent to the at least one first thread, and a thread-free zone
disposed between the at least one first thread and the at least one
second thread; and a collet nut defining a threaded opening that is
sized and configured to engage the at least one first thread and
the at least one second thread and to deflect the plurality of
collet arms.
37. The orthopedic device of claim 36, wherein the first end of the
elongate shaft includes a chamfer, and wherein the collet nut
includes an inner surface that is at least partially conical and is
configured to engage the chamfer.
38. The orthopedic device of claim 36 wherein a base portion of the
second arm includes a ratchet mechanism configured to engage the
ratchet teeth of the body.
39. The orthopedic device of claim 38, wherein the base portion of
the second arm includes a selector switch for controlling permitted
movement of the second arm relative to the body.
40. The orthopedic device of claim 39, wherein the base portion of
the second arm includes a key handle for actuating the ratchet
mechanism.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/212,882, filed on Mar. 14, 2014, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/712,300, filed on Dec. 12, 2012, the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims
the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of a U.S. Provisional
application No. 61/782,759, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an orthopedic device for
compression or distraction of bone parts.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Orthopedic devices utilizing elongated pins as fasteners for
compression or distraction of bone parts finds many uses for
treating orthopedic patients. "Elongated pins" will be used herein
to refer to various pins and wires, such as K-wires, used for
fixating bone parts or providing anchors. Therefore, there is a
continuing need for an improved orthopedic device that expands the
scope and ability of the orthopedic surgeons in treating patients
in a variety of conditions.
SUMMARY
[0004] According to an aspect of the present disclosure an
orthopedic device that can be used for compression or distraction
of bone parts is described. The orthopedic device comprises an
elongated body having first and second ends, a first arm member
attached to and transversely extending away from said first end and
terminating at an outer end and a second arm member transversely
extending away from said elongated body and having a base portion
and an outer end. The base portion is configured and adapted to
movably engage the elongated body allowing the second arm member to
be longitudinally movable along said elongated body. Said second
arm member extends from the elongated body in the same direction as
the first arm member. The orthopedic device also includes a locking
sleeve hingeably connected to the outer end of each of the first
and second arm members by a biaxial hinge block, wherein the
locking sleeve is configured for receiving and locking on to an
elongated pin and the biaxial hinge block is configured to allow
each of the locking sleeve to swivel in two different directions
with respect to its corresponding arm member about two orthogonally
oriented axes.
[0005] According to another aspect, an assembly comprising a
biaxial hinge block; and a locking sleeve is disclosed. In the
assembly, the biaxial hinge block and the locking sleeve are
configured to hingeably connect the locking sleeve to an arm member
of an orthopedic device, said biaxial hinge block being configured
to allow the locking sleeve to swivel in two different directions
with respect to the arm member about two orthogonally oriented
swivel axes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an orthopedic device according
to the present disclosure showing the locking sleeve attachments
swiveled toward each other while the orthopedic device is in a
distraction mode.
[0007] FIG. 2A is an illustration of the orthopedic device of FIG.
1 with the locking sleeve attachments removed.
[0008] FIG. 2B is an illustration showing the rack-and-pinion
mechanism of the orthopedic device of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an illustration of and embodiment of the
orthopedic device of FIG. 1 with 3-point bending yoke
attachments.
[0010] FIG. 4A is an illustration of a biaxially swiveling locking
sleeve attachment in its straight position viewed along its
x-axis.
[0011] FIG. 4B is an illustration of the biaxially swiveling
locking sleeve swiveled about the x-axis.
[0012] FIG. 5A is an illustration of the biaxially swiveling
locking sleeve swiveled about its y-axis.
[0013] FIG. 5B is an illustration of the biaxially swiveling
locking sleeve swiveled about the x-axis and the y-axis.
[0014] FIG. 6A is an illustration of the locking sleeve connected
to the biaxial hinge block viewed along the y-axis showing the
plane K-K extending through the center of the locking sleeve along
which the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6B is taken.
[0015] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view along K-K taken through
the biaxially swiveling locking sleeve attachment in its swiveling
position.
[0016] FIG. 7A is the illustration of FIG. 6A showing the plane L-L
extending off-center through the locking sleeve along which the
cross-sectional view of FIG. 7B is taken.
[0017] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view along L-L taken through
the biaxially swiveling locking sleeve attachment in its swiveling
position.
[0018] FIG. 8A is the illustration of FIG. 6A showing the plane M-M
extending through the center of the locking sleeve along which the
cross-sectional view of FIG. 8B is taken.
[0019] FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view along M-M taken through
the biaxially swiveling locking sleeve attachment in its
non-swiveling position.
[0020] FIG. 9A is the illustration of FIG. 6A showing the plane N-N
extending off-center through the locking sleeve along which the
cross-sectional view of FIG. 9B is taken.
[0021] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view along N-N taken through
the biaxially swiveling locking sleeve attachment in its swiveling
position.
[0022] FIG. 10A is an illustration of the biaxially swiveling
locking sleeve in its non-swiveling position shown with only the
y-axis locking pin portion of the biaxial hinge block shown.
[0023] FIG. 10B is an illustration of the biaxially swiveling
locking sleeve in its swiveling position shown with only the y-axis
locking pin portion of the biaxial hinge block shown.
[0024] FIG. 11A is an illustration of the biaxially swiveling
locking sleeve in the same configuration as in FIG. 10A viewed from
a different angle.
[0025] FIG. 11B is an illustration of the biaxially swiveling
locking sleeve in the same configuration as in FIG. 10B viewed from
a different angle.
[0026] FIG. 12 is an exploded orthographic view showing the
threaded collet end of a locking sleeve and a collet nut where the
collet nut is shown in cross-section.
[0027] The features shown in the above referenced drawings are
illustrated schematically and are not intended to be drawn to scale
nor are they intended to be shown in precise positional
relationship. Like reference numbers indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to
be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to
be considered part of the entire written description. In the
description, relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal,"
"vertical,", "above," "below," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom" as
well as derivative thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly,"
"upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation
as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion.
These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not
require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a
particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and
the like, such as "connected" and "interconnected," refer to a
relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one
another either directly or indirectly through intervening
structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or
relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
[0029] FIGS. 1-2B show an orthopedic device 100 that can be used
for compression or distraction of bone parts according to an aspect
of the present disclosure. The orthopedic device 100 comprises an
elongated body 110 having first end 10 and a second end 20. A first
arm member 112 extends away from the first end 10 in a direction
transverse to the elongated body 110. The first arm member 112 can
be integrally formed with the body 110 or otherwise attached to the
elongated body 110. A second arm member 111 transversely extends
away from the elongated body 110. The second arm member 111 is
configured with a base portion 113 that is configured and adapted
to movably engage the elongated body 110 allowing the second arm
member 111 to be longitudinally movable along the elongated body to
accomplish compression or distraction function of the device.
[0030] The actual structural mechanism for enabling the movable
engagement between the elongated body 110 and the second arm member
111 can be one of many such structures known in the art. Referring
to FIG. 2B, in one embodiment, the elongated body 110 is a rack of
gear teeth 110a and a pinion gear 115a provided on the base portion
113 engages the rack of gear teeth 110a for longitudinally moving
the second arm member 111 along the elongated body. The pinion gear
115a is rotatably attached to the base portion 113 and the second
arm member 111 is moved longitudinally by turning the pinion gear
115a. The pinion gear 115a is provided with a bow 115, similar to a
bow on a key, to enable a user to turn the pinion gear.
[0031] The base portion 113 is configured with ratcheting
mechanisms that can selectably operate in compression or
distraction mode. For example, the base portion 113 can be provided
with a spring-loaded ratcheting pin mechanism 116 for limiting the
moving direction of the second arm member 111 along the elongated
body 110 to be a one-way movement, as shown in FIG. 2B.
[0032] In the configuration shown in FIG. 2B, the spring-loaded
ratcheting pin mechanism 116 is arranged so that the ratcheting pin
mechanism 116 engages the ratchet teeth 110b by a detent 116a. The
coil spring S urges the detent 116a against the ratchet teeth 110b.
The detent 116a has a slanted surface on one side as shown so that
the ratchet teeth 110b can depress the detent 116a against the
spring S and, thus, gliding over the detent 116a. The elongated
body 110 can move in the direction of arrow AA1 by turning the
pinion gear 115a in the direction of the arrow AA. The detent 116a
will prevent the elongated body 110 from moving in the opposite
direction shown by the arrow BB1.
[0033] In order to move the elongated body 110 in the direction of
the arrow BB1, the spring-loaded ratcheting pin mechanism 116 is
turned 180 degrees so that the slanted side of the detent 116a is
now facing in the opposite direction. This feature is used to
change the direction of the one-way movement second arm member 111
so that the operation of the orthopedic device 100 is changed from
compression to distraction and vice versa. The spring loaded
ratcheting pin mechanism 116 can be turned 180 degrees by pulling
the pin mechanism out using the thumb wheel 117, turning it 180
degrees and releasing it. The spring bias will return the pin
mechanism 116 to the seated position but with the detent 116a now
facing 180 degrees from before. Then, the pinion gear 115a can be
turned in the direction of the arrow BB and move the elongated body
110 in the direction of the arrow BB1. Another example of the
ratcheting mechanism between the base portion 113 and the elongated
body 110 is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/712,300, filed by the Applicant on Dec. 12, 2012, the contents
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0034] In the orthopedic device 100 according to the present
disclosure shown I FIG. 1, locking sleeve 120 attachments are
hingeably connected to the outer ends of the first and second arm
members 111, 112 by a biaxial hinge block 130 shown in FIGS. 4A-9B.
The locking sleeves 120 are configured for receiving and locking on
to an elongated pin and the biaxial hinge block 130 is configured
to allow each of the locking sleeve to swivel in two different
directions with respect to its corresponding arm member, 111 or
112, about two orthogonally oriented axes. The biaxial hinge block
130 is shown and described in detail below in conjunction with
FIGS. 4A through 9B.
[0035] In FIG. 1, the orthopedic device 100 is in distraction mode
and the locking sleeve attachments 120 holding elongated pins 5 are
shown swiveled toward each other forming an angle 0 between the two
locking sleeve attachments 120.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 4A through 5C, the orthopedic device 100
also includes a locking sleeve 120 hingeably connected to the outer
end of each of the first and second arm members 111, 112 by a
biaxial hinge block 130, wherein each locking sleeve 120 is
configured for lockably receiving an elongated pin (not shown).
[0037] The locking sleeve 120 comprises an elongated shaft 124
having an elongated pin receiving bore 127 (see FIGS. 6B, 7B, 8B,
9B) extending therethrough and a threaded collet 220 (see FIG. 7)
provided at one end of the elongated shaft for locking onto or
securely holding the elongated pin received in the pin receiving
bore 127. Referring to FIG. 12, the threaded collet 220 comprises a
plurality of collet arms 221, defined by slots 222, provided with
screw threads 227a, 227b integrally formed on their exterior
surfaces, and a collet nut 122 that is threadably engaged to the
threaded collet 220 for locking or securely holding the elongated
pin 5 that is received in the elongated pin receiving bore 127.
[0038] FIG. 12 shows detailed structures of the threaded collet 220
and the collet nut 122. As shown in the longitudinal cross-section
view of the collet nut 122 in FIG. 12, the collet nut 122 is open
at one end for receiving the threaded collet 220 and has an
interior surface provided with screw threads 122b for threadably
engaging the screw threads 227a, 227b of the collet 220. At the end
opposite from the threaded collet receiving end, a through hole
122a is provided for the elongated pin received in the elongated
pin receiving bore 127. The interior surface of the collet nut 122
is configured with a conical surface 122c for engaging collet arms
221. When an elongated pin 5 is received in the elongated pin
receiving bore 127, the threading action of the collet nut 122
causes the collet arms 221 to move radially inward and clamp onto
the elongated pin and lock the elongated pin in place. Generally,
it is envisioned that the user can lock an elongated pin received
in the elongated receiving bore 127 by tightening the collet nut
122 by hand. Further details of the structures of the threaded
collet 220 and the collet nut 122 can be found in the U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/712,300, filed by the Applicant on Dec. 12,
2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4A through 5C, each of the biaxial hinge
blocks 130 is configured to allow the locking sleeve 120 to swivel
in two directions about two orthogonally oriented swivel axes,
x-axis and y-axis. The biaxial hinge blocks 130 can connect the
locking sleeves 120 directly to the outer ends of one of the arm
members 111, 112 similar to the way the hinge joints in the
orthopedic device disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/712,300 connect the locking sleeves to the outer ends of the arm
members 111, 112. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
outer ends of the arm members 111, 112 are configured for modular
connection of the locking sleeves 120 or some other
attachments.
[0040] An example of the orthopedic device 100 with 3-point bending
yoke attachments 500A and 500B attached to the first and second arm
members 111, 112 is shown in FIG. 3. Such 3-point bending yoke
attachments can be used to accomplish radial distraction of a bone
segment.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2A, the outer ends of the first and second
arm members 111, 112 are configured to receive attachments. As
shown in FIG. 5C, the biaxial hinge block 130 is hingeably
connected to an arm extension piece 111a, 112a which is configured
to removably attach to the first and second arm members 111, 112.
The specific structures that will enable such attachment between
the first and second arm members and the arm extension pieces can
be one of a variety of structures that are well known or obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art and need not be described in
detail here.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the biaxial hinge block 130
includes a first hinge joint that swivels about a first swivel
axis, x-axis. The first hinge joint allows the locking sleeve 120
to swivel about the x-axis in a first direction which is
represented by the arrow A in FIG. 4B. The first hinge joint can
include a swivel pin 121 forming the x-axis and connecting the
biaxial hinge block 130 to the arm extension piece 111a, 112a. The
biaxial hinge block 130 also includes a second hinge joint that
swivels about a second swivel axis, y-axis, that is orthogonal to
the first swivel axis. Thus, the biaxial hinge block 130 allows the
locking sleeve 120 to swivel in two directions about the two
orthogonally oriented swivel axes. FIG. 5A shows the locking sleeve
120 swiveled about the second swivel axis, y-axis, so that the
locking sleeve 120 is tilted away from the longitudinal axis L of
the arm extension pieces 111a, 112a. FIG. 5B shows an orthogonal
projection view of the locking sleeve 120 swiveled about both
swivel axes of the biaxial hinge block 130.
[0043] In the illustrated example, the first hinge joint is formed
by a pin 20 that is aligned with the x-axis and connects the
biaxial hinge block 130 to the arm extension pieces 111a, 112a. The
first swivel axis, x-axis, is oriented parallel to the elongated
body 110 of the orthopedic device.
[0044] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the first
hinge joint can be configured and adapted to be normally locked at
a desired swivel angle and prevented from swiveling about the first
swivel axis, x-axis, by a spring-loaded locking pin 112b. When the
spring-loaded locking pin 112b is pressed, the first hinge joint is
unlocked and free to swivel about the x-axis.
[0045] The second hinge joint of the biaxial hinge block 130 will
be described in more detail using the additional FIGS. 6A through
11B. The second hinge joint is formed by a swiveling shaft 125,
that is orthogonally extending from the elongated shaft of the
locking sleeve 120 and received in the biaxial hinge block 130
along the second swivel axis, y-axis. The swiveling shaft 125 is
movable within the biaxial hinge block 130 along the second swivel
axis between two positions. A locked first position that keeps the
locking sleeve 120 in a non-swiveling position preventing the
locking sleeve 120 from swiveling about the second swivel axis, and
an unlocked second position allowing the locking sleeve 120 to
swivel about the second swivel axis.
[0046] FIGS. 6A-7B show the swiveling shaft 125 in its unlocked
second position within the biaxial hinge block 130, wherein the
locking sleeve attachment 120 can swivel about the y-axis. FIG. 6A
is an illustration of the locking sleeve attachment 120 connected
to the biaxial hinge block 130 viewed along the y-axis showing the
plane K-K extending through the center of the locking sleeve
attachment 120 along which the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6B is
taken. FIG. 6B is the cross-sectional view taken along K-K. FIG. 7A
is the illustration of FIG. 6A showing the plane L-L extending
off-center through the locking sleeve attachment 120 along which
the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7B is taken. FIG. 7B is a
cross-sectional view along L-L. The biaxial hinge block 130 is
provided with a through-hole 131 for receiving the swiveling shaft
125 therethrough. The swiveling shaft 125 has an annular groove 126
and the biaxial hinge block 130 is provided with a locking key 140
that engages the annular groove 126 and keeps the locking sleeve
120 in the unlocked second position. The engaging relationship
between the locking key 140 and the swiveling shaft 125 can be
better seen in FIG. 10B in which only the locking sleeve's
swiveling shaft 125 and the locking key 140 are shown without the
biaxial hinge block 130. The locking key 140 sits within the
annular groove 126 and prevents the swiveling shaft 125 from moving
along the y-axis while allowing the swiveling shaft 125 and, thus,
the locking sleeve 120 to swivel about the y-axis.
[0047] FIGS. 8A-9B show the swiveling shaft 125 in its locked first
position, the non-swiveling position, within the biaxial hinge
block 130. The locking sleeve attachment 120 is in a fixed
orientation and cannot swivel about the y-axis. FIG. 8A is the same
view as FIG. 6A but showing the plane M-M extending through the
center of the locking sleeve along which the cross-sectional view
of FIG. 8B is taken. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along
M-M. FIG. 9A is the same view as FIG. 6A but showing the plane N-N
extending off-center through the locking sleeve along which the
cross-sectional view of FIG. 9B is taken. FIG. 9B is a
cross-sectional view taken along N-N. In the locked first position,
the swiveling shaft 125 is pushed further into the through-hole 131
of the biaxial hinge block 130 so that the locking key 140 is no
longer sitting within the annular groove 126. Referring to FIGS.
10A-11B, the swiveling shaft 125 is provided with one or more
alignment tabs 128 near the base portion (the part of the elongated
shaft 124 connected to the elongated shaft 124) of the swiveling
shaft 125 and the through-hole 131 of the biaxial hinge block 130
has an alignment-tab-receiving end 132 (see FIG. 7B) that is
configured and adapted to receive the alignment tabs 128.
Preferably, the alignment tabs 128 are two tabs oppositely located
on the base portion of the swiveling shaft but other
non-symmetrically positioned arrangements are also
contemplated.
[0048] The alignment-tab-receiving end 132 of the through-hole 131
has an opening outline that matches the transverse cross-sectional
outline of the alignment tabs 128 so that in the locked first
position, where the swiveling shaft 125 is pushed further into the
through-hole 131, the alignment tabs 128 engage or mate with the
alignment-tab-receiving end 132 and prevent the locking sleeve from
swiveling about the y-axis.
[0049] In one embodiment, the locked first position holds the
locking sleeve 120 in an orientation that keeps the elongated shaft
124 of the locking sleeve 120 in a parallel orientation with the
arm members 111, 112 of the orthopedic device. In another
embodiment, the alignment tabs 128 and the alignment-tab-receiving
end 132 can be configured to hold the locking sleeve 120 in any
desired angular orientation about the y-axis.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 6A-9B, the swiveling shaft 125 is
provided with an end cap 129 that captures a coil spring 150 inside
an end-cap-receiving portion 133 of the through-hole 131. The coil
spring is in a normally compressed state inside the
end-cap-receiving portion 133 so that the coil spring is always
urging against the end cap 129 pulling the swiveling shaft 125
further into the through-hole 131 and toward the locked first
position shown in FIGS. 8A-9B.
[0051] FIGS. 10A and 11A show the positional relationship of the
locking key 140 and the swiveling shaft 125 when the swiveling
shaft 125 is in the locked first position. In the locked first
position, the locking key 140 is not sitting in the annular groove
126.
[0052] According to an embodiment, the locking key 140 is
spring-loaded within the biaxial hinge block 130 to be urged in the
direction C shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, which is transverse to the
y-axis, the second swivel axis. To unlock the swiveling shaft 125
from the locked first position shown in FIGS. 9B and 10A, the end
cap 129 of the swiveling shaft is pushed in the direction B shown
in FIG. 10A. This moves the swiveling shaft 125 along the y-axis
into its unlocked second position and the annular groove 126 comes
in alignment with the locking key 140. Because the locking key 140
is spring-loaded and being urged in the direction C, the locking
key 140 will slide into the annular groove 126 and prevents the
swiveling shaft 125 from backing out and keeps the swiveling shaft
125 in its unlocked second position. To move the swiveling shaft
125 back to its non-swiveling first position, the end cap 141 of
the locking key 140 is pushed in the direction opposite C, thus
sliding the locking key 140 out of the annular groove 126. With the
locking key 140 out of the annular groove 126, the spring-loaded
swiveling shaft 125 will slide along the y-axis in direct opposite
B and return to its first position if he alignment tabs 128 are
aligned with the mating outline of the alignment-tab-receiving end
132 of the through-hole 131.
[0053] As described, the orthopedic device 100 of the present
disclosure is a universal device that can be used for compression
or distraction of bone parts that are secured to the first and
second arm members 112, 111 by elongated pins, such as K-wires,
locked into the elongated pin receiving bores 127 of the locking
sleeves 120. Referring to FIG. 1, after the bone parts are secured,
the movable second arm member 111 can be moved in compression
direction 201 or distraction direction 202 by turning the turning
key handle 115.
[0054] Although the invention has been described in terms of
exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the
appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other
variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range
of equivalents of the invention. The scope of the invention
disclosed herein is to be limited only by the following claims.
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