Bone setting apparatus and method

Abstract

A pair of bone clamps used for open reduction and internal fixation of a fractured bone or osteotomy is interconnected by a lockable, articulating connection apparatus. Each bone clamp includes a primary clamping means for manipulating a bone fragment back into a proper position. Additionally, each bone clamp includes a secondary bone clamping means that provides adequate clamping force for maintaining the reduction so that the primary clamping means can be released. The secondary bone clamping means provides clearance for the positioning and application of a fracture fixation prosthesis to stabilize the reduction during healing. The bone clamps and lockable, articulating connection apparatus together comprise a bone setting apparatus that provides for unconstrained manual reduction and alignment of the bone fracture, locking of the reduction in a fixed position and orientation, and application of a fracture fixation prosthesis, thereby securing the reduction.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bone clamp, comprised of: 
 a first clamping means, and    a second clamping means.    
     
     
         2 . The bone clamp of  claim 1  wherein said first and second clamping means each includes a fixed lower bone contact surface and a moveable upper bone contact surface.  
     
     
         3 . The bone clamp of  claim 2  wherein said moveable upper bone contact surface of said first clamping means has a greater surface area than said upper bone contact surface of said second clamping means.  
     
     
         4 . The bone clamp of  claim 2  wherein said fixed lower bone contact surface is common to both said first and second clamping means.  
     
     
         5 . A bone setting apparatus comprised of two bone clamps and a connection apparatus, wherein each said bone clamp has a first clamping means and a second clamping means.  
     
     
         6 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said connection apparatus is comprised of a rod and two lockable joints, and wherein said rod attaches to each bone clamp by a said lockable joint.  
     
     
         7 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said connection apparatus is comprised of two rods, and wherein each said rod attaches to a said bone clamp by a lockable ball and socket joint, and wherein said rods are interconnected by a lockable piston joint.  
     
     
         8 . A bone setting apparatus comprised of two bone clamps and a connection apparatus, wherein said connection apparatus is comprised of two lockable joints, and wherein said connection apparatus attaches to each said bone clamp by a said lockable joint, and wherein said lockable joint can pivot and slide.  
     
     
         9 . A bone setting apparatus, comprised of: 
 two bone clamps, and    a connection means,    whereby when said connection means is locked, said connection means will hold a fixed relative position of said two bone clamps, and    whereby when said connection means is unlocked, the bone clamps can be repositioned without any spatial constraint.    
     
     
         10 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each bone clamp has a primary bone clamping means and a secondary bone clamping means.  
     
     
         11 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said primary clamping means provides adequate clamp force to manually urge bone fragments into a proper alignment, and wherein said secondary clamping means provides adequate clamp force for holding said proper alignment and further provides clearance for application of a bone plate.  
     
     
         12 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said secondary clamping means provides adequate clearance for the application of a fracture fixation prosthesis.  
     
     
         13 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said primary clamping means provides temporary fixation of a fracture fixation prosthesis while the fracture fixation prosthesis is secured to the bone.  
     
     
         14 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said connection means is comprised of a connecting rod that is attached to each said bone clamp by a lockable joint means.  
     
     
         15 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said lockable joint means provides two orthogonal axes of rotation and one axis of translation when placed in an unlocked state.  
     
     
         16 . The bone setting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said connection means is comprised of a two connector rods, wherein each said connector rod is attached to each said bone clamp by a lockable ball and socket joint, and wherein the said two connector rods are attached to each other by a lockable piston joint.  
     
     
         17 . A method for setting a bone fracture or osteotomy, comprised of: 
 (a) urging two bone fragments into proper alignment; and    (b) holding the alignment with a bone holding apparatus, wherein said bone holding apparatus includes two bone clamps, and wherein said bone holding apparatus provides access at a near side bone surface for an application of a fracture fixation prosthesis.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each bone clamp has a primary bone clamping means and a secondary bone clamping means.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one of the bone clamping means is also used to temporarily hold a fracture fixation device.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said bone holding apparatus can be locked to hold a fixed position and orientation between said two bone clamps, and can be further unlocked to permit unconstrained spatial positioning between said two bone clamps.