External fixator

Abstract

A fixator for use in the reconstruction of acute, chronic and traumatic injuries to the upper and lower extremities. The fixator has a unique clamping system that allows for the snapping in of pins and rails, and for multi-planar fixation of bones.

1 . An fixator comprising: 
 at least one rail;    at least one pin suitable for use in bone fixation; and    at least one clamp system having a pin clamp, a rail clamp functionally connected by a hinge, wherein the pin clamp is capable of holding the pin in a first plane and the rail clamp is capable of holding the rail in a second plane; and the pin clamp is hingedly adjustable to the rail clamp.    
   
   
       2 . The fixator of  claim 1 , wherein the rail is negatively threaded.  
   
   
       3 . The fixator of  claim 2 , further comprising positively threaded nuts attached to the rail, the nuts being capable of pushing the clamp system along the rail.  
   
   
       4 . The fixator of  claim 3 , wherein the pin clamp comprises a pin clamp bottom, a pin clamp top, wherein the pin clamp bottom and top together define at least one passage configured to receive the pin.  
   
   
       5 . The fixator of  claim 4 , wherein the pin clamp further comprises at least one spring disposed such that when the spring is flexed it allows the pin clamp bottom or top to pivot and create an opening capable of receiving the pin.  
   
   
       6 . The fixator of  claim 5 , wherein the pin clamp comprises two sets of pin clamp bottoms and tops, with each set defining one passage of a diameter to receive a first sized pin and a second passage of a second diameter to receive a second sized pin.  
   
   
       7 . The fixator of  claim 5 , wherein the clamp system comprises at least two rail clamps.  
   
   
       8 . The fixator of  claim 5 , wherein the rail clamp comprises a rail clamp bottom and a rail clamp top that together define at least one passage configured to receive the rail, wherein the rail clamp further comprises at least one spring disposed on the fixator such hat when the spring is flexed, it allows the rail clamp bottom or top to pivot and create and opening capable of receiving the rail.  
   
   
       9 . The fixator of  claim 5 , wherein the fixator comprises at least two clamp systems attached to the same rail.  
   
   
       10 . The fixator of  claim 9 , wherein the fixator comprises at least three clamp systems and at least two rails, wherein the first clamp system is attached to the first rail at a first location on that rail, the second clamp system is attached to the first rail at a second location on that rail and a second rail at a first location on that rail, and the third clamp system is attached to the second rail at a second location on that rail.  
   
   
       11 . A clamp system for a fixator comprising: 
 a first clamp area comprises a pin clamp top and a pin clamp bottom attached to a pin clamp bolt, wherein the pin clamp top and pin clamp bottom that together define a pin passage and the pin clamp top and bottom can be flexed to allow for a pin to be snapped into the pin passage;    a hinge that is attached to the pin clamp bolt and hingedly connects the first clamp area to a second clamp area; wherein the hinge comprises a bolt assembly capable of fixing the first clamp area in a fixed position in relation to the second clamp area;    wherein the second clamp area comprises a rail clamp top and a rail clamp bottom that are attached to a rail clamp bolt, wherein the rail clamp top and rail clamp bottom together define a rail passage, and the rail clamp top and bottom can be flexed to allow for a rail to be snapped into the rail passage.    
   
   
       12 . The clamp system for the fixator of  claim 11 , wherein both the first clamp area and second clamp area further comprise bolt assemblies capable of fixing the pin and rail into the pin and rail passages.  
   
   
       13 . The clamp system for the fixator of  claim 11 , wherein the first clamp area further comprises a second pin clamp top and bottom attached to the pin clamp bolt, the second pin clamp top and pin clamp bottom together defining a second pin passage.  
   
   
       14 . The clamp system for the fixator of  claim 11 , wherein the first clamp area further comprises a second rail clamp top and bottom that together define a second rail passage, and the second rail clamp top and bottom being flexible to allow for the second rail to be snapped into the rail passage.  
   
   
       15 . An external fixation device comprising: 
 a rail;    at least one pin;    a first clamp and a second clamp, each clamp comprising a first spring-loaded component configured to attach the clamp to the rail, a second spring loaded component configured to attach to at least two pins, and a hinged component that can adjustably connect the first spring loaded component to the second spring loaded component, wherein both clamps are attachable to the same rail.    
   
   
       16 . The external fixation device of  claim 15 , wherein the spring-loaded components are splined.  
   
   
       17 . The external fixation device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the clamps has two or more spring-loaded components configured to attach the clamp to pins.  
   
   
       18 . The external fixation device of  claim 17 , wherein the rail is negatively threaded.  
   
   
       19 . The external fixation device of  claim 18 , wherein the device further comprises at least one nut that is capable of moving at least one clamp along the rail.  
   
   
       20 . The external fixation device of  claim 15  wherein the pins attached to the first spring-loaded component are anchored in a bone at a first location and the pins attached to the second spring-loaded component are anchored in a bone at a second location.