Ankle fixation system

Abstract

In an example, a clamping assembly includes a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, the second end defining a first clamp, a second clamp configured to attach to the first end of the longitudinal member and connect to a rod assembly, a clamping member including a first end, a second end defining a spherical portion, and a third clamp, where the first clamp of the longitudinal member is configured to receive the second end of the clamping member.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A clamping assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, the second end defining a first clamp;   a second clamp configured to attach to the first end of the longitudinal member and connect to a rod assembly;   a clamping member including a first end, a second end defining a spherical portion, and a third clamp,   wherein the first clamp of the longitudinal member is configured to receive the second end of the clamping member.   
     
     
         2 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamp includes a spherical clamping surface, the spherical clamping surface configured to receive the spherical portion and form a polyaxial joint between the clamping member and the longitudinal member. 
     
     
         3 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spherical portion is configured to expand. 
     
     
         4 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first fixation bolt extending through a portion of the clamping member and the spherical portion; and   a nut configured to receive an end of the first fixation bolt,   wherein the spherical portion is configured to receive the nut, and   wherein the spherical portion is configured to expand when the first fixation bolt is turned and the nut is pulled into the spherical portion.   
     
     
         5 . The clamping assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the nut is tapered, and wherein the spherical portion configured to receive the nut defines a tapered aperture that tapers from a first dimension at an outer portion to a second dimension toward a center of the spherical portion, the first dimension larger than the second dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the third clamp is configured to contract when the first fixation bolt is turned and the nut is pulled into the spherical portion. 
     
     
         7 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first bone pin locking member including a spherical portion,   wherein the third clamp includes a spherical clamping surface configured to receive the spherical portion of the first bone pin locking member and form a polyaxial joint between the clamping member and a first bone pin.   
     
     
         8 . The clamping assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the spherical portion of the first bone pin locking member defines at least one slot. 
     
     
         9 . The clamping assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the spherical portion of the first bone pin locking member is configured to compress when the third clamp contracts. 
     
     
         10 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a second fixation bolt configured to extend through the first end of the longitudinal member and at least a portion of the second clamp,   wherein the second clamp includes a U-shaped clamp.   
     
     
         11 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping member further includes a fourth clamp, wherein the fourth clamp is configured to contract when the first fixation bolt is turned and the nut is pulled into the spherical portion, the clamping assembly comprising:
 a second bone pin locking member including a spherical portion,   wherein the fourth clamp includes a spherical clamping surface, the spherical clamping surface of the fourth clamp configured to receive the spherical portion of the second bone pin locking member and form a polyaxial joint between the clamping member and a second bone pin.   
     
     
         12 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , comprising the first bone pin and the second bone pin. 
     
     
         13 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the rod assembly, the rod assembly configured to secure to and extend between a first external clamp assembly and a second external clamp assembly, the rod assembly including a first tubular member and a second tubular member received in the first tubular member,   wherein the second clamp configured to attach to the first end of the longitudinal member and connect to a rod assembly is configured to connect to one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member.   
     
     
         14 . A metatarsal bone pin clamping assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, the second end defining a first clamp, the first clamp including a spherical clamping surface;   a U-shaped clamp configured to attach to the first end of the longitudinal member and connect to a rod assembly;   a clamping member including a first end, a second end defining a spherical portion configured to expand, and a third clamp;   a first fixation bolt extending through a portion of the clamping member and the spherical portion;   a nut configured to receive an end of the first fixation bolt; and   a first bone pin locking member including a spherical portion,   wherein the first clamp of the longitudinal member is configured to receive the second end of the clamping member,   wherein the spherical clamping surface of the first clamp is configured to receive the spherical portion and form a polyaxial joint between the clamping member and the longitudinal member,   wherein the spherical portion is configured to expand when the first fixation bolt is turned and the nut is pulled into the spherical portion, and   wherein the third clamp includes a spherical clamping surface configured to receive the spherical portion of the first bone pin locking member and form a polyaxial joint between the clamping member and a first bone pin.   
     
     
         15 . An external fixation system comprising:
 a first clamp assembly;   a second clamp assembly;   a rod assembly secured to and extending between the first clamp assembly and the second clamp assembly, the first rod assembly including a first tubular member and a second tubular member received in the first tubular member; and   a bone pin clamping assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, the second end defining a first clamp; 
 a second clamp configured to attach to the first end of the longitudinal member and connect to the rod assembly; 
 a clamping member including a first end, a second end defining a spherical portion, and a third clamp, 
 wherein the first clamp of the longitudinal member is configured to receive the second end of the clamping member. 
   
     
     
         16 . The external fixation system of  claim 15 , wherein the first clamp includes a spherical clamping surface, the spherical clamping surface configured to receive the spherical portion and form a polyaxial joint between the clamping member and the longitudinal member. 
     
     
         17 . The external fixation system of  claim 15 , wherein the spherical portion is configured to expand. 
     
     
         18 . The external fixation system of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a first fixation bolt extending through a portion of the clamping member and the spherical portion; and   a nut configured to receive an end of the first fixation bolt,   wherein the spherical portion is configured to receive the nut, and   wherein the spherical portion is configured to expand when the first fixation bolt is turned and the nut is pulled into the spherical portion.   
     
     
         19 . The external fixation system of  claim 18 , wherein the nut is tapered, and wherein the spherical portion configured to receive the nut defines a tapered aperture that tapers from a first dimension at an outer portion to a second dimension toward a center of the spherical portion, the first dimension larger than the second dimension. 
     
     
         20 . The clamping assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the third clamp is configured to contract when the first fixation bolt is turned and the nut is pulled into the spherical portion. 
     
     
         21 . A method for external fixation of a limb, the limb having a first bone portion, the method comprising:
 securing a first bone pin to the first bone portion;   attaching a pre-assembled external fixation system to the first bone pin, the external fixation system comprising a rod assembly;   securing a second bone pin to a bone in a foot;   attaching a clamping assembly to the rod assembly, the clamping assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, the second end defining a first clamp; 
 a second clamp configured to attach to the first end of the longitudinal member and connect to the rod assembly; 
 a clamping member including a first end, a second end defining a spherical portion, a bone pin locking member, and a third clamp configured to receive the bone pin locking member, 
 wherein the first clamp of the longitudinal member is configured to receive the second end of the clamping member; 
   aligning the bone pin locking member of the clamping assembly with the second bone pin;   inserting the second bone pin into the bone pin locking member of the clamping assembly; and   securing the bone pin locking member of the clamping assembly to the second bone pin.