Device for osteosynthesis

Abstract

A device for promoting the healing of bones has a pair of elongated carriers which support screws to be anchored in bone structure. The screws are movable longitudinally of the carriers by means of spindles. The carriers are joined to one another by a connector consisting of a rigid rod having a ball at either end. The balls are received in part-spherical sockets formed in the respective carriers and can be fixed relative to the carriers via screws.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for promoting the healing of bones, comprising first and second .Iadd.axially extending elongate .Iaddend.supports having .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.confronting end portions.Iadd., respectively, each said support being greater in axial length than in width.Iaddend.; at least one anchoring member separably mounted on each of said supports and designed to be anchored in bone structure; a substantially barbell-shaped connector for joining the confronting end portions of said supports to one another, said connector including first and second at least approximately spherical elements each mountable on the end portion of the respective support, and a spacer .Iadd.having a central axis of symmetry, said spacer .Iaddend.rigidly .Iadd.and fixedly .Iaddend.connecting said elements to one another .Iadd.with said first and second spherical elements having centers on the axis of said spacer.Iaddend., said device being free of protrusions extending between said supports and the interiors of the respective elements, .[.the end portion.]. .Iadd.said first and second end portions .Iaddend.of each of said supports being provided with .[. a first socket having the configuration of a quarter of a sphere;.]. .Iadd.first and second socket elements, respectively, each socket element having the configuration of a concave portion of a sphere such that said first socket element has a first spherical center on the axis of said first support and said second socket element has a second spherical center on the axis of said second support; .Iaddend.and means for arresting said connector relative to said supports, including first and second confining members distinct from and arranged to cooperate with the respective supports and including .[.second part.]. .Iadd.third and fourth .Iaddend.spherical .[.sockets.]. .Iadd.socket elements .Iaddend.complementary to .[.the respective first sockets,.]. .Iadd.said first and second socket elements, respectively, .Iaddend.each of said .Iadd.approximately spherical .Iaddend.elements being receivable in the respective first and the respective second socket .Iadd.elements .Iaddend.to establish a universal joint between said spacer and the respective support. 
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said supports is elongated and further comprising means for mounting said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support for movement longitudinally of said elongated support. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2, wherein said mounting means includes means for arresting said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support at any one of a plurality of positions longitudinally of said elongated support. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said anchoring members comprises a screw or a nail. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said supports is elongated and further comprising means for mounting said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support for movement longitudinally of said elongated support, said mounting means including a clamping member movable longitudinally of said elongated support and designed to clamp said .[.at.]. at least one anchoring member to said elongated support. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 5, wherein said clamping member is designed to permit pivoting of said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support relative to said elongated support. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6, wherein said mounting means includes means for fixing said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to said elongated support. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support is elongated and said clamping member is designed to permit shifting of said at least one anchoring member relative to said elongated support in longitudinal direction of said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 6, wherein said mounting means includes means for fixing said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said elongated support as considered in longitudinal direction of said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim 5, wherein said mounting means includes a guide passage extending longitudinally of said elongated support, and a holder movable along said passage and connectable to said clamping member. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim 10, wherein said holder has a first side arranged to face said clamping member and said clamping member has a second side arranged to face said holder, said first side being substantially flat and substantially complementary to said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 1, wherein a least one of said supports is elongated and further comprising means for moving said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support for movement longitudinally of said elongated support, said mounting means including a guide passage extending longitudinally of said elongated support, and a holder movable along said passage and designed to carry said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support. 
     
     
       13. .[.The device of claim 12, wherein.]. .Iadd.A device for promoting the healing of bones, comprising first and second supports having confronting end portions; at least one anchoring member separably mounted on each of said supports and designed to be anchored in bone structure; a substantially barbell-shaped connector for joining the confronting end portions of said supports to one another, said connector including first and second at least approximately spherical elements each mountable on the end portion of the respective support, and a spacer rigidly connecting said elements to one another, said device being free of protrusions extending between said supports and the interiors of the respective elements, the end portion of each of said supports being provided with a first socket having the configuration of a concave portion of a sphere; means for arresting said connector relative to said supports, including first and second confining members distinct from and arranged to cooperate with the respective supports and including second part spherical sockets complementary to the respective first sockets, each of said elements being receivable in the respective first and the respective second socket to establish a universal joint between said spacer and the respective support; wherein at least one of said supports is elongated and further comprising means for moving said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support for movement longitudinally of said elongated support, said mounting means including a guide passage extending longitudinally of said elongated support, and a holder movable along said passage and designed to carry said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support; and .Iaddend.said mounting means .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.a rotatable drive member having an externally threaded shaft designed to extend longitudinally of said passage, said holder being provided with an internally threaded bore arranged to mesh with said shaft. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim 13, further comprising means for fixing said drive member against movement longitudinally of said passage, said fixing means including a resilient member designed to snap onto said drive member. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 14, wherein said resilient member is ring-like. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim 1, wherein said spacer has a fixed length. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 2, wherein said elongated support has a longitudinal axis and said mounting means is designed to permit pivoting of said at least one anchoring member for said elongated support relative to said elongated support on an axis which is transverse to said longitudinal axis. .Iadd. 
     
     
       18.  A device for promoting the healing of bones, comprising first and second axially extending elongate supports having first and second confronting end portions, respectively, each said support being greater in axial length than in width, each of said supports being adapted to separately mount at least one anchoring member designed for anchorage in bone structure, a double-ball hinge comprising first and second ball members which are connected in a fixed relation to one another by a rigid spacer having a central axis of symmetry with said first and second ball members having centers on the axis of said rigid spacer, and first and second ball-joint socket means carried at said first and second confronting end portions, respectively, such that said first socket means is engaged to said first ball member and holds the center of said first ball member on the axis of said first elongate support and such that said second socket means is engaged to said second ball member and holds the center of said second ball member on the axis of said second elongate support, and each said socket means including selectively operable means for releasably clamping its said support to said double-ball hinge within a solid angle of universal ball-joint adjustability. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       19.  The device of claim 18, in which each ball-joint socket means comprises a first socket part fixed to the end portion of its said support, and a second socket part having threadedly adjustable connection to said first socket part. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The device of claim 18, in which each ball-joint socket means comprises a first socket part fixed to the end portion of its said support and having a concave spherical surface and a second socket part having a concave spherical surface complimentary to and facing the concave spherical surface of said first socket part, said selectively operable means coacting between said first and second socket parts. .Iaddend.