Abstract: A syringe-like bone clamp installation tool has a hollow piston with a longitudinal slot. A shank end of a Reese clamp and at least one of a plurality of right truncated cones of a central portion thereof are disposed within the piston. The piston is slidably disposed within a hollow barrel that has a proximal end from which a forked tab extends through the slot into the piston. The tines of the fork maintain the cone against motion relative to the barrel. An open end is the piston is countersunk to receive a button of the clamp exterior to the piston. As the barrel is moved towards the closed end of the piston, the button is advanced.

Abstract: A bone clamp and method of use is described for clamping damaged or fractured bones. The clamp comprises a hooked or barbed pin which is inserted through a hole in the bones to be clamped. The hook springs out to rest against the far side of the bone. The shaft of the pin protrudes from the near side of the bone and has conical shaped protrusions whose larger ends face toward the hook. A unitary clamping button having a central bore smaller than the larger ends of the conical protrusions is slipped over the exposed shaft and forced over the protrusions. The protrusions and/or the button deform to allow passage of the button. Once the button is past a protrusion the deformed parts spring back to their original shape and the button cannot be retracted. An automatically locking ratchet-type clamping action is obtained and installation of the button may be made with one hand.

Abstract: An osteotomy apparatus and method for precisely locating two parallel, spaed apart bone cuts are disclosed. The apparatus includes a locator blade which is capable of being positioned in a first bone cut. A saw guide having a slot therein is positioned in a plane parallel to the plane of the locator blade. The locator blade is fixed to a carriage member which has a flat bed, with the locator blade positioned at an acute angle with respect to the flat bed. The saw guide is part of or attached to a moveable member which is shaped to ride along the flat bed with the saw guide extending outwardly therefrom. A screw drive positions the moveable member and the saw guide on the flat bed and a scale on the flat bed locates the saw guide relative to the locator blade.

Abstract: A bone screw for use in joining the fractured sections of the phalanx and a method for its use are disclosed. The bone screw includes a smooth cylindrical central shaft with coarse threads at each end of the shaft. The threads can be a greater diameter than the diameter of the shaft with the threads at each end have substantially the same pitch. The threads at the two ends of the central shaft are of opposite hand; that is, the threads at one end are right handed while those at the opposite end are left handed. In one embodiment, one end of the bone screw is provided with a screw slot which will accept a screwdriving tool for inserting the screw.