Abstract: An external fixation system and method for realigning, compressing or distracting broken bones has a planar ring element with an adjustable device having a body releasably mounted on the ring element. The adjustable device includes a first member for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the ring element. A second member is pivotally connected to the first member for angular movement with respect to the ring. A third member is mounted on the second member for movement in a direction parallel to the second member and with respect to a circumference of the planar ring element. The method includes providing an external fixation system and inserting a k-wire through a first piece of bone and affixing the k-wire or half pin to the ring element. Then inserting a second k-wire or half pin through a second piece of bone and affixing the k-wire or half pin to an adjustable device.

Abstract: An external fixation component includes two capture members adapted to capture independently a first and a second element of an external fixation system. A rotation member is provided between the two capture members, coupled to both capture members such that the coupling allows the two capture members to rotate about three axes relative to each other. Each capture member comprises a central locking screw extending therethrough and defining a longitudinal axis of the associated capture member. The rotation member comprises two rotation blockers, each blocker providing one interface surface adapted to be in contact with a complementary interface surface of one of the capture members, each blocker further provides a surface opposite to the interface surface comprising an inner cylindrical surface. The rotation member comprises a central disc element forming a rolling surface as complementary surface to the inner cylindrical surface of the corresponding rotation blocker.

Abstract: A tool for breaking a shaft has a first and a second tubular element, both provided with inner through bores adapted to receive a first and second portion of a shaft in a first position of the tool. A first handle is fixedly connected with the first tubular element and the second tubular element is connected to a second handle. A bottom surface of the second tubular element is in contact with a neck surface of the first tubular element forming a shearing plane perpendicular to the main axis of the tool. A rotation between the two tubular elements around this axis creates a twisting movement of the two shaft portions received within the two tubular elements, and shears the shaft portions at the shearing plane. The second handle turns the first tubular element around an axis and has a gear engaging the second tubular element for transmitting the rotation of the second handle into a rotation of the second tubular element for producing the twisting movement.

Abstract: A fixation clamp for use in an external fixation system for holding bone fragments adjacent to each other with the help of fixation elements has at least one clamping assembly having a pair of jaws with at least two different size grooves to accommodate a bone fixation element such as a pin or rod. An alternate clamping assembly has at least three grooves wherein at least two of the grooves have a different size adapted to accommodate a correspondingly sized bone fixation element such as a bone pin. The longitudinal axes of the grooves define a polygon. The jaw pairs can be rotated about a central longitudinal axis to present different size reception cavities towards the pins or rocks depending on their diameter.

Abstract: An external fixation system comprising: first and second planar at least part-circular ring elements, the first ring element having a circumferential track extending along the part-circular circumference thereof; a plurality of struts each having a first and second end, the first end of each strut coupled to the first ring by a first connector and the second end of each strut coupled to a second ring by a second connector, the first connector including a spherical joint; the second connector non-rotatably coupled to the second ring, the strut second end being coupled to the second connector by a U-joint; shuttles mounted on the track of the first ring for movement there along with one shuttle coupled to each strut; and means for controlling the angular position of each strut second end and means for controlling the position of each shuttle along the circumferential track on the first ring.

Abstract: An extractor is provided to extract an insert used with a bone connection element such as a bone plate having at least one opening for a bone screw used with the insert. The extractor has an outer hollow sleeve having proximal abutment surface for engaging a surface portion of the bone plate, and an inner bar having a diameter enabling the insertion of the bar into the hollow sleeve. The bar has a threaded leading end to engage the thread of the insert to be extracted. The hollow sleeve has an inner thread and the inner bar has an outer threaded element for engaging the inner thread of the hollow sleeve. The outer threaded element is positioned with respect to the bar in a longitudinal position to enable the threaded locking end to extend beyond the proximal abutment surface of the sleeve to be threaded into the insert.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device which is used for solidly connecting a part such as a plate to an underlying support using at least one fixing element such as a screw. According to the invention, said fixing element takes the form of a threaded rod a screw which passes through a hole housing a ring belonging to the part, such that it is screwed into the support material. The inventive device is characterized in that the above-mentioned ring is a constriction ring comprising a non-circular outer profile which co-operates with the non-circular inner profile of the hole, which is in the part. In this way, when the ring is rotated in the hole and wedged in place therein, it is constricted, thereby blocking the threaded rod against movement with respect to the plate.

Abstract: A bone fixation system includes a bone plate and a bone screw having a threaded head. The inner surface of the bone plate is adapted for facing a bone surface on which the plate is mounted. The outer surface of the bone plate faces away from the bone surface. A through opening extends from the inner surface to the outer surface of the plate wherein the through opening comprises a guiding portion and a blocking portion. The guiding portion of the opening is provided with a guiding thread for guiding a thread of a shaft of the bone screw. The blocking portion is provided with a blocking thread for blocking a thread of the head of the bone screw. The blocking thread has a larger diameter than the guiding thread and the guiding portion is located closer to the inner bone plate surface than the blocking portion.

Abstract: An insert (70) for a clamping element with two jaws to clamp a rod-shaped element comprises an inner cavity (144) to accommodate a rod-shaped element and at least one flange element (153) at one longitudinal end of the insert intended to abut against the clamping element. The flange element (153) comprises clamping members (161) to reduce the available room within the inner cavity (144) for the rod-shaped element to be clamped and to clamp the flange element (153) between the rod-shaped element and an outer clamping surface of the clamping element to prohibit any longitudinal movement of the clamped insert.

Abstract: An orthopedic fixation plate comprises a plurality of cylindrical holes for attaching connectors of a external fixation system, wherein the fixation plate comprises two supporting elements around each orifice of a cylindrical hole wherein the supporting elements are connected with a sleeve and said supporting elements are also connected with a longitudinally oriented ring element arranged in a radial distance of said sleeve.

Abstract: An orthopedic fixation ring for an external fixator has a ring or a ring-segment extending around a center axis. The ring comprises a first surface running perpendicular to the center axis, a second surface which is parallel to the first surface, and a plurality of spaced apart through openings running parallel to the center axis and extending through the fixation plate. The fixation plate has at least a third surface which is parallel to the first surface spaced outwardly thereof with respect to the center axis. A further set of through openings extends from the first surface to the third surface. A fourth surface may be provided which is axially displaced from the second surface with respect to the center axis. The ring preferably is circular or part-circular and is molded from carbon fiber reinforced PEEK.

Abstract: A telescopic strut for use with an external fixator includes a tube and a rod, especially a threaded rod being in threaded engagement with the tube. The tube comprises at least one hole for accommodating a ball, the ball having the spherical shape for engagement with the threaded rod. A sleeve is provided on the portion of the tube comprising the hole. The sleeve comprises a non-spherical inner cross-section. The greater diameter of the sleeve has a dimension which is at least the sum of the outer diameter of the threaded rod plus the diameter of an accommodating ball for allowing direct axial movement of the threaded rod against the tube in such a rotational position of the sleeve. The lesser diameter has a dimension to place the ball within the threaded rod for allowing a rotational movement of the threaded rod against the tube.

Abstract: A wire fixation device for fixing a tensioned wire or a pin to a medical device has a wire post having a head portion with an opening having a predetermined longitudinal axis for reception of a wire or pin. The wire post has a neck portion for being in engagement with an opening of the medical device. A locking element is adapted to be introduced into opening having an opening with inclined sections that are inclined to the longitudinal axis. A clamping cone abuts on an abutment element. The clamping cone has a clamping opening to accommodate a wire and has inclined outer surfaces that are inclined to the longitudinal axis and which are encompassed with the conical section of the locking element. Upon an axial displacement of the locking element relative to the clamping cone a radial force is exerted onto the clamping cone leading to a reduction of the diameter of the clamping opening such that if a wire or a pin is received in the clamping opening a radial force results onto the wire or the pin.

Abstract: A ball joint for use with an external fixator has a sleeve in engagement with a rod of a strut for the external fixator. A ring insert and a blocking element are provided, having a combined circumferential surface being able to be introduced into a hole of a ring of an external fixator. The ring insert and blocking element have complementary wedge surfaces allowing a relative radial displacement therebetween to enlarge the diameter of the combined circumferential surface for blocking the ball joint inside the hole. Additionally the sleeve comprises a spherical hollow ball portion with concentrical inner and outer spherical portions, wherein the outer spherical portion engages a complementary spherical socket of the blocking element and wherein the inner spherical portion is engaged by a ball nut. A connection element extends through the sleeve, blocking element and ring insert, wherein a radial displacement and axial displacement of the ring insert and blocking element are activated by the connection element.

Abstract: A bone plate system is disclosed which includes a bone plate having at least one plate hole, at least one pin adapted to be disposed in the at least one plate hole, and a polymer component disposed between the at least one pin and the bone plate. The polymer component includes a polymer that may be melted through the application of ultrasonic energy. The at least one pin is constructed of a material that will not melt under such application of ultrasonic energy. The re-solidified polymer component creates a bond between the at least one pin and the bone plate to provide a more rigid and secure mating therebetween, and to at least substantially prevent backout of the at least one pin with respect to the bone plate. A method of implanting the bone plate system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A clamping pin is intended to be inserted into and held in an opening of a medical device. The clamping pin comprises a screw having a longitudinal axis, a first clamping element having a surface inclined to the longitudinal axis and provides a first part of a clamping section. A second clamping element has a surface inclined to the longitudinal axis and provides a second part of the clamping section which is complementary to the opening in the medical device. The inclined surfaces of the first and second clamping elements are in contact. A screw extends at least partly through both the first and second clamping elements. The screw engages in one of the clamping elements such that the axial distance between the two clamping elements and the diameter of the clamping section that can come in contact with a surface of the opening in the medical device will be changed upon actuation of the screw.

Abstract: An insert for an external fixation has two jaws for clamping a rod-shaped element. The insert includes a locking element and is an angled piece having two free ends, with at least one engagement edge for engagement into the rod-shaped element being provided at its one free end. The insert has a recess or bore for engagement with a locking shaft of the clamp provided at the free end thereof that lies opposite to the free end having the rod engagement edge. The insert is angled so that it may extend through a passageway in one of the jaws and into a cavity formed in the jaw for receiving the rod. The insert rod engaging edges are tapered to bite into the rod to prevent its movement.

Abstract: An external fixation system has clamps, rods and pins having anti-magnetic core parts and a non-conductive sheath part covering essentially the exterior surfaces of the core part. The rods, pins and clamps are especially MRI safe for a patient when used in any frame configuration for fractures of the upper and lower extremities and pelvis wherein the usual MRI field parameters of a static field of 2 Tesla, a time-varying filed of max. 20 Tesla/sec and a specific absorption rate (SAR) of max. 0.4 Watts/kg averaged over the whole body of the patient apply.

Abstract: A screw holding device has a screw engaging part and a fixation sleeve. The screw for use with the screw holding device has a head and a shaft. The head of the bone screw has a recess and a notch. The screw engaging part has two halves with a hook formed on each half. The hook is shaped to fit in the notch. A fixation sleeve slides over the screw engaging part. When the fixation sleeve is pulled in proximal direction, the two halves of the screw engaging part are able to flex easily towards each other and thereby are insertable in the recess. When the fixation sleeve is moved towards the distal end of the screw engaging part, the two halves of the screw engaging part are prevented from flexing towards each other and thereby rigidly lock the screw and the screw engaging part together.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic device having a load-bearing element, such as a bone plate, with at least one opening for a fixation element and one insert which can be inserted in an inclined opening in a receptacle in the bore. This insert has an external form that is at least partially complementary to the internal form of the receptacle and a central through-bore for receiving the body of the fixation element such as a bone screw. The insert also provides a locking system for holding the insert in the receptacle, in which the insert exhibits at least one locking mechanism with which conformal locking with the load-bearing element may be achieved.