Kenneth N Jackson

US Patent:

57255261, Mar 10, 1998

Filed:

Mar 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/623093

Inventors:

Randall N. Allard - Plymouth IN
Kenneth S. Jackson - Warsaw IN
John E. Meyers - Columbia City IN
James F. Hanneken - North Manchester IN
Ronald Lakatos - Columbus OH

Assignee:

Zimmer, Inc. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

A61B 1760

US Classification:

606 57

Abstract:

The transport carrier of this invention is configured for use with an external fixator having a hexagonal rod. The carrier includes a threaded sleeve which accommodates the hexagonal rod of the fixator. A compressible ball collet and retaining nut are carried by the sleeve and serve to lock the sleeve into position on the rod in a known manner. A clamp is carried by the sleeve and rotationally fixed relative to the rod by a key and key way, yet may shift along the sleeve. The clamp is configured to connect to one or more bone pins using a ball collet and retaining nut to fix the clamp to the pin. The bone pins connect to a bone fragment such that as the clamp shifts along the sleeve, the bone fragment is transported between two portions of a bone. An internally threaded sleeve is carried by the externally threaded sleeve and engages the clamp. Upon rotation of the internally threaded sleeve, the clamp and externally threaded sleeve move longitudinally along the sleeve.