Volunteers for Medical Engineering

Other

Smith & Nephew Richards Inc.

Dynasplint Systems, Inc.

Dror Paley

John H Staehlin

George R Hepburn

Charles M Bartish

David S Hungerford

Dana Mcpherson

John Garmon

Michael C Sherman

Harry Q Lee

James E Orsak

Joshua J Reardon

Guy Rubley

Robert Wigginton

John E Herzenberg

David King

Gary I Segal

An improved disposable pin site wound protection system for covering the entry or exit site of a surgical pin, wherein the system substantially reduces the time required to change a dressing at a pin site wound. The invention comprises a sponge () and clip (), both of which are designed to be attached to a pin () adjacent a wound. The clip (), when compressed, crosses the legs () of the clip and when released will attach to the full-range of external fixation pins and wires. This reverse action of the clip, opening when compressed and closing when released, is a self-closing and self-holding clip that can be applied and removed with one hand. The sponge () is preferably cylindrical or hemispherical in shape, and may include a spiral cut () to resist accidental displacement from the pin.

Pin site wound protection system

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for cutting a bone including a cutting assembly having a cutting blade, a cutting guide for guiding the shape of the cut in the bone, and a power source for powering the cutting blade. The cutting blade is moveable radially to vary the depth of the cut in the bone, and the cutting blade is capable of cutting around the circumference of the bone as well as in a longitudinal direction along the bone. A powered bone breaking device for completing the breaking of the weakened bone is also disclosed. A miniaturized version of the bone cutting apparatus can be used to cut out sections of a femur head from inside a femur body.

Bone cutting and breaking apparatus, and miniaturized cutting head

A bone lengthening mechanism is placed into a bone which is then lengthened by extending the mechanism. The mechanism is extended by effecting a rotational movement in a drive bolt which mates with a threaded portion in a section of the mechanism. The threads convert the rotational movement to a longitudinal force thereby lengthening the bone.

Implantable bone lengthening apparatus using a drive gear mechanism

This invention relates to a device and method to externally fix bone fractures and bone deformities by moving an arc gear member, which is attached to a first bone segment, through an arc shaped path so as to place the first bone segment in the desired position relative to a second bone segment.

Fixation brace with focal hinge

Apparatus for the fixation of bone fractures and the correction of congenital deformities uses an improved adjustment device that allows selective rotation or lateral translation of one external fixation ring with respect to other external fixation rings. The adjustment device attaches to a pair of first and second tie rod sections and shifts the first tie rod section with respect to the second tie rod section during adjustment. The adjustment device has a lateral slot that defines the path of movement for one of the translating tie rod sections. A travelling block connected to the moving tie rod section tracks the slot during use.

Translation/rotation device for external bone fixation system

An adjustable spring-loaded splint device is provided for supporting the ankle joint of a wearer. The splint device includes a pair of spaced lower struts and a pair of spaced upper struts pivotably connected to lower struts. The lower struts each include, at one end, a pivotably mounted head portion defining a cam surface, and the upper struts each include an adjustable spring assembly mounted therein, including a spring biased into engagement with the cam surface, for applying a quantifiable force tending to align the upper and lower struts. Upper and lower sets of cuff and strap members are connected between the upper struts which adjustably and releasably secure the splint device to the limb of the wearer using a detachable fastener including hooks and loops fastener sections. An adjustable footplate assembly is pivotably connected to the lower struts of the splint device for securely supporting the foot of the wearer in a selected relation with respect to the ankle. An elevating sole, which is of variable thickness and is adapted to be secured to footplate assembly, can be used in supporting the foot at a given height above the ground.

Adjustable splint

An adjustable spring-loaded splint device is provided for supporting the ankle joint of a wearer. The splint device includes a pair of spaced lower struts and a pair of spaced upper struts pivotally connected to lower struts. The lower struts each include, at one end, a pivotably mounted head portion defining a cam surface, and the upper struts each include an adjustable spring assembly mounted therein, including a spring biased into engagement with the cam surface, for applying a quantifiable force tending to align the upper and lower struts. Upper and lower sets of cuff and strap members are connected between the upper struts which adjustably and releasably secure the splint device to the limb of the wearer using a detachable fastener including hooks and loops fastener sections. An adjustable footplate assembly is pivotably connected to the lower struts of the splint device for securely supporting the foot of the wearer in a selected relation with respect to the ankle. An elevating sole, which is of variable thickness and is adapted to be secured to footplate assembly, can be used in supporting the foot at a given height above the ground.

An adjustable splint assembly comprises of an adjustable splint device and a fixator device, said adjustable splint device comprising a distal strut and a proximal strut pivotably connected to said distal strut, one of said struts having at one end a pivotably mounted head portion defining a cam surface, an adjustable biasing means mounted within the other strut and biased into engagement with said cam surface for applying a quantifiable force tending to align or approximate said distal and proximal struts, said fixator device comprising a right ring and a left ring, two or more surgical wires for implanting through a bone, with said wires connected at each end to the periphery of the right ring and crossing each other substantially near the center axis of said right ring, two or more surgical wires similarly connected to and crossing within the left ring, means for connecting said surgical wires to the right ring and left ring, and upper rod connected at one end to the left ring and at the other end to the right ring, a lower rod connected at one end to the left ring and at the other end to the right ring on the sides of the rings opposite the upper rod, means for connecting said upper rod and lower rod to the right ring and left ring, a clamping assembly slidably mounted on the distal strut of said adjustable splint device, means for securing said clamping assembly to the distal strut, means for connecting said clamping assembly to the right ring of said fixator device, and means for securing said adjustable splint assembly to a limb.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Dror Paley