Orthofix S.r.l.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Texas Scottish Right Hospital for Children

Karen D Standefer

Daniele Venturini

Mikhail L Samchukov

Alexander M Cherkashin

Andrea Ottoboni

John D Ross, Jr

John David Ross

Michael Lupatini

Gianluca Milano

Mario Donnici

The present disclosure relates to external fixation struts and systems utilizing the external fixation struts. The struts include an elongated body comprising a first and a second hollow tubular shaft and include opposite connectors respectively coupled to an end portion of the first or the second shaft and each including a ball and socket joint. One shaft may have an internal diameter that is slightly larger than the external diameter than the other shaft to host internally the other shaft in a slidably and telescopic manner. A clamp element may provide a fast gripping action stopping the telescopic sliding of one shaft inside the other shaft. Each ball and socket joint connector may be structured to allow an angular movement of the corresponding connector with a spherical angle up to at least 90°.

External fixation strut

An improved orthopaedic external fixation system with removable rails or skates and may include: at least a distal foot fixation element; at least a pair of rails or skates removably connected to the foot fixation element; at least a load sensor associated to at least one of the rails or skates; an electronic apparatus coupled to the load sensor and receiving an electric signal from the load sensor; an electronic controller coupled to the apparatus and issuing at least a flag signal upon detection of a threshold pressure force on said at least one of said rails or skates. This electronic controller may be mounted on the orthopaedic system or may be a structurally independent host device including a controller that is in signal communication with the load sensors.

Orthopaedic external fixation system with removable rails or skates

An orthopedic bone transport system includes an external fixation frame and a cable pulling device. The external fixation frame is attachable to a fixed bone segment with the external fixation frame oriented in a first plane. The cable pulling device includes a main body configured to be secured to the external fixation frame, a reel, and a transmission. The reel is rotatable about said main body and configured to wind up a cable to be secured to a transport bone segment to move said transport bone segment towards said fixed bone segment. The main body is secured to the external fixation frame with an axis of rotation of the reel oriented substantially parallel to the first plane, the axis of rotation of the reel thereby substantially lying on a transverse plane with respect to the fixed bone segment. The transmission drives the reel in order to wind up the cable.

Orthopedic cable bone transport device and bone transport system comprising said device

An external fixation strut includes an elongated body including first and second tubular shafts. Opposite connectors are respectively coupled to one of the shafts and include a ball and socket joint. One shaft has an internal diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of the other to host the other shaft in a slidably and telescopic manner. The shafts of the strut are a synthetic radiolucent plastic material. A clamp element is in proximity of overlapping ends of the shafts for fast gripping action stopping the sliding of one shaft inside the other. A fixation element is manually operated and acts on the clamp element. A sleeve is provided around the central portion of the strut where the shafts overlap. The clamp element is a clamp band around the sleeve and includes opposite and facing gripping portions. The gripping portions are connected by a threaded connector of the fixation element.

Dynamization tabs and methods of use are provided. Dynamization tabs may be used with an external fixation ring or other fixator device as part of a therapeutic treatment of bone fractures or malformations. The device forms a connection between one or more fixation struts and an external fixation ring so as to introduce controllable amounts of movement or dynamization to the arrangement of the struts and the fixator. By introducing controlled amounts of dynamization, therapeutic benefits can be derived in the enhanced, accelerated bone formation, mineralization and remodeling of the underlying bone. Dynamization tabs may comprise a strut connector, a mechanical biasing or dynamizing device, and a ring connector. Many different forms for introducing controlled amounts of dynamization are disclosed.

Dynamization tabs providing component interconnectivity for external fixation devices

An orthopedic spring hinge and associated external fixation systems for the treatment of anatomical joint dysfunctions, and more particularly, to a spring hinge comprising a first base member, a second base member, a flexible first spring having a first longitudinal axis extending from the first base member to the second base member, and a flexible second spring spaced apart from the first spring and having a second longitudinal axis extending from the first base member to the second base member. The spring hinge is configured to have a maximum bending resistance in a first plane extending between the first spring and the second spring and a minimum bending resistance in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane.

Growing community of inventors

Flower Mound, TX, United States of America

Karen D Standefer