The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 09, 1998
C Lowry Barnes, Little Rock, AR (US);
MedIdea, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed to hold a bone piece in position relative to a host bone for attachment or re-attachment purposes. A body having a plurality of claws extending therefrom engages with the bone piece, at least one of the claws including a mechanism facilitating a first position wherein the claw is opened to fit onto the bone piece and a second position wherein the claw is actively urged into the bone piece. Depending upon the embodiment, the mechanism may include a claw-bearing member having one or more barbs, a claw-bearing member having teeth that engage with a gear, or a threaded post having a pointed end which is tightened through a portion of the body and locked into a desired position with the point actively urged into the bone. In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the claws of the device are pre-biased in a closed or gripping position, and a tool is used to temporarily spread the claws to fit over the bone piece, after which the tool is released, allowing the claws to dig into the surface of the bone.