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:
Nov. 22, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2008
Christian Steiner, Eisenach, DE;
Beat Knuchel, Ursenbach, CH;
Meinrad Fiechter, Münsingen, CH;
Vinzenz Burgherr, Wabern, CH;
Christian Steiner, Eisenach, DE;
Beat Knuchel, Ursenbach, CH;
Meinrad Fiechter, Münsingen, CH;
Vinzenz Burgherr, Wabern, CH;
Stryker Trauma SA, , CH;
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.