Orthopaedic device and method of use for treating bone fractures

Abstract

Orthopaedic device and a method of use thereof are provided for treating a bone fracture. The orthopaedic device has at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and a holder configured to engage, in an engaged configuration, soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and, while in the engaged configuration, to permit adjustable positioning and securing the at least one pressure applying element to the holder.

1 . An orthopaedic device for treating a bone fracture, the orthopaedic device comprising:
 at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture; and   a holder configured to engage, in an engaged configuration, soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and, while in the engaged configuration, to facilitate adjustable positioning and securing of the at least one pressure applying element to the holder.   
     
     
         2 . The orthopaedic device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one pressure applying element is configured to adjustably apply radially directed pressure to the soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture. 
     
     
         3 . The orthopaedic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder includes an adjustment mechanism configured to bring the holder into the engaged configuration and to sustain radially directed pressure applied by the at least one pressure applying element. 
     
     
         4 . The orthopaedic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder includes at least one access port extending through the holder to facilitate adjustable positioning and operation of the at least one pressure applying element within an engaged configuration of the holder. 
     
     
         5 . The orthopaedic device according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one access port is configured to have a dimension suitable for permitting a pressure applying element to operate therethrough or to be adjusted therethrough to position and apply a radially directed pressure to the soft tissue adjacent to a bone fracture. 
     
     
         6 . The orthopaedic device according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one access port is provided in a uniform pattern on the holder. 
     
     
         7 . The orthopaedic device according to  claim 4 , wherein the holder includes at least one cover configured to removably cover the at least one access port. 
     
     
         8 . The orthopaedic device according to  claim 1 , the orthopaedic device further comprising at least one intermediary contact material that is attached to one of the at least one pressure applying element and configured to transmit and distribute the radially directed pressure applied by the at least one pressure applying element to the soft tissue adjacent to a bone fracture. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating a bone fracture with an orthopaedic device having a holder and at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to a bone fracture, the method comprising
 configuring the holder into an engaged configuration to engage soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture; and   while the holder is in the engaged configuration, adjustably positioning and securing the at least one pressure applying element to the holder.   
     
     
         10 . The method of treating a bone fracture according to  claim 9 , the method further comprising operating the at least one pressure applying element to adjustably apply radially directed pressure to the soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture. 
     
     
         11 . The method of treating a bone fracture according to  claim 9 , wherein the step of configuring the holder into an engaged configuration comprises operating an adjustment mechanism of the holder to bring the holder into the engaged configuration to sustain subsequent application of radially directed pressure by the at least one pressure applying element. 
     
     
         12 . An orthopaedic device for treating a bone fracture, the orthopaedic device comprising:
 at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture;   a holder configured to engage, in an engaged configuration, soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and, while in the engaged configuration, to facilitate adjustably positioning and securing the at least one pressure applying element to the holder; and   a magnetic source operatively arranged to the holder to produce an adjustable magnetic field in the vicinity of the soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture.   
     
     
         13 . An orthopaedic device for treating a bone fracture, the orthopaedic device comprising:
 at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture;   a holder configured to engage soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and to secure the at least one pressure applying element to the holder;   at least one foil element configured to provide an adjustable electric field in the vicinity of the soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture.   
     
     
         14 . An orthopaedic device for treating a bone fracture, the orthopaedic device comprising:
 at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture;   a holder configured to engage soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and to secure the at least one pressure applying element to the holder; and   a magnetic source operatively arranged to the holder to produce an adjustable magnetic field in the vicinity of the soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture.