External fixator

Abstract

A fixator for use in the reconstruction of acute, chronic and traumatic injuries to the upper and lower extremities. The fixator has a unique clamping system that allows for the snapping in of pins and rails, and for multi-planar fixation of bones.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a first clamp, including
 a first top defining a first hole, 
 a first bottom defining a second hole, and 
 a first clamp bolt configured to be received through the first and second holes for coupling the first top and the first bottom, 
   wherein the first top and the first bottom together define a first passage and a second passage when clamped together by the first clamp bolt, the first passage and the second passage extending in a perpendicular direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first clamp bolt that is disposed between the first passage and the second passage.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge including
 a first hinge element having a first section and a second section, the second section extending from a surface of the first section and defining a third hole;   a second hinge element having a third section and a fourth section, the fourth section extending from a surface of the third section and defining a fourth hole, and   a hinge bolt configured to be received in the third hole and the fourth hole for hingedly connecting the first and second hinge elements.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first clamp bolt is connected to the first section of the first hinge element. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second clamp including
 a second top defining a fifth hole;   a second bottom defining a sixth hole; and   a second clamp bolt configured to be received through the fifth and sixth holes and be connected to the second hinge element for coupling the second top and the second bottom to the second hinge element.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second clamp bolt is connected to the third section of the second hinge element. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a spring disposed between the third section of the second hinge element and the second bottom of the second clamp. 
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 a first clamp, including
 a first top defining a first hole, 
 a first bottom defining a second hole, and 
 a first clamp bolt configured to be received through the first and second holes and be connected to a first hinge element for coupling the first top and the first bottom to the first hinge element, 
   wherein the first top and the first bottom together define a first passage and a second passage when clamped together by the first clamp bolt, the first passage and the second passage extending in a perpendicular direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first clamp bolt that is disposed between the first passage and the second passage.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a hinge, the hinge including
 the first hinge element, which has a first section and a second section, the second section extending from a surface of the first section and defining a third hole,   a second hinge element having a third section and a fourth section, the fourth section extending from a surface of the third section and defining a fourth hole, and
 a hinge bolt configured to be received in the third hole and the fourth hole for hingedly connecting the first and second hinge elements, 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first clamp bolt is connected to the first section of the first hinge element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a second clamp including
 a second top defining a fifth hole;   a second bottom defining a sixth hole; and   a second clamp bolt configured to be received through the fifth and sixth holes and be connected to the second hinge element for coupling the second top and the second bottom to the second hinge element.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second clamp bolt is connected to the third section of the second hinge element. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a spring disposed between the third section of the second hinge element and the second bottom of the second clamp. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a first clamp, including
 a first top defining a first hole, 
 a first bottom defining a second hole, and 
 a first clamp bolt configured to be received through the first and second holes for coupling the first top and the first bottom; and 
   a hinge including
 a first hinge element having a first section and a second section, the second section extending from a surface of the first section and defining a third hole; 
 a second hinge element having a third section and a fourth section, the fourth section extending from a surface of the third section and defining a fourth hole, and 
 a hinge bolt configured to be received in the third hole and the fourth hole for hingedly connecting the first and second hinge elements, 
   wherein the first top and the first bottom together define a first passage and a second passage when clamped together by the first clamp bolt, the first passage and the second passage extending in a perpendicular direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first clamp bolt that is disposed between the first passage and the second passage.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first clamp bolt is connected to the first section of the first hinge element. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second clamp including
 a second top defining a fifth hole;   a second bottom defining a sixth hole; and   a second clamp bolt configured to be received through the fifth and sixth holes and be connected to the second hinge element for coupling the second top and the second bottom to the second hinge element.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second clamp bolt is connected to the third section of the second hinge element. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a spring disposed between the third section of the second hinge element and the second bottom of the second clamp.