Orthopedic compression/distraction device

Abstract

An orthopedic device configured for use as a compressor or a distractor is provided. The device has two arm members and a locking sleeve for securely holding an elongated pin is attached to each of the two arm members. The locking sleeve are hingeably connected to the outer end of each of the two arm members by a biaxial hinge block, wherein the biaxial hinge block is configured to allow the locking sleeve to swivel in two different directions about two orthogonally oriented axes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device, comprising:
 a locking sleeve, including
 an elongate shaft defining a pin receiving bore therethrough, the elongate shaft defining a plurality of slots extending longitudinally from a first end of the elongate shaft to a first location along a length of the elongate shaft to provide a plurality of collet arms, each of the plurality of collet arms including
 at least one first thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the plurality of collet arms and adjacent to the first end of the elongate shaft, 
 at least one second thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the collet arms and adjacent to the at least one first thread, and 
 a thread-free zone disposed between the at least one first thread and the at least one second thread. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first end of the elongate shaft includes a chamfer. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising a collet nut defining a threaded opening that is sized and configured to engage the at least one first thread and the at least one second and to deflect the plurality of collet arms. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the collet nut includes an inner surface that is at least partially conical and is configured to engage the chamfer. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the collet nut defines a hole defining an axis that extends perpendicular to an axis defined by the threaded opening, and wherein the hole is positioned along a length of the collet nut such that the hole is positioned along the thread-free zone of the elongate shaft of the locking sleeve when the collet nut is engaged with the locking sleeve. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising a set screw sized and configured to be received within the hole defined by the collet nut. 
     
     
         27 . An orthopedic device, comprising:
 a body having a length;   a first arm coupled to a first end of the body;   a second arm coupled to the body such that the second arm is movable along the length of the body;   a first locking sleeve coupled to an end of the first arm; and   a second locking sleeve coupled to an end of the second arm, wherein each of the first and second locking sleeves includes:
 an elongate shaft defining a bore therethrough and defining a plurality of slots extending longitudinally from a first end of the elongate shaft to a first location along a length of the elongate shaft to provide a plurality of collet arms, each of the plurality of collet arms including
 at least one first thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the plurality of collet arms and adjacent to the first end of the elongate shaft, 
 at least one second thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the collet arms and adjacent to the at least one first thread, and 
 a thread-free zone disposed between the at least one first thread and the at least one second thread. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . The orthopedic device of  claim 27 , wherein the first end of the elongate shaft includes a chamfer. 
     
     
         29 . The orthopedic device of  claim 28 , further comprising a collet nut defining a threaded opening that is sized and configured to engage the at least one first thread and the at least one thread and to deflect the plurality of collet arms. 
     
     
         30 . The orthopedic device of  claim 29 , wherein the collet nut includes an inner surface that is at least partially conical and is configured to engage the chamfer. 
     
     
         31 . The orthopedic device of  claim 29 , wherein the collet nut defines a hole defining an axis that extends perpendicular to an axis defined by the threaded opening, and wherein the hole is positioned along a length of the collet nut such that the hole is positioned along the thread-free zone of the elongate shaft of the locking sleeve when the collet nut is engaged with the locking sleeve. 
     
     
         32 . The orthopedic device of  claim 31 , further comprising a set screw sized and configured to be received within the hole defined by the collet nut. 
     
     
         33 . The orthopedic device of  claim 27 , wherein the body includes ratchet teeth along the length of the body, and wherein a base portion of the second arm includes a ratchet mechanism configured to engage the ratchet teeth of the body. 
     
     
         34 . The orthopedic device of  claim 33 , wherein the base portion of the second arm includes a selector switch for controlling a permitted movement of the second arm relative to the body. 
     
     
         35 . The orthopedic device of  claim 33 , wherein the base portion of the second arm includes a key handle for actuating the ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         36 . An orthopedic device, comprising:
 a body having a length upon which a plurality of ratchet teeth are disposed;   a first arm coupled to a first end of the body;   a second arm coupled to the body such that the second arm is movable along the length of the body by engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth of the body;   a first locking sleeve coupled to an end of the first arm; and   a second locking sleeve coupled to an end of the second arm, wherein each of the first and second locking sleeves includes:
 an elongate shaft defining a bore therethrough and defining a plurality of slots that extend longitudinally from a first end of the elongate shaft to a first location along a length of the elongate shaft to provide a plurality of collet arms, each of the plurality of collet arms including
 at least one first thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the plurality of collet arms and adjacent to the first end of the elongate shaft, 
 at least one second thread integrally formed on an exterior surface of the collet arms and adjacent to the at least one first thread, and 
 a thread-free zone disposed between the at least one first thread and the at least one second thread; and 
 
   a collet nut defining a threaded opening that is sized and configured to engage the at least one first thread and the at least one second thread and to deflect the plurality of collet arms.   
     
     
         37 . The orthopedic device of  claim 36 , wherein the first end of the elongate shaft includes a chamfer, and wherein the collet nut includes an inner surface that is at least partially conical and is configured to engage the chamfer. 
     
     
         38 . The orthopedic device of  claim 36  wherein a base portion of the second arm includes a ratchet mechanism configured to engage the ratchet teeth of the body. 
     
     
         39 . The orthopedic device of  claim 38 , wherein the base portion of the second arm includes a selector switch for controlling permitted movement of the second arm relative to the body. 
     
     
         40 . The orthopedic device of  claim 39 , wherein the base portion of the second arm includes a key handle for actuating the ratchet mechanism.