DE3141909A1 - Orthopaedic fracture fixing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an orthopedic Fracture fixation device, in particular, such a device Device as described in the preamble of the HajAp't claim is described. -.J-- "

Devices of this type have recently become the subject matter increasing interetsaes, and there are a number Various forms of devices have been proposed and also have been in routine clinical use found application in recent years. · ■

Earlier forms have been correspondingly complex and have comprised a multitude of elongated parts, as well as universal and other couplings to allow multi-dimensional adjustment between parts, as well as between the parts and pins and the screw mechanisms to facilitate the use of tension and allow tension forces across the fracture. These are complicated or complex device forms perfectly suitable for use with a large number of different invoices, but they are correspondingly expensive. This is especially why is important than delivering at least a major portion of such a device to a patient to which it is attached until the relevant. Fracture has grown together well.

More recently, forms of the device in question take into account the fact that the fracture: j.ituutionen commonly encountered the long bones of the Include limbs and can with a simpler procedure: lidwiinh ·! l; will. Dictie c infuner forms an ^ eapL'uchenfan device um! 'aasen an elongated

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Part that attaches along the limb using pins or bolts; of the part in the Bones protrude; or there will be two such pieces along opposite sides of the limb yu provided, the utiJ'le or the like extend across the bone between the parts. The frame or area for setting is usually limited, with a consequent need to accurately position the pins when they are be fastened in the bone, the pins typically requiring a position in a parallel arrangement.

Still other forms attempt this last requirement bypassing or avoiding precise pin positioning on the bone by using acrylic bone cement, to connect the pins with an elongated part. · tie. Such a connection enables a certain amount Extent of change in the relative positioning or setting between the individual pins and the Part without adding the adjustable mechanisms as intermediate parts adding to the complexity and cost raise. However, the scope for such a change is still limited by the fact that a rigid Part of preformed shape must be used.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide another, further form of the device which -can be simple, but allows a very extensive variation in the setting of the pin and part.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the initially, solved said device, which is characterized by the features of the main claim.

The following is an embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with the drawing. " explained in more detail. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a schematic partial view of a

Embodiment of the device according to the invention; , "

FIGS. 2, 3 and k are partial schematic views corresponding to different modifications of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the initial work ₃ which led to the development of this invention, a corrugated tube of flexible plastic material was used, which was filled with bone cement just before use. In use, this tube is arranged in such a way that it is impaled by the protruding ends of the associated bone pins after the latter have been fixed in the bone fragments, the fragments having been brought into the desired position in a suitable manner.

In Fig. 1 this situation is represented by the tube 10, which can be hardened with bone cement or another Material 11 has been charged and impaled through the protruding ends of the bone pins 12 which are secured in the broken bone 13.

While this initial practice has been satisfactory in that the filled tube is initially flexible and can accommodate or enable a variety of different pin positions and then harden together with the pins a fixed frame. stare To create arrangement, however, practically occurred some

Disadvantages on. A particular disadvantage was that the bone cement could be used overnight and in the pipe must be entered, after which the pipe had to be closed before the filled pipe on the pens could be put on. This is a time consuming process compared to the speed with which the bone cement hardens, so that the surgeon may then as a consequence has too little time to arrange the tube in such a way that the last manipulations of the bone fragments is achieved safely and completely.

This disadvantage is at least partially eliminated by providing a carrier which already is filled. In addition, the disadvantage can be further prevented by using a curable Material uses whose curing reaction is postponed until it is actually required is. The material can also be one in which the curing reaction is accelerated by artificial means can be if required.

For example, a material can be used that cures in response to light that is visible or otherwise, the filled carrier suitably having an opaque outer Coating is wrapped that can be easily removed, to initiate curing. Such a material can actually cure slowly in normal light and therefore subject to accelerated curing after the carrier has been finally positioned. Other different materials are also suitable, which harden through consultation

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to other forms of radiant energy, e.g. heat. These examples are clear from Pig. I shown.

It is also possible to use material that hardens by means of a chemical reaction. In an embodiment of the invention which is suitable for such a reaction, a tube is used which has two or more compartments for the different components of the hardenable material, such as epoxy resin and hardener, or time powder and solvent, the compartments by a thin wall ^; which can be ruptured by squeezing the tube to mix the contents. In another embodiment, the tube can be filled with one ingredient and the other is added through a syringe, followed by squeezing to mix the ingredients.

In addition, other forms of support can be used, while so far only the use of a support "pipe has been described, for example a rope or a tape which can be suitably impregnated with a hardenable material.

Another point of note is that although the invention resides in the use of a flexible, aushäx'tbaren part instead of the previously known solid elongated part is, nevertheless advantages from the use of parts and adjustment mechanisms according to the State of the art can be obtained if / they with the part of the invention are used and then can be solved again, so that the initial parts

and the mechanism can be used for use on other patients.

In the further modifications of the remaining figures of the drawings, FIG. 2 shows a modification in which the tube 10 is not directly connected to the bone pins 12, but is indirectly coupled to an end structure Ik , which in turn is connected to the tube and is used for this purpose to clamp the free end of the pin or bolt. In the present example, the structure, Ik, comprises a Κ.Ίΐ. ;; · .ιιη ^ 15 and a screw 16 screwed therein, the socket receiving a pin end which is fastened by the screw. It should be evident that other structures can serve the same purpose. Such end structures can be advantageous if they are sealingly connected to the tube 10, so that leakage of the hardenable material due to piercing or other manipulation during use is avoided. Fig. 3 shows a further modification in which the tube consists of the two parts 10a and 10b. Each pipe part is connected at one end to one of the two end parts 17 and 18, which cooperate as a piston and cylinder. Each of these end portions is preferably sealingly connected to its tubular portion and the interfaces with the material therein to form a unitary rigid structure after the material has cured.

The modification of Figure 3 is for use in conjunction with a long bone and a limb thought 'with the pipe sections on opposite sides of the fracture with the essentially lengthways to the bone

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aligned Eridteile are arranged, and wherein the end parts are in engagement with each other, but not completely. This arrangement serves to further aid the alignment of the bone at the fracture as the latter grows together and also allows compressive loading of the fracture j which occurs naturally through the use of dex * limbs. To ensure that the end portions do not completely engage with each other when the Vorrichtun is mounted and during the subsequent curing, a removable · indication mechanism may be provided, for example, a transverse bolt 19 in ■ piston part, such as ¹ he in Fig. 3 inclined to eat.

The modification of the Fig. 4 substantially corresponds to the Fig. 3 _a of the piston-cylinder Änordnung own but the end portions instead of projections 10 and 21 screws with opposite threads. ' These parts 20 and 21 can be connected to one another by a sleeve 22, which accordingly has opposite internal threads, which correspond to those of the parts 20 and 21, whereby after hardening of the pipe parts a compressing or pulling force can be exerted across the fracture, in which further the sleeve is rotated accordingly.

Claims (11)

KlU Ulli IMWI ill .Γ. ',,' Drfhoihasiiecfc _.,, _ _, _ ^ Dipt. «Herrt. ·· 3 1 A 1 9-0-9 Geffckenstrasse 6 D-2000 Hamburg 20 Tel. 040/478023 Dr.ihgcnas Fleck · CuflckwiMralluG · U 20UDI kunburtj 20 Your sign 120430 yourret. My sign N 11 P 42 ηιγιυΙ. ! ωό " ^{1 19 # Oct # 1} ^ l Applicant: National Research Development Corporation 66-74 Victoria Street, London SWIE 6SL, England Orthopedic fracture fixation device Patent claims: \ 1 J orthopedic fracture fixation device with at least one lying outside the patient elongate portion or the like is connected to bone tits, which are fixed in the different fragments of the fractured bone, said elongate member (10) and the pins (12), a fixed frame which holds the fragments in the desired position for growing together, characterized in that the part comprises an elongate support of flexible shape and is filled with a hardenable material which is normally present in the support in an inactive flowable state. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier comprises a closed tube whose Inside is filled with the said material. Account: Deutsche Bank 0208900 • · · ♦ * · "-Ν 3-M1909 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier is permeable and by impregnation with the material is filled. "··> 4. Device according to claims 1, 2 or 3V - ' characterized in that the material is hardened in response to radiant energy. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by Light energy. . 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that. that the carrier has a removable opaque coating. ;,, 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized uurch ■ Thermal energy. 8. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the material chemically by mixing with one hardened further liquid or flowable material will. " 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the tube is separated by a tearable wall Departments are divided up accordingly with the named one material or the further material are filled. ■. ■. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims or claim 2, characterized / that a plurality of clamp arrangements along the pipe, are distributed and sealingly connected to it and penetrating into it, the; depending on the arrangements so adapted = are that they are clasping an appropriate bone pin. 11. The device according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, characterized in that the Tube consists of two separate elongated parts, which are connected to one another by a longitudinally adjustable Mechanism are connected. Description :