Patent ID: 11864797
Assignee: TEXAS SCOTTISH RITE HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  F | IPC A

Claim 10:
11. A spring hinge for an external fixation system, comprising:
a coil spring having a helical structure with a central cavity, wherein the coil spring comprises a plurality of spirals having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, the coil spring including a first end and a second end, wherein each spiral has a conical configuration such that a first spiral of the plurality of spirals nests at least partially within a second spiral of the plurality of spirals;
a first end cap configured to couple to the first end of the coil spring and including a first portion configured to mount the first end cap to the external fixation system; and
a second end cap configured to couple to the second end of the coil spring and including a second portion configured to mount the second end cap to the external fixation system;
the coil spring comprising a first surface extending along a length of the coil spring and facing a first direction and an opposing second surface extending along the length of the coil spring and facing a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein a portion of the first surface is configured to abut a portion of the second surface when the coil spring is in an unexpanded resting state;
wherein the first surface and the second surface are shaped to deter sheering movement between adjacent spirals of the plurality of spirals while permitting angular bending of the coil spring.