Patent ID: 7320556
Filing Date: 2008-01-22
Classification: A61B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A gripping device for rods used in the external fixation of bones in surgical applications, the gripping device comprising: a sleeve; a pair of support bodies, each support body being disposed within and at either end of the sleeve, and mounted for translational movement along a common axis within the sleeve, each support body having a hollow interior with a pivot axle mounted therein; and a set of gripping elements pivotally mounted on the pivot axle in each support body, the pivot axle extending perpendicular to the common axis, the gripping elements each projecting from the interior of the respective support body and the respective ends of the sleeve and pivoting around the pivot axle and including laterally projecting lever arms in engagement with the sleeve end, whereby simultaneous movement of the support bodies towards each other within the sleeve and along the common axis causes working engagement of the lever arms with the sleeve ends such that the lever arms slide within the sleeve ends to simultaneously close the gripping elements at both ends of the sleeve.