Patent ID: 7708736
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: A61B,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An articulation element for an external fixation apparatus, the element having a longitudinal axis, said element comprising: (a) a first clamping member adapted to apply clamping pressure to capture a first rigid element, said first clamping member comprising a first adjustable jaw pair preloaded to be in a clamped position and a first single point parallel release mechanism adapted to temporarily relieve said preload to allow said first adjustable jaw pair to open, said first adjustable jaw pair being disposed so as to pivot about a first transverse axis in a manner that allows elevation of said first rigid element through an angle range A in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis while captive in said first clamping member; (b) a second clamping member adapted to apply clamping pressure to a second rigid element, said second clamping member comprising a second adjustable jaw pair preloaded to be in a clamped position and a second single point parallel release mechanism adapted to temporarily relieve said preload to allow said second adjustable jaw pair to open, said second adjustable jaw pair being disposed so as to allow elevation of said second rigid element through an angle range B while captive in said second clamping member; (c) a coupling mechanism to rotationally couple said first clamping member to said second clamping member so as to allow rotation relative to each other about the longitudinal axis; and (d) a locking mechanism coupled to said first and second clamping members for locking a relative orientation of said first clamping member to said second clamping member.