Patent ID: 7500976
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A fixation assembly comprising: a first fixation device comprising first and second extensions projecting radially from a first central portion, the first extension having a first elongated opening configured to receive a first bone fastener, a second elongated the second extension having opening configured to receive a second bone fastener, the first fixation device further comprising a first central portion located in-between the first and second elongated openings wherein the first central portion has a first annular inner edge surface and a first shoulder located in-between the first annular inner edge surface and the first elongated opening and a second shoulder located in-between the first annular inner edge surface and the second elongated opening; and a second fixation device comprising third and fourth extensions projecting radially from a second central portion, the third extension having a third elongated opening configured to receive a third bone fastener, the fourth extension having a fourth elongated opening configured to receive a fourth bone fastener, the second fixation device further comprising a second central portion located in-between the third and fourth elongated openings wherein the second central portion has a second annular inner edge surface and a third shoulder located in-between the second annular inner edge surface and the third elongated opening and a fourth shoulder located in-between the second annular inner edge surface and the fourth elongated opening; wherein the first and third elongated openings form a first pair of openings and the second and fourth elongated openings form a second pair of openings, the first pair of openings being separated from the second pair of openings by a distance A and the circumferential distance between the first shoulder and the third shoulder is equal to the circumferential distance between the second shoulder and the fourth shoulder; wherein at least a portion of the first central portion overlaps at least a portion of the second central portion and a central hub is placed between the first annular inner edge surface and the second annular inner edge surface to connect the first fixation device and second fixation device; the fixation devices arranged so that when first and third bone fasteners are at least partially inserted through the first pair of openings and into a first bone segment, and second and fourth bone fasteners are at least partially inserted through the second pair of openings and into a second bone segment, the first and second fixation devices are permitted to rotate relative to each other in a range not to exceed the circumferential distance between the first shoulder and the third shoulder so that the distance A between the first and second pairs of openings is permitted to change in situ.