Patent ID: 6193725
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A universal rod adapter for removing a rod from tissue of an organism, the rod adapter comprising:a link with at least one bore and first means for mating;means for engaging a wall of an aperture of the rod, the aperture having a diameter, said engaging means including a hollow sleeve with a first diameter having a plurality of openings and frictional members disposed between said openings, said engaging means further including a second means for mating disposed on one end of the sleeve;means for expanding said engaging means, said expanding means including an outer angled surface, said expanding means further including an internal threaded bore and projections on said outer angled surface;a fastener having threads, said fastener engaging said expanding means and moving said expanding means within said engaging means, each projection of said expanding means being disposed in a respective opening of said engaging means during movement of said expanding means, said first mating means being engaged with said second mating means and substantially preventing rotational movement of said expanding means relative to said link, said expanding means changes the first diameter of said engaging means to a second diameter which is substantially greater than said first diameter and substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture in order to provide frictional engagement between said frictional members and the wall of the aperture, whereby said engaging means facilitates the removal of the rod from the tissue of the organism by providing a substantially non-slip gripping mechanism which attaches to the wall of the aperture of the rod.