External orthopedic fixation device

An external orthopedic fixation device. The external orthopedic device includes a radius fixing member, a metacarpus fixing member, and a coupling member. The radius fixing member is configured to be secured to a radius bone of a patient. The metacarpus fixing member is configured to be secured to a metacarpus bone of the patient. The coupling member is disposed between the radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member. The coupling member is configured to connect the radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to orthopedics, and particularly to orthopedic devices, and more particularly, to an external orthopedic fixation device for repairing fractures and dislocations of a distal radius of a patient.

BACKGROUND

Colle's fracture and distal radius fracture are common injuries among adults, including middle-aged to elderly individuals who suffer from osteoporosis as well as younger adults who suffer falls during sports, motor vehicle accidents, or other vigorous activities. A colle's fracture is a fracture of a radius, i.e., a forearm bone on a thumb side. A distal radius fracture typically occurs when one begins to fall and extends one's hand as a reflex to lessen a force of hitting the ground. The fall may produce a sudden impact of a body weight on a heel of a hand which may result in a fracture of a radius bone just above a wrist joint with or without an associated wrist joint injury.

Realignment and setting of bones crushed by a Colle's fracture or a distal radius fracture are typically performed with an aid of an external fixator or fixation device, which may be a mechanically adjustable splint that may be mounted externally to a forearm and a hand through percutaneous pins or screws that may secure the device to bones on either side of a fracture site. External fixators may be designed in such a way that permit initial alignment of a fracture fragments and then stabilize fragments and damaged soft tissue as they heal. Furthermore, external fixators may be designed in such a way that provides a facility for a surgeon to allow him/her to exert a tensile force to a radius bone of a patient. In order to heal a Colle's fracture or a distal radius fracture, a controllable tensile force may be needed to be applied to a radius bone along an axis perpendicular to a fracture surface. But, typical external fixators or fixation devices fail to provide a facility for a surgeon to allow him/her to exert a controllable tensile force along an axis perpendicular to a fracture surface. There is, therefore, a need for an external fixator that enables a surgeon to achieve alignment of a fracture and also apply a controllable tensile force to a radius bone along an axis perpendicular to a fracture surface.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, the present disclosure describes an exemplary external orthopedic device. An exemplary external orthopedic device may include a radius fixing member, a metacarpus fixing member, and a coupling member. In an exemplary embodiment, the radius fixing member may be configured to be secured to a radius bone of a patient. In an exemplary embodiment, the metacarpus fixing member may be configured to be secured to a metacarpus bone of the patient.

In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling member may be disposed between the radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member. In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling member may be configured to connect the radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member.

In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling member may include a radius coupling element, and a metacarpus coupling element. In an exemplary embodiment, the radius coupling element may be disposed between the metacarpus fixing member and the radius coupling element. In an exemplary embodiment, the metacarpus coupling element may be connected to the metacarpus fixing member and the radius coupling element.

In an exemplary embodiment, the metacarpus coupling element may be configured to rotate around a second axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the second axis may be fixed to the radius coupling element. In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling member may be configured to allow rotational movements of the radius fixing member around the first axis and the second axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the metacarpus fixing member may include an adjusting hole. In an exemplary embodiment, the metacarpus coupling element may include a first adjusting rod associated with the adjusting hole, the first adjusting rod disposed slidably inside a first side of the adjusting hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, a distance between the radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member may be configured to be changed responsive to linear movement of the first adjusting rod inside the adjusting hole and along a third axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the external orthopedic fixation device may further include a force adjusting mechanism configured to exert a tensile force between the radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member through urging the first adjusting rod to move linearly inside the adjusting hole and along the third axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the force adjusting mechanism may include a second adjusting rod including a second hollow cylindrical section. In an exemplary embodiment, the second adjusting rod may be configured to be inserted inside a second side of the adjusting hole and also may be configured to urge the first adjusting rod to move linearly inside the adjusting hole and along the third axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the force adjusting mechanism may further include a pushing member and a spring. In an exemplary embodiment, the pushing member may include a first hollow cylindrical section. In an exemplary embodiment, the first hollow cylindrical section may be disposed slidably inside the second hollow cylindrical section. In an exemplary embodiment, the spring may be disposed between the second adjusting rod and the pushing member. In an exemplary embodiment, the spring may be disposed inside the first hollow cylindrical section and the second hollow cylindrical section.

In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to linear movement of the pushing member inside the second hollow cylindrical section and along a fourth axis, the spring may be configured to compress, and to thereby, urge the second adjusting rod to move along the fourth axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the force adjusting mechanism may further include a shell. In an exemplary embodiment, the second adjusting rod and the pushing member may be disposed slidably inside the shell. In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to linear movement of the first hollow cylindrical section of pushing member inside the second hollow cylindrical section and along the fourth axis, the spring may be configured to compress, and to thereby urge the second adjusting rod to move along the fourth axis and inside the shell.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first axis may be perpendicular to the second axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the second axis may be perpendicular to the third axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the fourth axis may be the same as the third axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the shell may include a slot on an outermost surface of the shell. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot may be configured to provide a view of the pushing member and the second adjusting rod to a surgeon.

In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling member may further include a first locking nut and a second locking nut. In an exemplary embodiment, a first internally threaded section of the first locking nut may correspond to a first externally threaded section of the first attaching rod. In an exemplary embodiment, the first internally threaded section of the first locking nut may be configured to be meshed with the first externally threaded section of the first attaching rod.

In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to fastening the first locking nut onto the first attaching rod, the radius coupling element may be configured to be prevented from rotating around the first axis and, to thereby, radius coupling element may be fixed relative to radius fixing member.

In an exemplary embodiment, a second internally threaded section of the second locking nut may correspond to a second externally threaded section of the second attaching rod. In an exemplary embodiment, the second internally threaded section of the second locking nut may be configured to be meshed with the second externally threaded section of the second attaching rod.

In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to fastening the second locking nut onto the second attaching rod, the metacarpus coupling element may be configured to be prevented from rotating around the second axis and, to thereby, metacarpus coupling element may be fixed relative to radius coupling element.

In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling member may further include a locking screw associated with the first adjusting rod. In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to fastening the locking screw, a friction between the locking screw and the first adjusting rod may be configured to be increased, and to thereby, prevent first adjusting rod from linear movement along the third axis, and to thereby, fix the metacarpus coupling element relative to metacarpus fixing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the methods and devices disclosed in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the exemplary implementations will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations and applications without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Herein is disclosed an exemplary orthopedic device for repairing fractures and dislocations of a fractured distal radius of a patient. An exemplary orthopedic device may include a radius fixing member and a metacarpus fixing member. The radius fixing member may be secured to a radius of a patient and the metacarpus fixing member may be secured to a metacarpus of the patient. The radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member may be connected to each other utilizing a coupling member which may allow the radius fixing member and the metacarpus fixing member to rotate and move linearly in order to provide three degrees of freedom for the exemplary orthopedic device. Furthermore, an exemplary orthopedic device may include a force adjusting mechanism which may be used by a surgeon to exert a controllable tensile force between a radius and a metacarpus of a patient and along an axis perpendicular to a fracture surface.

FIG.1Ashows a perspective view of an exemplary external orthopedic fixation device100, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.1Bshows a top view of external orthopedic fixation device100, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.1Cshows a side view of external orthopedic fixation device100, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1A,FIG.1B, andFIG.1C, in an exemplary embodiment, external orthopedic fixation device100may include a radius fixing member102and a metacarpus fixing member104.FIG.1Dshows an exemplary scenario when external orthopedic fixation device100is secured to a hand of a patient, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1D, in an exemplary embodiment, radius fixing member102may be secured to a radius bone120of a patient. In an exemplary embodiment, securing radius fixing member102to radius bone120of the patient may refer to attaching radius fixing member102to radius bone120in such a way that radius fixing member102becomes fixed relative to radius bone120. In an exemplary embodiment, radius fixing member102may be secured to radius fixing member102by utilizing a first plurality of bone pins.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first plurality of bone pins may include a first bone pin122aand a second bone pin122b. In an exemplary embodiment, a distal end of first bone pin122aand a distal end of second bone pin122bmay be affixed into radius bone120. In an exemplary embodiment, a proximal end of first bone pin122aand a proximal end of second bone pin122bmay be secured to radius fixing member102. In an exemplary embodiment, the proximal end of second bone pin122bmay be secured to radius fixing member102by utilizing a first clamp mechanism124. In an exemplary embodiment, first clamp mechanism124may include a first fastening screw1242. In an exemplary embodiment, the proximal end of second bone pin122bmay be disposed between first fastening screw1242and radius fixing member102, and by fastening first fastening screw1242, the proximal end of second bone pin122bmay be secured to radius fixing member102.

In an exemplary embodiment, metacarpus fixing member104may be secured to a metacarpus bone140of the patient. In an exemplary embodiment, securing metacarpus fixing member104to metacarpus bone140of the patient may refer to attaching metacarpus fixing member104to metacarpus bone140in such a way that metacarpus fixing member104is fixed relative to metacarpus bone140. In an exemplary embodiment, metacarpus fixing member104may be secured to metacarpus bone140by utilizing a second plurality of bone pins. In an exemplary embodiment, the second plurality of bone pins may include a third bone pin142aand a fourth bone pin142b. In an exemplary embodiment, a distal end of third bone pin142aand a distal end of fourth bone pin142bmay be affixed into metacarpus bone140. In an exemplary embodiment, a proximal end of third bone pin142aand a proximal end of fourth bone pin142bmay be secured to metacarpus fixing member104.

In an exemplary embodiment, the proximal end of fourth bone pin142bmay be secured to metacarpus fixing member104by utilizing a second clamp mechanism144. In an exemplary embodiment, second clamp mechanism144may include a second fastening screw1442. In an exemplary embodiment, the proximal end of second bone pin142bmay be disposed between second fastening screw1442and metacarpus fixing member104, and by fastening second fastening screw1442, the proximal end of fourth bone pin142bmay be secured to metacarpus fixing member104. In an exemplary embodiment, external orthopedic fixation device100may further include a coupling member106. In an exemplary embodiment, coupling member106may be configured to connect radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104.

FIG.2Ashows an exploded view of external orthopedic fixation device100, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.2Bshows a perspective view of coupling member106, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.2AandFIG.2B, in an exemplary embodiment, coupling member106may include a radius coupling element202. In an exemplary embodiment, radius coupling element202may be connected to radius fixing member102in such a way that radius coupling element202be able to rotate around a first axis222. In an exemplary embodiment, first axis222may be associated with radius fixing member102. In fact, in an exemplary embodiment, first axis222may be fixed to radius fixing member102. In an exemplary embodiment, radius coupling element202may include a first attaching rod224. In an exemplary embodiment, first attaching rod224may be disposed freely inside a first rod receiving hole232of radius fixing member102. In an exemplary embodiment, disposing first attaching rod224freely inside first rod receiving hole232may refer to an exemplary scenario in which an external diameter of first attaching rod224is smaller than an internal diameter of first rod receiving hole232. In an exemplary embodiment, the difference between the external diameter of first attaching rod224and the internal diameter of first rod receiving hole232may allow first attaching rod224to rotate freely inside first rod receiving hole232.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG.2AandFIG.2B, coupling member106may further include a metacarpus coupling element204. In an exemplary embodiment, metacarpus coupling element204may be connected to radius coupling element202in such a way that metacarpus coupling element204may be able to rotate around a second axis242. In an exemplary embodiment, second axis242may be associated with radius coupling element202. In an exemplary embodiment, radius coupling element202may include a second attaching rod226. In an exemplary embodiment, second attaching rod226may be disposed freely inside a second rod receiving hole252of metacarpus coupling element204. In an exemplary embodiment, disposing second attaching rod226freely inside second rod receiving hole252may refer to an exemplary scenario in which an external diameter of second attaching rod226is smaller than an internal diameter of second rod receiving hole252. In an exemplary embodiment, the difference between the external diameter of second attaching rod226and the internal diameter of second rod receiving hole252may allow second attaching rod226to rotate freely inside rod receiving hole232.

In an exemplary embodiment, coupling member106may further include a first locking nut272associated with first attaching rod224. In an exemplary embodiment, first attaching rod224may include a first externally threaded section corresponds to a first internally threaded section of first locking nut272. In an exemplary embodiment, first locking nut272and first attaching rod224may act as a nut and screw mechanism. In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to fastening first locking nut272, radius coupling element202may be prevented from rotating around first axis222and, consequently, radius coupling element202may be fixed relative to radius fixing member102.

In an exemplary embodiment, coupling member106may further include a second locking nut273associated with second attaching rod226. In an exemplary embodiment, second attaching rod226may include a second externally threaded section corresponds to a second internally threaded section of second locking nut273. In an exemplary embodiment, second locking nut273and second attaching rod226may act as a nut and screw mechanism. In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to fastening second locking nut272, metacarpus coupling element204may be prevented from rotating around second axis222and, consequently, metacarpus coupling element204may be fixed relative to radius coupling element202.

In an exemplary embodiment, metacarpus coupling element204may further include a first adjusting rod244. In an exemplary embodiment, first adjusting rod244may be disposed slidably inside an adjusting hole254of metacarpus fixing member104from a first side2542of adjusting hole254. In an exemplary embodiment, disposing first adjusting rod244slidably inside adjusting hole254may refer to disposing first adjusting rod244inside adjusting hole254in such a way that first adjusting rod244is able to move linearly inside adjusting hole254and along a third axis262. In an exemplary embodiment, third axis262may be associated with metacarpus fixing member104. In an exemplary embodiment, third axis262may be the same as a main longitudinal axis of adjusting hole254. In an exemplary embodiment, disposing first adjusting rod244slidably inside adjusting hole254may allow metacarpus fixing member104to move linearly along third axis262and relative to coupling member106.

In an exemplary embodiment, coupling member106may further include a locking screw274associated with first adjusting rod244. In an exemplary embodiment, due to fastening locking screw274, first adjusting rod244may be prevented from linear movement along third axis262and, in fact, metacarpus coupling element204may be fixed relative to metacarpus fixing member104.

FIG.3Ashows external orthopedic fixation device100, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.3A, in an exemplary embodiment, external orthopedic fixation device100may further include a force adjusting mechanism300. In an exemplary embodiment, force adjusting mechanism300may be configured to exert a tensile force between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104.FIG.3Bshows force adjusting mechanism300, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, force adjusting mechanism300may include a second adjusting rod302.

In an exemplary embodiment, second adjusting rod302may be configured to be inserted inside a second side2544of adjusting hole254and urge first adjusting rod244to move linearly inside adjusting hole254and along third axis262. In an exemplary embodiment, second adjusting rod302may urge first adjusting rod244to move along third axis262and in a direction310. In an exemplary embodiment, moving first adjusting rod244inside adjusting hole254and in direction310may increase a distance between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, moving first adjusting rod244inside adjusting hole254and in direction310may exert a tensile force between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104. In an exemplary embodiment, it may be understood that the tensile force between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104may directly be applied between radius bone120and metacarpus bone140.

FIG.3Cshows a sectional view of force adjusting mechanism300, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.3Dshows an exploded view of force adjusting mechanism300, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.3CandFIG.3D, in an exemplary embodiment, force adjusting mechanism300may further include a pushing member304and a spring306.FIG.3Eshows a sectional view of second adjusting rod302, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.3Fshows a sectional view of pushing member304, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring back toFIG.3C, in an exemplary embodiment, a first hollow cylindrical section342of pushing member304may be disposed slidably inside a second hollow cylindrical section322of second adjusting rod302. Furthermore, spring306may be disposed between second adjusting rod302and pushing member304and inside first hollow cylindrical section342and second hollow cylindrical section322. In an exemplary embodiment, when pushing member304is moved along a fourth axis330and in a direction350, it may compress spring306, and to thereby, may urge second adjusting rod302to move along fourth axis330and in direction350. In an exemplary embodiment, force adjusting mechanism300may further include a shell308. In an exemplary embodiment, second adjusting rod302and pushing member304may be disposed slidably inside shell308. In an exemplary embodiment, shell308may include a slot382.

In an exemplary embodiment, slot382may provide a facility for a surgeon to see the amounts which second adjusting rod302and pushing member304are moved along fourth axis330and in direction350. In an exemplary embodiment, a difference between an amount which pushing member304is moved along fourth axis330and in direction350and an amount which second adjusting rod302is moved along fourth axis330and in direction350may be the same as an amount which spring306is compressed. In an exemplary embodiment, it may be understood that, the amount which spring306is compressed may be an indication for the tensile force between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104. Consequently, in an exemplary embodiment, slot382may act as a force indicator which provide a facility for a surgeon to calculate the tensile force between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104.

In an exemplary embodiment, it may be understood that the tensile force between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104may be a force along third axis262. In an exemplary embodiment, a tensile force along third axis262may refer to a force which is able to pull radius fixing member102in direction of third axis262. A surgeon may rotate metacarpus fixing member104around first axis222and second axis242to change a direction of third axis262in space. For example, a surgeon may rotate metacarpus fixing member104around first axis222and second axis242to set third axis262along an axis perpendicular to a fracture plane or a distal radius articular plane. Consequently, the tensile force between radius fixing member102and metacarpus fixing member104which may be applied between radius bone120and metacarpus bone140may be a tensile force along the axis perpendicular to the fracture plane or the distal radius articular plane.

FIG.3Gshows a side view of adjusting mechanism300in a scenario when pushing member304is free and not moved along fourth axis330.FIG.311shows a side view of adjusting mechanism300in a scenario when pushing member304is moved along fourth axis330and in direction350, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As may be seen inFIG.3G, in an exemplary embodiment, when pushing member304is moved along fourth axis330and in direction350, pushing member304may be moved by a first amount344and second adjusting rod302may be moved by a second amount324. In an exemplary embodiment, it may be understood that a difference between first amount344and second amount324may be equal to a compression amount of spring306. Furthermore, it may be understood that a surgeon, utilizing a compression amount of spring306, may be able to calculate a tensile force applied by external orthopedic fixation device100between radius bone120and metacarpus bone140. Hence, disclosed external orthopedic fixation device100may provide a facility for a surgeon to make him/her able to exert a controllable tensile force between a radius bone of a patient and a metacarpus bone of a patient. In an exemplary embodiment, exerting a controllable tensile force may refer to exerting a tensile force in a predetermined direction and by a predetermined magnitude.