Patent ID: 8235994

Claim:
A clamp system for a fixator, comprising: a hinge including a first hinge element having first and second sections that are directly connected to one another such that the second section extends from a surface of the first section, the second section defining a first hole, a second hinge element having third and fourth sections that are directly connected to one another such that the fourth section extends from a surface of the third section, the fourth section defining a second hole, and a hinge bolt configured to be received in the first and second holes for hingedly connecting the first and second hinge elements, the hinge bolt being completely surrounded by each of the first and second holes without contacting the first and third sections of the first and second hinge elements, respectively; a first clamp including a first top defining a third hole, a first bottom defining a fourth hole, and a first clamp bolt configured to be received through the third and fourth holes and within a seventh hole defined by the first section of the first hinge element for clamping the first top and first bottom to the first element of the hinge, the first top and first bottom together defining a first passage when clamped together by the first clamp bolt; and a second clamp including a second top defining a fifth hole, a second bottom defining a sixth hole, and a second clamp bolt configured to be received through the fifth and sixth holes and within an eighth hole defined by the third section of the second hinge element for clamping the second top and second bottom to the second hinge element of the hinge, the second top and second bottom together defining a second passage when clamped together by the second clamp bolt.