Patent ID: 8333766

Claim:
An external fixation system comprising: first and second ring elements, the first ring including a gear track around a circumference thereof; three shuttles mounted on the first ring element for controlled movement about a circumference of the first ring element each shuttle having a first connector including a joint having three degrees of freedom and the system having three second connectors fixed to the second ring, the three shuttles having a gear engaging the gear track on the first ring; three kinematic chains each having first ends connected to a respective shuttle by the first connector and a second end connected to a respective second connector, the second connector non-rotatably mounted on the second ring, the second connector having a universal joint freely rotatable about a first axis parallel to the second ring element and rotatable in a controlled manner about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and drive means for controlling the movement of each shuttle about the circumference of the first ring and for controlling the movement of the kinematic chain second end about the second axis of the second connector on the second ring.