Patent ID: 8075560

Claim:
An apparatus for external fixation of bone fragments, wherein said apparatus comprises: a fixator body comprising a first pin mounting block at one end that includes a plurality of vertical parallel passages providing positions for vertical fragment pins and an elongated frame element at an opposite end that includes elongated frame element apertures providing positions for mounting pins; a pair of mounting pins, for attachment of the distal radius bone, housed in said elongated frame; vertical fragment pins mounted in said first pin mounting block; a sliding plate mounted to slide along said fixator body, wherein said sliding plate includes holes aligned with said vertical parallel passages, providing positions for the vertical fragment pins that extend through said vertical parallel passages; a plate driving mechanism movable in an engagement direction to slide said sliding plate along said fixator body, simultaneously clamping the vertical fragment pins; and a second pin mounting block, slidably mounted orthogonally on one side of said fixator body, wherein said second pin mounting block extends in a direction parallel to said first pin mounting block, is moveable along an edge of said fixator body, and a second pin mounting block clamp connected to said fixator body and said second pin mounting block for clamping said second pin mounting block in place; wherein said second pin mounting block contains one or more vertically oriented elongated slots, each which contain a slidably mounted pin holding member comprising: a spherical pin holder containing a pin mounting hole, which provides a position for a lateral fragment pin to extend through said pin mounting hole towards said vertical fragment pins, and at least one deformable portion; and a spherical pin holder clamping mechanism comprising an exterior clamping component and an interior clamping component, releasably fastened together and engaging an internal mounting surface within said elongated slots, wherein said spherical pin holder clamping mechanism when tightened can deflect the deformable portion of each spherically rounded member to hold the side pin in place within the pin mounting hole.