Patent ID: 8029505

Claim:
An external fixation system, comprising: a first ring member and a second ring member; at least one distractor disposed between said first and second ring members, the distractor being configured to move the first and second ring members relative to each other; and at least one clamp operably connected to at least one ring member comprising: a base including a coupling element attaching the clamp to the at least one ring member and an engagement portion; a first vise plate and a second vise plate, the vise plates being sized and configured to receive a bone connection element therebetween, wherein the second vise plate has an engagement portion for engaging the engagement portion on the base in order to prevent the first vise plate and second vise plate from rotating relative to the base; a fastener positionable through the first and second vise plates to engage a respectively sized opening formed in the base; a first biasing member positioned between a head of the fastener and the first vise plate, the first biasing member being compressible; and a second biasing member positioned between the second vise plate and the base for separating the engagement portions of the second vise plate and the base, the second biasing member being compressible to allow the engagement portions to engage each other upon tightening of the fastener to the base to engage each other upon tightening of the fastener to the base; wherein the coupling element includes a bottom surface and a top surface, and a first axis extending there-between, the base is a protrusion extending from the to surface, the opening of the base is open along a second axis, wherein the first and second axis are substantially perpendicular to each other.