Patent ID: 8409201

Claim:
A system for fixation of bone fractures, comprising: a securing portion for percutaneously securing fractured bone segments, the securing portion having first and second arms that extend in a parallel relationship with each other and are separated from each other by a distance, the securing portion having securing members that extend from the first and second arms and, when in use, engage and stabilize the bone segments; and a compression portion, coupled to the securing portion at a pivot joint, that adjusts the distance between the securing portion first and second arms, comprising a first arm rotationally coupled to one of the two parallel arms, the first arm having a longitudinal axis from a first end portion to a second end portion and a slot along the longitudinal axis; a second arm rotationally coupled to the other of the two parallel arms, the second arm having a longitudinal axis from a first end portion to a second end portion and a slot along the longitudinal axis; and a pair of guide members, each having a first end that adjustably resides within the first arm slot and a second end that adjustably resides within the second arm slot, the pair of guide members being coupled to each other and rotatable about a common axis when the guide member first ends or second ends are adjusted within the first or second arm slots; wherein the pair of guide members maintains a parallel relationship between the compression portion first and second arms and between the securing portion first and second arms when the distance between the securing portion first and second arms is changed; and wherein the securing portion extends substantially in a first plane and the compression portion extends substantially in a second plane, and wherein the securing portion is pivotable relative to the compression portion about an axis of the pivot joint such that the first plane is transverse to the second plane.