| US 7,449,023 B2 | ||
| Method and apparatus for the external fixation and correction of bone | ||
| Stephen B. Walulik, Blairstown, N.J. (US); Kirk J. Bailey, Blairstown, N.J. (US); Takkwong Ross Leung, Piscataway, N.J. (US); and Richard Davidson, Haveford, Pa. (US) | ||
| Assigned to EBI, LLC, Parsippany, N.J. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jul. 15, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/619,536. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/395814, filed on Jul. 15, 2002. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0113829 A1, May 26, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61F 4/00 (2006.01); A61F 5/04 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—59 | 6 Claims |
| 1. An external bone fixation device comprising:
an orthopedic articulating module mountable on bone, the articulating module comprising:
a monolithic central member having first and second arcuate ends and a central portion extending along a longitudinal axis,
the first arcuate end defining a first substantially planar flange having a first plurality of teeth, the first substantially
planar flange having a first width measured on the first flange perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the first width tapering
from the first arcuate end towards the central portion, and the second arcuate end defining a second substantially planar
flange having a second plurality of teeth, the second substantially planar flange having a second width measured on the second
flange perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second width tapering from the second arcuate end towards the central portion
wherein the first and second flanges are substantially perpendicular to one another;
a first pivot segment coupled to the central member for driven rotation about a first pivot axis, the first pivot segment
including a first pair of spaced-apart flanges and a first elongated worm member meshingly engaging the first plurality of
teeth;
a first pivot pin passing through the central member along the first pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the first substantially
planar flange, the first pivot pin coupling the first pair of spaced-apart flanges to the central member;
a second pivot segment coupled to the central member for driven rotation about a second pivot axis, the second pivot axis
being substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the second pivot segment including a second pair of spaced-apart
flanges and a second elongated worm member meshingly engaging the second plurality of the teeth, the second elongated worm
member perpendicular to the first elongated worm member; and
a second pivot pin passing through the central member along the second pivot axis perpendicular to the second substantially
planar flange, the second pivot pin coupling the second pair of spaced-apart flanges to the central member.
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