REPOSITION AND PENETRATION FORCEPS AND EXTERNAL FIXATOR FOR FRACTURES OF LONG BONES

Abstract

Reposition and penetration forceps for fractures of long bones, in particular traumatic fractures of tibia in centre line, that comprise two jaws forming a three-point system in opposition, wherein the first movable jaw (1) comprises two threaded pins (7) with tips (21) and the second firm jaw (2) comprises one threaded pin (7) with a tip (21). An external fixator for fractures of long bones, in particular traumatic fractures of tibia in centre line, which comprises at least two sets of forceps, wherein the sets of forceps are arranged identically or in a mirror image to each other.

Claims

1. Reposition and penetration forceps for fractures of long bones, in particular traumatic fractures of tibia in centre line, characterized in that the forceps comprise two jaws forming a three-point system in opposition, wherein a first movable jaw (1) comprises two threaded pins (7) with pin tips (21) and a second firm jaw (2) comprises one threaded pin (7) with a tip (21).

2. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 1, characterized in that the pin tips (21) are conical in shape and their diameter is smaller than the diameter of the pin (7), thereby they are shaped so as not to penetrate into the medullary cavity.

3. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 1, characterized in that the pin (7) is interchangeable according to a required length, from 20 to 100 mm, or personalized so as to ensure the possibility of reposition at different localization sites of the fracture.

4. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 1, characterized in that the first movable jaw (1) and the second firm jaw (2) are interconnected by a sliding sleeve (3) which is part of a sliding mechanism for sliding the first movable jaw (1) and the second firm jaw (2) towards and away from each other.

5. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 4, characterized in that the sliding mechanism is a spring-lever mechanism comprising a body of the second firm jaw (2), the sliding sleeve (3), a trigger (4), a handle (5), a spring (13), an outer locking insert (9), and an inner locking insert (10), wherein: the body of the second firm jaw (2) is connected to the trigger (4) and the handle (5) used for bringing the first movable jaw (1) and the second firm jaw (2) closer together by pressing the trigger (4) against the handle (5), the spring (13) for returning the trigger (4) after being pressed is blocked on one side by the body of the second firm jaw (2) and on the other side by locking pins (14), the inner locking insert (10) is located inside the body of the second firm jaw (2) between the spring (13) and the locking pins (14) and the outer locking insert (9) is located outside the body of the second firm jaw (2), wherein sliding the outer locking insert (9) towards the body of the second firm jaw (2) releases the forceps.

6. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 5, characterized in that the trigger (4) and the handle (5) are removable.

7. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring-lever mechanism comprises a blocking insert (11) for long-term fixation and prevention of unwanted release.

8. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring-lever mechanism comprises a blocking screw (12) for securing the position of the spring (13).

9. The reposition and penetration forceps according to claim 1, characterized in that the forceps form part of an external fixator for fractures of long bones.

10. An external fixator for fractures of long bones, in particular traumatic fractures of tibia in centre line, characterized in that the external fixator comprises at least two sets of forceps according to claim 1, wherein the sets of forceps are arranged identically or in a mirror image to each other.

11. The external fixator according to claim 10, characterized in that the sets of forceps are interconnected by a tubular system comprising threaded rods (6), at least one connecting rod (19) and locking clamps (17), in such manner that the first movable jaw (1) and the second firm jaw (2) of each forceps is firmly connected to one threaded rod (6) and each threaded rod (6) of one set of forceps is connected to the threaded rod (6) of the other set of forceps by at least one connecting rod (19), wherein each connecting rod (19) is variably adjustable by means of the locking clamps (17) connecting two rods each time.

12. The external fixator according to claim 11, characterized in that the connecting rods (19) and the threaded rods (6) have the same diameter and/or the locking clamps (17) are rotatable in one axis and are securable with a butterfly screw (20).

13. The external fixator according to claim 10, characterized in that communicating sensors for temperature, applied force, impact and motion can be connected thereto, being able of transmitting data in real time to a device for their processing.

14. The external fixator according to claim 10, characterized in that the components thereof are made of medical metals and/or composites, in particular surgical steel, cobalt chrome, titanium alloy or pure titanium, and/or materials based on PAEK, ABS, ASA, NYLON or other plastics and composites with reinforcement, such as carbon or glass fibres.

15. The external fixator according to claim 10, characterized in that the external fixator is produced by additive manufacturing technology.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1 shows the set of reposition and penetration forceps and the mechanism of moving and locking the jaws in 2D view.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows the set of reposition and penetration forceps in 3D view.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the second jaw body and part of the spring-lever mechanism.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows the penetration of the pin tips of the forceps into the bone compacta without interference of the medullary canal.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows the entire assembly of the external fixator in 2D view and its location on the tibia.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows the entire assembly of the external fixator in 3D view and its location on the tibia.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0066] The reposition and penetration forceps for fractures of long bones according to the FIG. 1. were made. The forceps comprise two jaws forming a three-point system in opposition. The first movable jaw 1 comprises two threaded pins 7 with tips 21 and the second firm jaw 2 comprises one threaded pin 7 with a tip 21.

[0067] The tips 21 of the pins 7 are conical in shape and their diameter is smaller than the diameter of the pin 7, thereby they are shaped so as not to penetrate into the medullary cavity. The pins 7 are interchangeable according to the required length, from 20 to 100 mm.

[0068] The first jaw 1 and the second jaw 2 are interconnected by the sliding sleeve 3 which is part of the sliding mechanism for sliding the jaws 1,2 towards and away from each other.

[0069] The sliding mechanism is a spring-lever mechanism comprising the body of the second jaw 2, the sliding sleeve 3, the trigger 4, the handle 5, the spring 13 and the locking inserts 9,10. The body of the second jaw 2 is connected to the trigger 4 and the handle 5 used for bringing the jaws 1,2 closer together by repeatedly pressing the trigger 4 against the handle 5. The spring 13 serves to return the trigger 4 after being pressed and it is blocked on one side by the body of the jaw 2 and on the other side by the locking pins 14. The inner locking insert 10 is located inside the body of the second jaw 2 between the spring 13 and the locking pins 14. The outer locking insert 9 is located outside the body of the second jaw 2. By sliding the outer locking insert 9 towards the body of the jaw 2, the forceps are released.

[0070] The trigger 4 and the handle 5 are removable. The spring-lever mechanism further comprises the blocking insert 11 for long-term fixation and prevention of unwanted release and the blocking screw 12 for securing the position of the spring 13.

Example 2

[0071] The reposition and penetration forceps were made, wherein the spring-lever approach system is located on the body of the firm second jaw 2, which moves the sliding sleeve 3 on which the movable first jaw 1 is located. The movement is provided by a spring system with two locking inserts-one inner insert 10 inside the body of the second jaw 2, inserted between the spring 13 and the locking pins 14, and one outer insert 9 outside the body of the second jaw 2, inserted in a cut-out of the handle 2 of the locking insert with precise apertures for the entry of the sliding sleeve 3. By repeatedly pressing the lever mechanism, the jaws are brought closer to each other step by step. The pins 7 are personalized so as to ensure the possibility of reposition at different localization sites of the fracture. The pin tips 21 were applied to the safe zones of the long bones. For the safety of the patient, the system works on the principle of a torque wrench with a jump force value set according to the limit values of compact bone destruction.

Example 3

[0072] The external fixator for fractures of long bones was made, comprising two sets of forceps according to Example 1. The sets of forceps are arranged in a mirror image.

[0073] The sets of forceps are interconnected by the tubular system comprising two threaded rods 6, two connecting rods 19 and six locking clamps 17. Each jaw 1,2 of each forceps is firmly connected to one threaded rod 6 and each threaded rod 6 of set of forceps is connected to the threaded rod 6 of the other set of forceps by two connecting rods 19. Each connecting rod 19 is variably adjustable by means of the locking clamps 17 connecting two rods each time.

[0074] The connecting rods 19 and the threaded rods 6 have the same diameter, which allows them to be connected by means of the clamps. The locking clamps 17 are rotatable in one axis and are securable with the butterfly screw 20.

[0075] The components of the fixator are made of medical metals and/or composites and of PAEK-based materials. The external fixator was manufactured by additive manufacturing technology, namely by the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) method.

Example 4

[0076] The external fixator for fractures of long bones was made, comprising two sets of forceps arranged identically to each other. The tubular stabilization system was connected to a pair of reposition forceps with the tips 21 applied in the safe zones of the long bones by means of the threaded rods 6 which are threadedly connected to the bodies of the jaws 1,2. The system is connected by the locking clamps 17, which use butterfly screws 20 to lock the system. In addition to the threaded rods 6, the tubular stabilization system comprises one connecting rod 19 which connects the jaws of the different sets of forceps. Four locking clamps 17 were used for the entire assembly.

Example 5

[0077] The external fixator for fractures of long bones was made, comprising three sets of forceps. Such fixator is suitable for use in rare complex cases. The tubular stabilization system was modified as required.

Example 6

[0078] A SMART solution for a fixation system was made. The communicating sensors for temperature, applied force, impact and motion, which send data in real time to a device that can process it, were connected to Examples 3, 4 and 5. Using a software application in a mobile device, the external fixator is monitored and alerts the patient or clinical staff of any loosening of the fixator or inflammatory processes.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0079] The reposition and penetration forceps and the external fixator for fractures of long bones are primarily intended for application in traumatology and orthopaedics, with the possibility of use in other related fields as well.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0080] 1 First jaw [0081] 2 Second jaw [0082] 2 Locking insert handle [0083] 3 Sliding sleeve [0084] 4 Trigger [0085] 5 Handle [0086] 6 Threaded rod [0087] 7 Pin [0088] 8 Threaded insert for pin [0089] 9 Outer locking insert [0090] 10 Inner locking insert [0091] 11 Blocking insert [0092] 12 Blocking screw [0093] 13 Spring [0094] 14 Locking pin [0095] 15 Tibia [0096] 16 Medullary cavity of tibia [0097] 17 Locking clamp [0098] 18 Pin stop on Corticalis [0099] 19 Connecting rod [0100] 20 Butterfly screw [0101] 21 Pin tip [0102] 22 Corticalis [0103] 23 Lower limb cross-section