Inventors:
Roby C. Thompson - Minneapolis MN
Arthur G. Erdman - New Brighton MN
Frank D. Dorman - Minneapolis MN
Assignee:
Regents of the University of Minnesota - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:
A61F 504
Abstract:
A bone fixation device for securing adjacent and separated bone portions, such as at a joint or at a relatively clean, unsplintered break, comprises a pair of telescoping members which are pinned into the respective bone portions, and have internal actuating members to permit the telescoping parts to be moved together to bring the two bone portions to bear against one another at a desired level of pressure. After the telescoping members have been adjusted the members are permanently left in place to fix and hold the joint or break in a predetermined relationship. The adjusting members also remain in place as pins within the bone, which are accessible through incisions in the skin if later adjustment is necessary. The entire device is embedded, and is not external. The process of inserting is relatively simple to follow and rigidly fixes a joint or break between two abutting bone portions without having external members.