US 11,751,912 B2
External fixation strut
Andrew Phillip Noblett, Bartlett, TN (US); and Johnny Mason, Bartlett, TN (US)
Assigned to SMITH & NEPHEW, INC., Memphis, TN (US); SMITH & NEPHEW PTE. LIMITED, Singapore (SG); and Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH)
Appl. No. 17/442,479
Filed by Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH); and Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore (SG)
PCT Filed Mar. 20, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/023852
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 23, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/198005, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/823,844, filed on Mar. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0160399 A1, May 26, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/64 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/66 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/6475 (2013.01) [A61B 17/645 (2013.01); A61B 17/6416 (2013.01); A61B 17/66 (2013.01); A61B 90/06 (2016.02); A61B 2090/061 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An external fixation strut for use with an external fixation system, the external fixation strut comprising:
a main body including: an interior cavity, a central longitudinal axis, a first body component, and a second body component, the first body component and the second body component extending along a longitudinal length of the main body and spaced apart such that component gaps are formed on either side of the second body component adjacent to the first body component;
a threaded rod at least partially positioned within the interior cavity of the main body;
an actuator operatively coupled to the threaded rod so that, in use, rotation of the actuator causes the threaded rod to rotate;
a first fixed arm immovably coupled to the main body; and
a second movable arm threadably coupled to the threaded rod so that, in use, rotation of the threaded rod causes the second movable arm to move relative to the first fixed arm between a maximum length position and a minimum length position;
wherein each of the first fixed arm and the second movable arm include: a ring having an opening, a coupling component fixedly arranged within the ring and including a gap, and an arm extending laterally from the ring, the first body component passing through the opening, the second body component passing through the gap, the arm extending laterally from the ring so that the arm is perpendicular to the central longitudinal.