US 12,082,846 B2
External fixation strut
Andrew Noblett, Bartlett, TN (US); Johnny R. Mason, Bartlett, TN (US); and Paul Bell, Memphis, TN (US)
Assigned to Smith & Nephew, Inc.; Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH); and Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore (SG)
Filed by Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH); and Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore (SG)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/845,065.
Application 17/845,065 is a continuation of application No. 17/289,592, granted, now 11,395,679, previously published as PCT/US2019/057339, filed on Oct. 22, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/752,671, filed on Oct. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0313317 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/64 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/6475 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An external fixation strut comprising:
a strut body operatively associated with a first connector;
a threaded rod including external threads formed thereon, the threaded rod being operatively associated with a second connector; and
an adjustment mechanism including:
an actuator body;
a mobile jaw including internal threads engageable with the external threads of the threaded rod so that when the internal threads of the mobile jaw are engaged with the external threads of the threaded rod movement of the threaded rod relative to the strut body moves the first connector relative to the second connector;
a disengagement member selectively movable from a first position to a second position, in the first position, the disengagement member interacts with the mobile jaw to engage the internal threads of the mobile jaw with the external threads of the threaded rod, in the second position, the disengagement member interacts with the mobile jaw to disengage the internal threads of the mobile jaw from the external threads of the threaded rod to enable the strut body to be slidable adjustable relative to the threaded rod; and
a band selectively coupled to the actuator body, the band being configured to at least partially encase the actuator body to interact with the disengagement member to prevent access to the disengagement member and to prevent movement of the disengagement member from the first position to the second position when coupled to the actuator body.