US 7,320,556 B2 | ||
Gripping devices | ||
Dall Vagn-Erik, Key Cottage, 80 Portlock Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 6DZ (United Kingdom) | ||
Appl. No. 10/332,607 PCT Filed Jul. 11, 2001, PCT No. PCT/GB01/03118 § 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Oct. 03, 2003, PCT Pub. No. WO02/03868, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 17, 2002. |
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Claims priority of application No. 0017068.8 (GB), filed on Jul. 11, 2000; and application No. 0025345.0 (GB), filed on Oct. 16, 2000. | ||
Prior Publication US 2004/0057789 A1, Mar. 25, 2004 | ||
Int. Cl. F16G 11/00 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 403—385 [403/389; 403/390; 403/396; 403/400; 600/227; 606/61] | 17 Claims |
1. A gripping device for rods used in the external fixation of bones in surgical applications, the gripping device comprising:
a sleeve;
a pair of support bodies, each support body being disposed within and at either end of the sleeve, and mounted for translational
movement along a common axis within the sleeve, each support body having a hollow interior with a pivot axle mounted therein;
and
a set of gripping elements pivotally mounted on the pivot axle in each support body, the pivot axle extending perpendicular
to the common axis, the gripping elements each projecting from the interior of the respective support body and the respective
ends of the sleeve and pivoting around the pivot axle and including laterally projecting lever arms in engagement with the
sleeve end, whereby simultaneous movement of the support bodies towards each other within the sleeve and along the common
axis causes working engagement of the lever arms with the sleeve ends such that the lever arms slide within the sleeve ends
to simultaneously close the gripping elements at both ends of the sleeve.
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