External fixation rod for quick adjustment and gradual

摘要

A connecting rod (100) for an external fixation device, defining the connecting rod (100) having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a telescoping housing (118) comprising a housing body having an axial bore (114) defined therethrough ; an inner sleeve (122) slidably disposed within the axial bore (114) of the casing telescopically (118), the inner sleeve and telescopically coupled housing releasably being connected by a fastener (124), the inner sleeve comprising (122): a sleeve body having an axial bore defined therethrough; indexing a flange (131) coupled to a distal end of the sleeve body; and a tip (119) coupled to a distal surface of the flange indexing (131); an adjustment mechanism (126) disposed about the tip (119) of the inner sleeve (122) comprising the adjusting mechanism (126): a first rotating member (127) having an axial bore defined therethrough, the axial bore comprising: a polygonal recess (158) at a distal end; and an inner recess at a proximal end operable to receive indexing flange (131) of the inner sleeve (122); one second rotating member (134) having a threaded axial bore (138) defined therethrough, the second rotating member (134) comprising: a polygonal head (136) at a distal end operable to engage the polygonal recess of the first rotating member (127); and a proximal portion (137) comprising an inner recess (135) operable to receive the tip (119) of the inner sleeve (122); one biasing member (132) positioned adjacent the proximal portion (137) of the second rotating member (134); and an elongated externally threaded member (128) threadedly coupled within the second rotating member (134) of the adjusting mechanism (126); wherein, in a first locked position, the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member (127) receives the flange indexing (131) of the inner sleeve (122), thereby preventing the adjusting mechanism (126 ) rotate about the inner sleeve (122) and the elongate member (128); in which, in a second unlocked position, the first rotating member (127) is moved distally relative to the second rotating member (134) and the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member (127) disengages indexing flange (131) of the inner sleeve (122), thereby allowing the adjustment mechanism (126) rotate about the inner sleeve (122) and the elongate member (128); wherein when the adjustment mechanism (126) rotates about the inner sleeve (122) and the elongate member (128), the elongated member (128) moves within the axial bore defined in the inner sleeve during the gradual adjustment, lengthening or thereby shortening a total length of the rod (100); and wherein when the adjustment mechanism (126) rotates about the inner sleeve (122) and the elongate member (128), the adjustment mechanism (126) is deflected by the biasing member (132) to return to the first locking position when the inner recess of the proximal end of the first rotating member (127) is aligned with and receives the indexing flange (131) of the inner sleeve (122).