IMPLANTABLE APPARATUS, MATRIX AND METHOD FOR CORRECTION OF CRANIOFACIAL BONE DEFORMITIES

摘要

An apparatus (20) for relative movement of first and second bone segments, such as segments of a skull, includes first and second nodes (22) attachable to first and second bone segments, respectively, and a first rod (24) mechanism flexibly attached to both the first and second nodes (22). The rod (24) mechanism is either extendible or retractable along an axis thereof. The rod mechanism axis is pivotable with respect to the first and second nodes (22) in at least a first plane parallel to a plane tangent to the skull. The rod (24) mechanism axis also is pivotable with respect to the first and second nodes (22) in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.