Harold M Wotton

US Patent:

57467412, May 5, 1998

Filed:

May 6, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/643512

Inventors:

Karl H. Kraus - Sutton MA
George E. Chu - Westford MA
Brian J. Rollins - Bellingham MA
Harold M. Wotton - Fiskdale MA
Danielle L. Luongo - Tyngsboro MA
Donald M. Kallio - Barrington RI
Bryan E. Cotton - Watertown MA
David P. Brooks - Framingham MA

Assignee:

Tufts University - Medford MA
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Worcester MA

International Classification:

A61B 1756

US Classification:

606 54

Abstract:

An external fixator system comprises a clamp adapted to couple a fixator pin to a connecting rod. The clamp includes a slot for transversely receiving the body of the connecting rod. The slot preferably includes a region of reduced width, providing interference between the clamp and the connecting rod as it is inserted. This causes the clamp to snap onto the rod. A bolt is inserted through a hole passing through both sides of the slot. The bolt includes a head at one end formed in the shape of a hook adapted to hook the shaft of a fixator pin, and a thread at the opposite end. The bolt is rotatably mountable in the hole such that the fixator pin can be retained at a range of angles relative to the connecting rod. The clamp is attachable to a fixator pin and a connecting bar between two previously-installed clamps without disassembly of the system.

US Patent:

59761334, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Apr 23, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/841529

Inventors:

Karl H. Kraus - Sutton MA
Harold M. Wotton - Fiskdale MA

Assignee:

Trustees of Tufts College - Medford MA

International Classification:

A61B 1756

US Classification:

606 54

Abstract:

An external fixator system comprises a clamp adapted to couple a fixator pin to a connecting rod. The clamp includes a slot for transversely receiving the connecting rod. A bolt is inserted through a bore passing transversely to the slot to engage a pin connector holding a fixator pin. The pin connector has rod-engaging surface that wedges the connecting rod into the slot thus increasing the clamp's rigidity by preventing rotation of the clamp around the rod and rotation of the pin connector in the clamp body. An aiming device is also disclosed, which attaches to at least two connecting rods to guide the insertion of fixator pins between the rods. The aiming device is adjustable to accommodate various distances between rods and has different modes of attachment to the rods to enable clamp installation either above or below the rods.

US Patent:

20060212035, Sep 21, 2006

Filed:

Sep 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/221471

Inventors:

Harold Wotton - Woodstock CT, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/30

US Classification:

606069000

Abstract:

A fixation plate with a base section including apertures for fixation to one bone segment and a leg section extending from the base section and including apertures for fixation to another bone segment. The expanse of the base section tapers gradually to smoothly cojoin with the leg section and the expanse of the leg section continues to taper to a distal rounded end of the leg section.