Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A clamping assembly for clamping together two sections of a bone having, when so clamped, a common surface generally perpendicular to contacting surfaces of the two bone sections, and each bone section having a side surface generally parallel to said contacting surfaces and transversely joined to said common surface, the assembly comprising a pair of plates for disposition on said common surface on respective ones of said bone sections and in alignment with one another within a plane generally perpendicular to said contacting surfaces and in spaced, non-overlapping relationship to said contacting surfaces; means for securing each one of said plates to a respective section of bone, and a wire positioned in contact with said plates above said common surface and above the lower surface of said plates for pulling said plates toward each other and for compressing the two bone sections together without the wire touching the common surface underneath the plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A clamping assembly for clamping together two sections of a bone having, when so clamped, a common surface generally perpendicular to contacting surfaces of the two bone sections, and each bone section having a side surface generally parallel to said contacting surfaces and transversely joined to said common surface, the assembly comprising a pair of plates for disposition on said common surface on respective ones of said bone sections and in alignment with one another within a plane generally perpendicular to said contacting surfaces and in spaced, non-overlapping relationship to said contacting surfaces; means for securing each one of said plates to a respective section of bone, and a wire positioned in contact with said plates above said common surface and above the lower surface of said plates for pulling said plates toward each other and for compressing the two bone sections together without the wire touching the common surface underneath the plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for securing each one of said plates to a respective bone section includes a hook extending from said plate and for engagement either inside the bone or around the outside of the bone with said side surface for securing each plate to its respective bone section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A clamping assembly according to claim 2 wherein said hook of each one of said plates includes a first section generally perpendicular to said plate for extending along said bone side surface and a second section extending generally perpendicular to said first section for directly engaging a portion of said bone disposed between said second section and said plate for securing said plate to said bone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A clamping assembly according to claim 3 wherein said second section comprises a spike for penetrating into said bone through said side surface thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for securing each one of said plates to a respective bone section includes a screw extending through the plate and into the underlying bone section for securing each plate to its respective bone section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each one of said plates includes a post projecting generally perpendicular to said plate in a direction away from the underlying bone section; and wherein said wire is connected between the posts for pulling the two plates together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A clamping assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said plates includes clamping jaw engageable means for enabling the application of tensile stresses through each said plate between said jaw engageable means and said hook.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A clamping assembly according to claim 7 wherein each of said plates includes a first surface for being in parallel relationship with said common surface when said plate is disposed on said common surface, and said engageable means comprises a wall projecting generally perpendicular to said first surface and extending generally parallel to said contacting surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A clamping assembly according to claim 8 wherein said wall defines one side of a depression in said plate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for clamping together two elongated bone sections of a split flat bone comprising the steps of pressing together facing surfaces of two flat bone sections for forming a joined together flat bone having a common surface generally perpendicular to said facing surfaces and a pair of oppositely disposed sides on respective ones of said bone sections generally parallel to said facing surfaces, placing a pair of clamping plates on respective bone sections and facing forwardly towards one another and aligned with one another in a plane generally perpendicular to said facing surfaces, securing said plates to said respective flat bone sections and in spaced, non-overlapping relationship with said facing surfaces by means of rearwardly facing hooks extending along respective sides of said bone sections, and compressively securing said two plates to one another by wrapping a wire around and between said plates without the wire touching the common surface underneath the plates.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for clamping together two elongated bone sections of a split flat bone comprising the steps of pressing together facing surfaces of two flat bone sections for forming a joined together flat bone having a common surface generally perpendicular to said facing surfaces and a pair of oppositely disposed sides on respective ones of said bone sections generally parallel to said facing surfaces, placing a pair of clamping plates on respective bone sections and facing forwardly towards one another and aligned with one another in a plane generally perpendicular to said facing surfaces, securing said plates to said respective flat bone sections and in spaced, non-overlapping relationship with said facing surfaces by means of rearwardly facing hooks extending along respective sides of said bone sections, and compressively securing said two plates to one another by wrapping a wire around and between said plates without the wire touching the common surface underneath the plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said pressing together step includes rigidly engaging the jaws of a compression pliers with respective portions of each of said plates for forcing said plates towards one another, performing said wire wrapping step while said jaws are rigidly engaged with said plate portions, and disengaging said jaws after completion of said wire wrapping step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said plate securing step comprises forcing of said hooks into respective sections through said side surfaces thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said plate securing step comprises wrapping a wire around and between a pair of extending posts mounted on respective one of said plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
146 words
A clamping assembly for clamping together first and second sections of a relatively flat bone cut along a line generally transverse to the two sections comprising: first and second plates; means for securing the first plate to a first bone section on one side of said line and means for securing the second plate to a second bone section opposite to said first plate on the other side of said cut line; said first and second plates being set back from said cut line and generally aligned opposite each other; a wire; and means for positioning the wire in contact with said plates, without contacting the bone section underneath the plates for winding the wire between the two plates and for pulling the two plates toward each other and simultaneously compressing the two bone sections together without the wire touching the bone surface underneath the plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
146 words
A clamping assembly for clamping together first and second sections of a relatively flat bone cut along a line generally transverse to the two sections comprising: first and second plates; means for securing the first plate to a first bone section on one side of said line and means for securing the second plate to a second bone section opposite to said first plate on the other side of said cut line; said first and second plates being set back from said cut line and generally aligned opposite each other; a wire; and means for positioning the wire in contact with said plates, without contacting the bone section underneath the plates for winding the wire between the two plates and for pulling the two plates toward each other and simultaneously compressing the two bone sections together without the wire touching the bone surface underneath the plates.