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Abstract

A method of performing angular distraction osteogenesis by drilling bone-pin holes into the first and second sides of a segmented bone, inserting bone-pins into the bone-pin holes, attaching the bone-pins in each side of the segmented bone to a distraction device and adjusting the distraction devise so that the bone portion of the first side of the segmented bone angularly adjusts, rotates or pivots its position relative to the bone portion on the second side of the segmented bone in precise, gradual and predetermined incremental amounts over a period of time so that the bone tissue remains healthy and the blood vessels and nerve endings remain intact during the bending distraction process. A device for achieving angular distraction osteogenesis is provided having a support member extending across a segmented piece of bone, members for securing the first side of the segmented bone to the support member and the second side of the segmented bone to the support member, and a member for angularly adjusting the first section of segmented bone relative to the second section of segmented bone. The angular adjustment member includes a gear and a cooperating adjustment screw which rotates the gear when the screw is adjusted in order to easily angularly adjust or rotate the support member or the members for securing the segmented bone pieces to the support member in precise, small incremental predetermined amounts over a period of time. The members for securing the segmented bone pieces to the support member include bone-pin clamps which can be adjusted linearly or translated in precise, gradual and incremental distances along the length of the support member. In one embodiment, the device has two arms, a central joint for angularly adjusting the two arms and two bone-pin clamps for attaching at least one bone-pin on each side of the segmented bone to a respective arm. The arms are attached to the central joint and angularly adjust or rotate in planes that are oriented different from one another and perhaps perpendicularly and the bone-pin clamps linearly translate along each arm.

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First Claim