Bone distraction device having a quick release disengagement mechanism

1. A bone distraction device comprising:

a pair of bone plate members;

a threaded rod retained within an elongated, linear rod housing having an outer surface, whereby rotation of said threaded rod within said rod housing in a distraction direction results in relative separation of said bone plate members and rotation of said threaded rod in the opposite direction results in relative contraction of said bone plate members;

a drive head positioned at one end of said rod housing and connected to said threaded rod, whereby rotation of said drive head rotates said threaded rod;

a ratchet head connected to said threaded rod and said drive head, said ratchet head having teeth and notches disposed annularly thereon;

a pawl housing positioned on and extending outwardly from said rod housing, said pawl housing retaining a pawl biased into one of said notches on said ratchet head to define an engaged position, said pawl and said notches configured such that said drive head is rotatable only in said distraction direction when said pawl is in said engaged position;

said pawl housing comprising a sloping transition shoulder diminishing to transition onto said outer surface of said rod housing;

said rod housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said drive head is positioned on said proximal end of said rod housing and said pawl housing is positioned on said distal end of said rod housing, wherein said sloping transition shoulder diminishes in a proximal direction; and

a slot disposed in said pawl housing and a post member connected to said pawl and extending through said slot, said slot having a longitudinal portion and an annularly oriented portion, and whereby said pawl is retracted away from said notches and teeth by moving said post member within said slot longitudinally away from said ratchet head and then annularly to define a disengaged position, such that rotation of said drive head is allowable in either direction when said pawl is in said disengaged position.

2. A bone distraction device comprising:

a pair of bone plate members;

a threaded rod retained within an elongated, linear rod housing having an outer surface;

a drive head positioned at one end of said rod housing and connected to said threaded rod, whereby rotation of said drive head rotates said threaded rod, said drive head having teeth and notches disposed annularly thereon;

a pawl housing positioned on and extending outwardly from said rod housing adjacent said drive head, said pawl housing retaining a pawl biased into one of said notches on said drive head to define an engaged position, said pawl and said notches configured such that said drive head is rotatable only in one direction when said pawl is in said engaged position;

a slot disposed in said pawl housing and a release actuation member connected to said pawl and extending through said slot, said slot having a longitudinal portion and an annularly oriented portion, and whereby said pawl is retracted away from said drive head notches and teeth by moving said release actuation member within said slot longitudinally away from said drive head and then annularly to define a disengaged position, such that rotation of said drive head is allowable in either direction when said pawl is in said disengaged position;

a sleeve housing telescopically mounted on said rod housing, wherein one of said pair of bone plate members is affixed to said rod housing and the other of said pair of bone plate members is affixed to said sleeve housing;

said rod housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said drive head and said pawl housing are positioned on said proximal end of said rod housing;

said sleeve housing having a proximal end and a distal end, said sleeve housing further comprising an enlarged end at the proximal end of said sleeve housing, said enlarged end comprising a pawl housing recess sized and configured to receive said pawl housing therein;

whereby rotation of said threaded rod within said rod housing in the distraction direction results in lengthening of said bone distraction device and relative separation of said bone plate members and rotation of said threaded rod in the opposite direction results in shortening of said bone distraction device and relative contraction of said bone plate members.

3. The bone distraction device of claim 2 , said enlarged end of said sleeve housing further comprising a release actuation notch such that said release actuator remains accessible when said pawl housing is received within said pawl housing recess.

4. The bone distraction device of claim 2 , said enlarged end comprising a sloping transition shoulder diminishing to transition onto said outer surface of said sleeve housing in a distal direction.

5. The bone distraction device of claim 3 , enlarged end comprising a sloping transition shoulder diminishing to transition onto said outer surface of said sleeve housing in a distal direction.

6. The bone distraction device of claim 2 , said pawl housing comprising a sloping transition shoulder diminishing to transition onto said outer surface of said rod housing in a distal direction.

7. The bone distraction device of claim 3 , said pawl housing comprising a sloping transition shoulder diminishing to transition onto said outer surface of said rod housing in a distal direction.

8. The bone distraction device of claim 4 , pawl housing comprising a sloping transition shoulder diminishing to transition onto said outer surface of said rod housing in a distal direction.

9. The bone distraction device of claim 5 , said pawl housing comprising a sloping transition shoulder diminishing to transition onto said outer surface of said rod housing in a distal direction.