US Patent 7867265 Bone clamp

A bone clamp moving bone segments relative to each other. The clamp comprises a first and second branch and a bridge connecting the first and second branch. The bone clamp may have a first, undeformed state, where the branches may be angled or substantially parallel with respect to each other. The bone clamp may have a second, deformed state, where the branches may be moved from the first state. The bone clamp may be deformed using an instrument such as pliers. When the bone clamp is in the deformed state, the branches may be inserted into bone segments. Thereafter, the instrument may be disengage from the bone clamp and the clamp may return to its undeformed state. While returning to the first, undeformed, state the bone clamp may apply compressive or distraction forces on the bone segments, thereby moving the bone segments relative to each other.