Sterile Disposable Finger Pin

Abstract

A finger pin made from Kirschner wire is mounted to a hub and sealed within a plastic container. The hub mates with the tip of a hypodermic syringe or another nonsterile handle so that the pin is easily inserted into the finger with the hub closely adjacent the surface of the skin. The hub prevents the pin from penetrating further into the finger and provides a means for easily removing the pin after the fracture has healed. The tip of the pin is specially shaped to aid the pin in penetrating the finger.

Description

This invention relates to disposable surgical instruments and, more particularly, to a sterile disposable finger pin which is mounted to a hub so as to conveniently attachable to, and detachable from, a hypodermic syringe which is used as the means for inserting the finger pin.

Physicians often have a need to insert a finger pin into a fractured finger to hold the finger joint in a fixed position so that the fracture may heal. Such fractures may be of the type known as mallet fingers, shaft fractures, or epiphyseal separations. Many different types and designs of finger pins are known to those skilled in the art. However, there is a need in the medical profession for a finger pin that is suitably packaged in a sterile container and provided with an extremely simple means of connecting it to an instrument which can be used by the physician in inserting the finger pin.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved finger pin which is prepackaged, disposable, sterile and easily fastened to an instrument for inserting the finger pin into the finger.

Another object of this invention is to provide a finger pin of the type specified which can be conveniently carried in a physician's case or pocket to be readily available for use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved finger pin of the type specified which can be easily carried by a physician in a sterile condition and fastened to the end of a nonsterile handle or syringe for insertion.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, a finger pin is constructed of a straight, stainless steel wire which is attached to a plastic end hub so as to be easily fastened to the end of a nonsterile handle or syringe to provide means for inserting the finger pin. The hub, with the pin attached, is packaged in a small transparent container to protect the sterile pin before use. The container is tubelike having a closed end and an open end which is flanged to receive a portion of the hub and secure it to the container. The hub is constructed to be engageable with the tip of a hypodermic syringe so that the hub and finger pin may be attached to the end of the syringe to provide an easy instrument for inserting the pin. The finger pin is thoroughly packed with a disposable wrapper within the tubelike container. Therefore, according to the invention, there is provided a finger pin which is prepackaged, disposable, sterile and easily fastened onto the end of a nonsterile handle or syringe, both of which can be conveniently carried in the physician's case or pocket, and thus provide a readily available, sterile finger pin and instrument for inserting the same.

Further objects and advantages other than those mentioned above, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates one manner in which a finger pin may be inserted into a finger using a hypodermic syringe;

FIG. 1A illustrates the finger pin inserted into the thumb of a patient with the hub remaining near the surface of the skin;

FIG. 2 illustrates the tubelike container and the hub of the finger pin in engaging relationship;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the hub, finger pin, and tubelike container for protecting the same;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the tip of the finger pin; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged side view of the tip of the finger pin shown in FIG. 4.

The physician's technique of pinning a finger fracture with finger pins of the type described herein is a relatively simple operation and may be done either in the physician's office or emergency room. Basically, the technique is simply to scrub up the finger, do a digital block and then take a sterile, disposable finger pin, which, in accordance with this invention, is preferably attached to a hypodermic syringe 10, as shown in FIG. 1, and twist the finger pin into the fractured bone. After insertion, the syringe or handle is disconnected from the hub, leaving the hub attached to the finger pin as shown in FIG. 1A, and a protective splint taped over the hub and finger. The hub prevents further pin penetration and also provides an easy means for removing the pin after the fracture has healed.

The inventors have experimented by using an ordinary hypodermic needle in following the above outlined procedure; however, such a needle proved inadequate and unsatisfactory. The inventors determined that it would be necessary to design a finger pin capable of withstanding the forces imposed on it as it was inserted into the finger. The subsequent development led to the finger pin of the present invention.

Hypodermic syringes are available to the medical profession having what is known as a Luer-Lok tip and needles are furnished secured to a mating hub, known as a Luer-Lok hub. The hub and syringe tip are made from compatible polypropylene. The following description of the invention is made with reference to a Luer-Lok tip and hub arrangement solely for the purposes of describing an embodiment of the invention; however, it is expressly understood that the invention is not to be limited to merely a Luer-Lok hub and tip arrangement and that any type of hub to which a nonsterile handle or syringe can be easily attached may also be used. The Luer-Lok tip and hub arrangement may be preferred, however, since such hubs and tips are already commercially available and their use would reduce the cost and effort expended in manufacturing the finger pin.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a container 12, which is tubelike, closed at end 14 and including collar 16 at the other end. Container 12 provides a means for retaining the finger pin in order to prevent it from becoming contaminated prior to its use. Riblike members 15 merely strengthen the container which is a means well known to those skilled in the art. Hub member 18 is illustrated as partially protruding from collar 16 of the container and includes flange 20. Hub member 18 snugly mates with the inner surface of collar 16 to provide a tightly sealed container for the finger pin. The hub member extends beyond the face of the collar as shown in FIG. 2 so as to be easily grasped to remove the finger pin from the container. Hub member 18 and collar 16 may be provided with a twist-lock arrangement to secure the finger pin and hub within container 12. Such twist-lock arrangements are well known to those skilled in the art and form no part of the present invention. Container 12 is made from propylene plastic which affords a relatively unbreakable and inexpensive container.

With reference to FIG. 3, finger pin 22 is illustrated attached to hub member 18 which is shown as a Luer-Lok hub; however, as stated above, the invention is not to be limited to such a hub. The finger pin is implanted in a centrally located hole extending into the hub member. Finger pin 22 is constructed from a straight, stainless steel wire; preferably a Kirschner wire which is commonly used in orthopedic surgery. The Kirschner wire is hard drawn and spring tempered to a tensile strength of 220,000 to 270,000 p.s.i. and has a diameter of 0.035 inches to 0.0625 inches. A Kirschner wire having a diameter within this range possesses the strength, without buckling, to withstand the forces exerted by the physician when the finger pin is being inserted. Pin 22 preferably has a length of 13/4 inches; however, the length is not critical and may be increased or decreased, bearing in mind that the pin length should not be too short so that it does not extend between the length of a finger joint. Conversely, the pin should not be too long so as to cause it to buckle as it is inserted into the finger. Also, pins of too great length will be inconvenient as the hub will extend too far out beyond the surface of the finger, thereby allowing the pin to be jammed further into the finger than may be desired. Tip 24 of the pin is specially constructed as described more fully hereinafter to make the pin more easily insertable into a fractured finger.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of tip 24 and shows a preferred embodiment of the tip wherein side faces 25, 26 intersect with each other to form an interior angle of substantially 60.degree.. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the tip shown in FIG. 4 and illustrates a preferred tip shape configuration. Face 27 preferably slopes downward at an angle of 6.degree., bottom face 28 sloping upwards at an angle of substantially 6.degree. also. Surface 29 preferably slopes back from the front surface 30 at a clearance angle of 12.degree. to 15.degree.. Front surface 30 is approximately 0.015 to 0.020 inches thick at its outermost point. The aforedescribed shape of tip 24 enables finger pin 22 to be inserted into the bone more easily since the bone marrow and tissue are pushed upwardly and downwardly by sloping faces 27, 28 to provide an entrance path for the pin and are directed away from the path of the finger pin by face 29.

To summarize the operation of the finger pin, the containerized finger pin is mounted to the end of hypodermic syringe 10, by means of the mating Luer-Lok hub and syringe tip, and the finger pin and hub disengaged from the container by twisting hub 18 from its interlocking relationship with flange 16 of the container. This breaks the seal between the finger pin and the container and the finger pin may be extracted and inserted into the finger fracture at the desired location by grasping the hypodermic syringe and exerting pressure against the finger. When the pin is fully inserted, the pin and hub are separated from hypodermic syringe 10. When the pin is inserted in the finger, hub 18 prevents the pin from any further penetration and also enables the pin to be easily removed after the fracture has healed.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical form; however, the structure shown is capable of modification by those skilled in the art within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood as being broadly novel and as commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pin for pinning finger fractures and of the type used with a surgical insertion instrument having a connection hub, comprising:

a hub member having spaced opposing end faces,

a straight solid wire member mounted to an extending from one of said opposing end faces, said wire member including a generally pointed converging tip portion formed by opposing sloping faces and additional opposed angles faces quadrately disposed to said sloping faces to provide penetration into a finger member, said wire member having sufficient rigidity to be inserted into a finger bone to span a fracture without buckling, and

said one end face serves to permanently limit the penetration of said wire member into the finger member, and said other end face including means for detachably attaching said hub member to said connection hub.

2. A pin as in claim 1 wherein said sloping faces serve to provide an entrance path into the finger member and said additional opposing angled faces serve to clear finger and bone tissue away from said wire member, said additional opposing angled faces form an included angle of substantially 60.degree. at the tip of said wire member and each face thereof joins with said wire member at an angle of 12.degree.-15.degree. with respect to an imaginary plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said wire member and passing through said opposing sloping faces.

3. A pin as in claim 2 wherein said opposing sloping faces each form an angle of substantially 6.degree. with respect to the outer surface of said wire member.

4. A pin as in claim 3 wherein said opposing sloping faces are separated by 0.015 inches to 0.020 inches at the outermost terminal point of said wire member.

5. A pin as in claim 1 wherein said wire member is a Kirschner-type wire having a circular cross section and a diameter between 0.035 inches and 0.0625 inches.