Apparatus for securing a cranial piece in position
OwnerRobert F. Spetzlerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for securing a previously removed cranial plate in position in a cranium to prevent relative movement between opposing bone edges includes a pin containing distal and proximal shanks having ends tapering to a relatively sharp point. The shanks are arranged preferably symmetrically about a central collar which has a dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shanks greater than the diameters of the shanks so that the collar forms distal and proximal opposing shoulders for limiting the insertion depth of the pin.
Claims8
A surgical pin for securing a cranial plate in position to prevent the plate from shifting from adjacent bone edges during the process of knitting or healing, said pin comprising:
- a cylindrical, distal shank and a cylindrical, proximal shank, each of said shanks having an end tapering to a relatively sharp point,
- a central collar between the cylindrical portions of said shanks and having a dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shanks greater than the diameters of the shanks,
- wherein said collar has a diameter approximately equal to the thickness of the medullar portion of the cranial bone for limiting the insertion depth of the pin into the medullar portion of a cranial bone without causing disfigurement and
- wherein said cylindrical portions and said collar provide gripping surfaces for manipulating said pin and for inserting said pin into the medullar portion of a cranial bone.
A kit for securing a previously removed cranial plate in position in a cranium to prevent relative movement between opposing bone edges while the bone edges heal, the kit comprising:
- (a) a surgical pin including a cylindrical, distal shank and a cylindrical, proximal shank each having an end tapering to a relatively sharp point, a central collar between the cylindrical portions of said shanks and having a diameter approximately equal to the thickness of the medullar portion of the cranial bone for limiting the insertion depth of the pin into medullar portions of said opposing bone edges;
- and
- (b) forceps having a distal end forming a chamber for gripping the cylindrical portion of the proximal shank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.