Kirschner wire with a holding device for surgical procedures

An insertion instrument for endoscopic placement of a Kirschner wire having a holding device at a proximal end thereof, said insertion instrument comprising:

• a hollow tube body for guiding the Kirschner wire;
• a plunger within the hollow tube body having a receptacle at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire;
• a piston connected to the plunger for use in driving the Kirschner wire to a desired depth;
• a housing at the proximal end of the tube body for guiding the piston;
• and
• a metal targeting ring on the housing for guiding the placement of the Kirschner wire using x-ray supervision.

A removal device for removing a Kirschner wire from a bone segment, said Kirschner wire having a holding device at a proximal end thereof, said removal device comprising:

• a wire body having a receptacle located at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire;
• and
• a handle at a proximal end of the wire body for use in pulling the wire body after engagement with the Kirschner wire, wherein:
• said holding device comprises external threads on the proximal end of the Kirschner wire;
• and
• said receptacle comprises internal threads on the distal end of the wire body of the removal device.

A system for endoscopic insertion and removal of a Kirschner wire, comprising:

• a Kirschner wire having:
• a first wire body with distal and proximal ends;
• and
• a holding device at the proximal end of the first wire body for use in installing and removing the Kirschner wire;
• an insertion instrument for inserting the Kirschner wire, having:
• a hollow tube body for guiding the Kirschner wire;
• a plunger within the hollow tube body having a first receptacle at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire;
• a piston connected to the plunger for use in driving the wire to a desired depth;
• a housing at the proximal end of the tube body for guiding the piston;
• and
• a metal targeting ring on the housing for guiding the placement of the Kirschner wire using x-ray supervision;
• and
• a removal device for removing the Kirschner wire, having:
• a second wire body having a second receptacle located at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire;
• and
• a handle at a proximal end of the wire body for use in pulling the wire body after engagement with the Kirschner wire.

A method for inserting a Kirschner wire, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a Kirschner wire having a holding device at a proximal end thereof into a distal cannulated end of a hollow tube body of an insertion instrument;
• engaging said holding device of said Kirschner wire with a receptacle of a plunger within said hollow tube body;
• positioning the Kirschner wire during a surgical procedure using an x-ray device;
• driving the Kirschner wire into a bone segment by striking a piston connected to the plunger;
• and
• disengaging the Kirschner wire from the plunger.

A method for removal of a Kirschner wire from a bone segment, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a cannulated instrument over said Kirschner wire;
• introducing a removal instrument into said cannulated instrument;
• engaging a receptacle located at a distal end of said removal instrument with a holding device located at the proximal end of said Kirschner wire;
• and
• pulling on a handle at a proximal end of said removal instrument to disengage said Kirschner wire from said bone segment.