Orthopedic pin identification means

• US 3,915,162 A
• Filed: 02/13/1974
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter S. Miller
• Original Assignee: Peter S. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yasko, J.
• Application Number:
  US05/442,107
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 128/92BA,92BB,92R,92B,83 85/19,20,41,47
• US Class Current: 606/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8625 Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/912 Radiolucent material

Abstract

Surgical pins for connecting osseous tissue wherein the pins are readily separable and identifiable under Xray conditions by reason of the inclusion on the shank of the pin in addition to all of the operating elements of the pin of additional three dimensional markings such as screw threads with different such markings for each of the pins which may be used at a particular location so that the pins may be readily identified and segregated.

Claims

1. A method of detecting any incorrectly placed orthopedic pin in a set of orthopedic pins inserted in osseous tissue, which comprises providing a set of orthopedic pins wherein each said pin has a threaded end, a shank, and a head for receiving a turning tool and wherein the shanks of said pins are provided with a pin identification member spaced from the threaded end of the respective pin, said members being visibly different so as to be individually identifiable in an X-ray radiograph;

inserting said pins in osseous tissue;

providing an X-ray radiograph of said tissue with the pins inserted; and

examining said radiograph to compare pin locations by means of said differing members to detect an incorrectly located pin.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said identification members are integral with the material of said pin shanks and encompass the respective shanks.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said identification members are comprised of an increasing number of screw threads from pin to pin and said threads being capable of screwing into osseous tissue and matching the pitch of the threaded ends of respective pins.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, including in said set a pin having a shank without an identification member so as to be thus distinguishable by X-ray radiograph from the other pins of said set.