The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 13, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 01, 1998
Alfred A Durham, Roanoke, VA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A curved guide or fixation pin is provided for use in the fixation of fractured bones. In one embodiment, a pin guide device is used to locate the pin at the desired entry point on the bone and the pin is tapped or hammered into place. With the guide device removed, the pin is driven further into the bone and a flexible reamer device, which is placed over the pin and which uses the pin as guide, is used to ream out the path defined by pin so as to prepare the bone for a intermedullary rod. The curvature of the pin assists in ensuring that the path of the pin connects to the medullary canal. In another embodiment, the curved pin has an enlarged proximal head and a two piece pin guide device is used which is disassembled after the pin initially penetrates the bone so as to permit the pin to be driven home. A self-retaining protective retractor device provides soft tissue protection during the reaming operation and eliminates the need for medical personnel to hold the retractor device.