Twist-drivable pin assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11071574-B2
Application number	US-201916352926-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2019
Priority date	Dec 17, 2012
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A twist-drivable pin assembly includes first and second drivers, each having a driving end which can be received in a bore in the end of a twist-drivable pin, and an opposite end at which torque can be applied. The cross-sectional shape of each of the drivers at its driving end has a first plurality of apexes whose relative locations coincide with the apexes of a regular polygon such as a hexagon. The drivers differ from one another in their cross-sectional shapes at the driving end by virtue of one or more faces of at least one of the drivers between adjacent pairs of apexes having a groove formed in it. Each of first and second twist-drivable pins has a bore extending into it which is defined by a second plurality of apexes arranged as a regular polygon such as a hexagon and which is open at one end.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A surgical kit, comprising:
a plurality of pin drivers, each pin driver including a driving end, and
a plurality of twist-drivable pins including a first twist-drivable pin including an end surface, an opening defined in the end surface, and a plurality of inner faces extending inwardly from the opening to define a bore having a first cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon, wherein a first plurality of apexes join the inner faces,
wherein the plurality of pin drivers include a first pin driver including a driving end sized to be received the bore of the first twist-drivable pin and apply torque to the first twist-drivable pin, wherein the driving end includes a plurality of outer faces joined by a second plurality of apexes equal in number to the first plurality of apexes, and a groove is defined in at least one of the plurality of outer faces between an adjacent pair of apexes of the second plurality of apexes such that the driving end of the first pin driver has a second cross-sectional shape different the first cross-sectional shape, and
wherein the first twist-drivable pin includes a first visual marking on its end surface, the first visual marking having a shape that matches the second cross-sectional shape of the driving end of the first pin driver to provide a user with an indication that the first pin driver is configured for insertion into the bore of the first twist-drivable pin,
wherein the first visual marking of the first twist-drivable pin and the inner faces defining the bore of the first twist-drivable pin are sized and shaped such that the driving end of each pin driver configured for insertion into the bore of the first twist-drivable pin applies a force only to the inner faces of the bore of the first twist-drivable pin,
wherein the plurality of twist-drivable pins include a second twist-drivable pin including an end surface, an opening defined in the end surface, and a plurality of inner faces extending inwardly from the opening to define a bore having a third cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon, wherein a third plurality of apexes join the inner faces and the first cross-sectional shape of the bore of the first twist-drivable pin is the same as the third cross-sectional shape of the bore of the second twist-drivable pin,
wherein the plurality of pin drivers include a second pin driver including a driving end sized to be received the bore of the second twist-drivable pin, wherein the driving end of the second pin driver includes a plurality of outer faces joined by a fourth plurality of apexes equal in number to the third plurality of apexes, and the plurality of outer faces are devoid of any grooves between any adjacent pairs of apexes of the fourth plurality of apexes such that the second pin driver has a fourth cross-sectional shape, and
wherein the fourth cross-sectional shape is the same as the first cross-sectional shape such that the driving end of the second pin driver is configured for insertion into the bore of the first twist-drivable pin and applies a force to the inner faces of the bore of the first twist-drivable pin.

2. The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein the first visual marking is an engraved marking on the first twist-drivable pin.

3. The surgical kit of claim 2 , wherein the first visual marking is a laser-engraved marking.

4. The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein the first visual marking extends a first distance into the first twist-drivable pin, and the bore of the first twist-drivable pin extends a second distance into the first twist-drivable pin greater than the first distance.

5. The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein the groove of the first pin driver is one of a plurality of grooves defined in the plurality of outer faces.

6. The surgical kit of claim 5 , wherein each outer face of the plurality of outer faces has at least one groove of the plurality of grooves defined therein.

7. The surgical kit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third twist-drivable pin including an end surface, an opening defined in the end surface, and a plurality of inner faces extending inwardly from the opening to define a bore having a fifth cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon, wherein a fifth plurality of apexes join the inner faces, and
a third pin driver including a driving end sized to be received in the bore of the third twist-drivable pin and apply torque to the third twist-drivable pin, wherein the driving end includes a plurality of outer faces joined by a sixth plurality of apexes equal in number to the first plurality of apexes, and a groove is defined in at least one of the plurality of outer faces between an adjacent pair of apexes of the sixth plurality of apexes such that the driving end of the third pin driver has a sixth cross-sectional shape different the fifth cross-sectional shape,
wherein the third twist-drivable pin includes a second visual marking on its end surface, the second visual marking having a shape that matches the sixth cross-sectional shape of the driving end of the third pin drive to provide a user with an indication that the third pin driver is configured for insertion into the bore of the third twist-drivable pin,
wherein the second visual marking of the third twist-drivable pin and the inner faces defining the bore of the third twist-drivable pin are sized and shaped such that the driving end of each pin driver configured for insertion into the bore of the third twist-drivable pin applies a force only to the inner faces of the bore of the third twist-drivable pin, and
wherein the sixth cross-sectional shape of the third pin driver is different from second cross-sectional shape of the first pin driver.

8. The surgical kit of claim 7 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape of the first twist-drivable pin is the same as the third cross-sectional shape of the second twist-drivable pin and the fifth cross-sectional shape of the third twist-drivable pin.

Assignees

• Depuy Ireland Ultd Co

Inventors

• Auger Joshua
• Cannon Patrick
• Lee Jonathan
• Young Duncan

Classifications

• F16B23/0038

  substantially prismatic with up to six edges, e.g. triangular, square, pentagonal, Allen-type cross-sections · CPC title

• A61B17/8615 Primary

  at the central region of the screw head · CPC title

• A61B17/8877

  characterised by the cross-section of the driver bit · CPC title

• A61B90/90

  Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags · CPC title

• A61B17/888

  the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head · CPC title