Tool for use in inserting a surgical wire

Claim 2

A tool for use in inserting a second surgical wire into the bone of a patient at a different position from that of a first surgical wire previously inserted therein, said tool comprising a first arm (2) adapted to receive and rotate about the axis of the first wire, a second arm (4) rotatable with respect to said first arm about an axis of rotation parallel to the first wire, and means (6) connected to the second arm for receiving and directing the placement of the second wire, with the connection (16,17) of said receiving and directing means to the second arm being such that the second wire can be universally angulated with respect to the second arm about a center of rotation, and with the distance between said center of rotation and said axis of rotation being about the same as the distance between said first wire and said axis of rotation.

Claim 3

A tool of claim 1 containing first releasable means (7) for locking the position of the first arm with respect to the second arm and second releasable means (9) for locking the position of said receiving and directing means with respect to the second arm.

Claim 4

A tool of claim 2 including a handle (10) integral with the first arm and adapted to be held in the.hand of the user.

Claim 5

A tool of claim 3 wherein.the connection of said receiving and directing means to the second arm is that of a ball-and-socket joint.

Claim 6

- A tool of claim 4 wherein said receiving and directing means is a guide tube and said ball-and-socket joint is comprised of a ball integral with said guide tube and a socket integral with said second arm.

Claim 7

In combination a surgical guide pin having a distal end, a proximal end and a uniform circular cross-section along the major portion of its length between said two ends, and a substantially cylindrical external sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end and receiving the guide pin for sliding fit in a centrally disposed longitudinal bore therein, with the guide pin being longer than the external sleeve, the guide pin and the external sleeve being provided at their proximal ends with cooperating cutting surfaces, and the guide pin and the external sleeve being provided at their distal ends with means interacting to (1) prevent relative rotational movement between the guide pin and the external sleeve when they are in a first relative position in which the distal tip of the guide pin extends beyond the distal tip of the external sleeve and the proximal tip of the guide pin extends beyond the proximal tip of the external sleeve, and (2) permit relative rotational movement between the guide pin and the external sleeve when they are in a second relative postion in which the guide pin is displaced proximally relative to said first relative position.

Claim 8

In combination a surgical guide pin having a distal end, a proximal end and a uniform circular cross-section along the major portion of its length between said two ends, and a substantially cylindrical external sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end and receiving the guide pin for sliding fit in a centrally disposed longitudinal bore therein, with the guide pin being longer than the external sleeve, the guide pin and the external sleeve being provided at their proximal ends with cooperating cutting surfaces, and the guide pin and the external sleeve being provided at their distal ends with means interacting to (1) prevent relative rotational movement between the guide pin and the external sleeve when they are in a first relative position in which the distal tip of the guide pin extends beyond the distal tip of the external sleeve and the proximal tip of the guide pin extends beyond the proximal tip of the external sleeve, and (2) permit relative rotational movement between the guide pin and the external sleeve when they are in a second relative postion in which the guide pin is displaced proximally relative to said first relative position.

Claim 9

A combination of claim 6 wherein said interacting means comprise a flat on the guide pin extending from the distal tip thereof, a taper on the guide pin extending to the distal tip thereof with decreasing cross-sectional area, and an inwardly/ distally extending tab at the distal end of the external sleeve, with the length of said tab being less than that of said flat.

Claim 10

A combination of claim 7 wherein said second relative position is one in which the distal tip of the guide pin does not extend beyond the distal tip of the external sleeve.