Notched surgical pin and breaking tool therefor

Claim 1

A surgical pin for use in joining bone section, said pin being formed of a rigid material capable of fracturing when exposed to Localized bending forces of predetermined magnitude and being of circular cross section along substantially its entire length, said pin having a pointed forward end, and having first, second and third sections, said first section extending from said pointed end to said second section, said second section extending from said first section to said third section, said third section extending from said second section to the rearward end of said pin, said first section including a threaded portion adjacent said pointed end and otherwise being uninterrupted along its length, said third section also being uninterrupted along its length, said first and third sections being at least as long as said second section, said second section being interrupted by a series of longitudinally spaced transverse notches, the bottom of each notch defining a chord of the circular cross section and the notch reducing the mass of the pin opposite the notch forming a weakened section, each notch having a maximum depth to said chord less than the radius of said pin, whereby localized bending force at any selected notch of said series causes break off of said pin generally along the weakened section of said selected notch, said third section being of a length accessible outside the bone surface of a patient in the region where the pin is installed for manipulation and discarding after break off, said third section having a diameter throughout its length no greater than that of said second section whereby said second and third sections are adapted to receive a break off tool.