Intramedullary hip pin

Claim 2

An intramedullary hip pin for supporting a fractured femur comprising: a head portion shaped to fit within the neck of the femur; an elongated shank portion adapted to fit within the medulla of the femur shaft; said head portion having a concave saddle portion having a curved surface substantially conforming to the curvature of the neck of the femur; and a blunt-nose surface substantially orthogonal to the saddle portion whereby said blunt-nose surface resists penetrating the head of the femur; and coupling means for removably coupling while within said femur said head portion and shank portion in orthogonal relationship, with said shank portion extending from the head portion in the same direction as the concave portion of said saddle, whereby said shank extends downwardly through the medulla of a femur shaft and the head portion is beneath the neck of the femur so that the saddle receives forces from the pelvis and distributes these forces through the shank along the medulla along the femur shaft while bracing the fractured portions of the femur.

Claim 3

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 1 in which said head portion includes a blunt nose surface substantially orthogonal to said saddle, whereby said blunt nose surface resists penetrating the head of the femur.

Claim 4

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 2 in which said shank portion has a longitudinal axis and exterior walls, said exterior walls being curved around the longitudinal axis with the lower end of the shank portion being of smaller diameter than the upper end of the shank portion so as to conform smoothly to a reamed out portion of the femur.

Claim 5

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 3 in which said coupling means includes a groove in one of said head and shank portions and a tongue in the other of said head and shank portions.

Claim 6

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 4 in which said coupling means further includes a set screw and a tapped hole adapted to connect said tongue to said other member.

Claim 7

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 5 in which said coupling Means further includes a brace extending downwardly from and being integrally formed with said head portion, said brace being adjacent to said shank portion.

Claim 8

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 6 in which said pin comprises stainless steel.

Claim 9

An intramedullary hip pin for supporting a fractured femur comprising: a head portion; an elongated shank portion adapted to fit within the medulla of the femur shaft; said head portion having a concave saddle portion having a curved surface substantially comforming to the curvature of the neck of the femur; coupling means for removably coupling said head portion and shank portion in orthogonal relationship, with said shank portion extending from the head portion in the same direction as the concave portion of said saddle, whereby said shank extends downwardly through the medulla of a femur shaft and the head portion is beneath the neck of the femur so that the saddle receives forces from the pelvis and distributes these forces through the shank along the medulla of the femur shaft while bracing the fractured portions of the femur; said head portion including a blunt-nose surface substantially orthogonal to the saddle whereby said blunt-nose surface resists penetrating the head of the femur; said head portion including first and second side walls substantially parallel to each other and connecting said saddle portion and, a first end wall orthogonal to said first and second side walls and connecting said saddle portion and each of said first and second side walls; said blunt nose surface forming a second end wall separated from said first end wall by said first and second side walls and said saddle; said second end wall extending substantially in the same direction as said first end wall; said head portion further including a bottom wall; said bottom wall being separated from said saddle portion by certain of said side and end walls; said bottom wall including a portion of said coupling means.

Claim 10

An intramedullary hip pin for supporting a fractured femur comprising: a head portion; an elongated shank portion adapted to fit within the medulla of the femur shaft; said head portion having a concave saddle portion having a curved surface substantially comforming to the curvature of the neck of the femur; coupling means for removably coupling said head portion and shank portion in orthogonal relationship, with said shank portion extending from the head portion in the same direction as the concave portion of said saddle, whereby said shank extends downwardly through the medulla of a femur shaft and the head portion is beneath the neck of the femur so that the saddle receives forces from the pelvis and distributes these forces through the shank along the medulla of the femur shaft while bracing the fractured portions of the femur; said head portion including a blunt-nose surface substantially orthogonal to the saddle whereby said blunt-nose surface resists penetrating the head of the femur; said head portion including first and second side walls substantially parallel to each other and connecting said saddle portion and, a first end wall orthogonal to said first and second side walls and connecting said saddle portion and each of said first and second side walls; said blunt nose surface forming a second end wall separated from said first end wall by said first and second side walls and said saddle; said second end wall extending substantially in the same direction as said first end wall; said head portion further including a bottom wall; said bottom wall being separated from said saddle portion by certain of said side and end walls; said bottom wall including a portion of said coupling means.

Claim 11

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 8 in which said coupling means includes a groove in said bottom wall and a brace extending from said bottom wall adjacent to said groove.

Claim 12

An intramedullary hip pin according to claim 9 in which said coupling means includes: a tongue on said shank adapted to fit within said groove; said first end wall including internal walls defining a tapped hole adapted to receive a set screw.