Apparatus and method for driving a hemorrhage occluder pin into a human sacrum

Abstract

A method and apparatus to terminate sacral hemorrhaging in a patient having a sacrum and a pubic bone is disclosed and claimed. A C-shaped driver is positioned around the pubic bone of the patient and a hemorrhage occluder pin is driven into the sacrum of the patient by applying an impact force to a proximal end of the C-shaped driver. The driver includes a C-shaped shaft that defines a radius in the range 50 mm to 200 mm and a maximum span in the range 100 mm to 650 mm. A proximal end is attached to the C-shaped shaft. The proximal end has a blunt face with a breadth that is at least 2.5 times the diameter of the pin cap. A shaft distal end has a driver face defining a driver face diameter that is no less than 50% of the pin cap diameter.

1 . A driver for driving a hemorrhage occluder pin having a pin cap into a human sacrum, the pin cap defining a pin cap diameter, the driver comprising:
 a C-shaped shaft defining a radius in the range 50 mm to 200 mm, and defining a maximum span in the range 100 mm to 650 mm;   a proximal end attached to the C-shaped shaft, the proximal end having a blunt face with a breadth that is at least 2.5 times the pin cap diameter;   a shaft distal end having a driver face defining a driver face diameter that is no less than 50% of the pin cap diameter.   
   
   
       2 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the shaft distal end is integral and monolithic with the C-shaped shaft rather than being a sub-component attached to the C-shaped shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the pin cap includes a convex surface defining a convexity, and the driver face includes a concave surface with a concavity that is approximately equal to the convexity of the pin cap. 
   
   
       4 . The driver of  claim 3  wherein the concave surface of the driver face defines a recession depth in the range 0.4 mm to 3.2 mm. 
   
   
       5 . The driver of  claim 3  wherein the driver face further comprises an annular flat surface surrounding the concave surface. 
   
   
       6 . The driver of  claim 3  wherein the driver face further comprises an outer edge that is rounded with an edge radius of curvature that is no less than 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the driver face diameter is in the range 5 mm to 20 mm. 
   
   
       8 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the blunt face defines a surface area that is at least three times a cross-sectional area of the C-shaped shaft. 
   
   
       9 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the C-shaped shaft comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and titanium. 
   
   
       10 . The driver of  claim 3  wherein the convex surface of the pin cap includes a central flat spot, and the concave surface of the driver face does not include any central flat spot so that a finite clearance exists between the central flat spot and the concave surface of the driver face even when the convex surface of the pin cap is in contact with the concave surface of the driver face. 
   
   
       11 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the shaft distal end is magnetized. 
   
   
       12 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the C-shaped shaft further includes a straight portion defining a straight portion length in the range 12 mm to 150 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The driver of  claim 1  wherein the proximal end is rotably attached to the C-shaped shaft. 
   
   
       14 . A method to terminate sacral hemorrhaging in a patient having a sacrum and a pubic bone, the method comprising:
 temporarily attaching a hemorrhage occluder pin to an applicator, the hemorrhage occluder pin having a pin cap;   deforming a malleable handle of the applicator to position the hemorrhage occluder pin over the sacrum of the patient;   positioning a C-shaped driver around the pubic bone of the patient so that a concave face of a distal end of the C-shaped driver is adjacent a convex face of the pin cap; and then driving the hemorrhage occluder pin into the sacrum of the patient by applying an impact force to a proximal end of the C-shaped driver.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 partially driving the hemorrhage occluder pin into the sacrum of the patient by hand; and then   removing the applicator from the pin cap; and   positioning the curved driver around the pubic bone of the patient so that the concave face of the distal end of the driver is adjacent the convex face of the pin cap; and then   driving the hemorrhage occluder pin fully into the sacrum of the patient by applying an impact force to a proximal end of the curved driver.