1994-09-12
1996-04-30
Hindenburg, Max
Surgery
Truss
Pad
A61B 1900
Patent
active
055115551
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to neurological pins. They are used for testing objective sensation; for example, awareness of the difference between sharp (pain) and blunt by comparison between a sharp point and a rounded end on the patient's skin. These are provided at opposite ends of the pin.
The most commonly used neurological pin consists of a relatively narrow rod, of which one end is sharpened to provide the point, and the other end carriers a spherical body for providing the rounded end for blunt sensation. It is used by grasping it between thumb and forefinger, pincer like, halfway between its two ends and applying one or the other to the patient's, asking the patient, whose eyes are closed or at least is not watching, to identify which end is being used. The clinician's hand has to invert or switch the pin through 180.degree. to change ends. Pressure, is applied manually and may vary. Although not as sharp as a needle, the sharp end of the pin is still easily capable of penetrating skin, especially in the hands of the inexperienced, the fatigued or the over zealous.
The traditional neurological pin has been looked upon as a permanent piece of equipment, traditionally to be found in the lapel of the hospital doctor's coat and the consultant's jacket or in the family doctor's bag. It would be used from patient to patient as the hospital practitioner moves form bed to bed, or as the GP moves from house to house. The pin is placed back in its place of storage with as much afterthought as the stethoscope. It may be used by the practitioner on multiple occasions in one day. There are obvious risks involved in such multiple utilisation of the same piece of equipment. The multiple use of an item which can potentially puncture the skin involves a particular risk of cross-infection.
The present invention is directed at a neurological pin, broadly of the traditional type as described above, but adapted to minimise the risk of the patients' skin being puncture during its use. According to the invention, a neurological pin comprises a shaft with a sharp end and a blunt end wherein the sharp end is surrounded by an element defining an annular surface traversing the axis of the shaft. The element defining the annular surface is frusto-conical, tapering toward the blunt end. The blunt end is normally defined by a spherical body and typically, the diameter of the sphere will be substantially equal to that of the annular surface.
In preferred embodiments of the invention the annular surface defines a plane from which the sharp end of the shaft projects. Normally, the annular surface is substantially circular, and the sharp end projects beyond the plane of the annulus by a distance not exceeding the radius thereof. The element may have a substantially planar surface defined by the annular surface and normally perpendicular to the shaft, from which the sharp end of the shaft projects. While these arrangements are currently preferred, the disposition of the sharp end or point relative to the annular surface can be varied. For example the point at the sharp end of the shaft may reach to and lay within the plane of the annular surface. In another example, the point at the sharp end of the shaft may not reach to the plane of the annular surface, but lay within the element.
The element defining the annular surface at the sharp end of the pin shaft is usually substantially rigid, and normally fixed to the shaft. It may be formed integrally therewith.
The sharp end of the pin shaft will define a point at its tip.. The actual shape of this point can be significant. I have found that better; i.e., better assessable responses, can be achieved if the actual tip is flattened. The area of the flattened tip will be small, normally in the range 6.2.times.10.sup.-4 mm.sup.2 to 0.04 mm.sup.2. A typical area is 0.025 mm.sup.2. The shape of the tip area may vary, but is preferably substantially square.
Neurological pins of the invention offer a number of benefits. They may be made of plastics material in a moulding process. They can be steril
REFERENCES:
patent: 2532093 (1950-11-01), Golub et al.
patent: 3185146 (1965-05-01), Leopoldi
patent: 3662744 (1972-05-01), Low et al.
patent: 3933148 (1976-01-01), Wyler et al.
patent: 4964412 (1990-10-01), Kelly
Hindenburg Max
Seavello Suzanne F.
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