|Publication number||US8070786 B2|
|Application number||US 11/329,368|
|Publication date||Dec 6, 2011|
|Filing date||Jan 9, 2006|
|Priority date||Jan 21, 1993|
|Also published as||US20060229622, US20120130433|
|Publication number||11329368, 329368, US 8070786 B2, US 8070786B2, US-B2-8070786, US8070786 B2, US8070786B2|
|Inventors||Randall J. Huebner, Harry C. Smith, Jr.|
|Original Assignee||Acumed Llc|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (136), Non-Patent Citations (6), Referenced by (3), Classifications (24), Legal Events (2)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/162,397, filed Jun. 3, 2002, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,235 on Jan. 10, 2005.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/162,397, in turn, is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,076, filed Jan. 14, 2000, now abandoned.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,076, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/305,841, filed May 5, 1999, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,347 on Jan. 25, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,783, filed Sep. 21, 1998, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,505 on Sep. 19, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/457,624, filed Jun. 1, 1995, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,825 on Sep. 22, 1998.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,076 also is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/375,306, filed Aug. 16, 1999, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,615 on Oct. 9, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,135, filed Feb. 5, 1998, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,134 on Nov. 2, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/847,820, filed Apr. 28, 1997, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/587,210, filed Jan. 11, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,440 on Apr. 29, 1997, and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/622,368, filed Mar. 26, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,087 on Sep. 9, 1997, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/318,437, filed May 25, 1999, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,224 on Dec. 19, 2000, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/318,669, filed May 25, 1999, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,309 on Jan. 9, 2001. The '224 and '309 patents are continuations-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/636,326, filed Apr. 22, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,649 on Sep. 2, 1997.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,076 also is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/715,017, filed Sep. 17, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,283 on Aug. 19, 1997, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/759,075, filed Dec. 2, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,934 on Dec. 16, 1997, and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/063,695, filed Dec. 13, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. D.404,128 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/773,968, filed Dec. 26, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,472 on Dec. 30, 1997, and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,046, filed Mar. 3, 1998, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,768 on Oct. 12, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/781,471, filed Jan. 10, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,486, and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/792,988, filed Feb. 3, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,789.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,076 also is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/157,783, filed Sep. 21, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/457,624, filed Jun. 1, 1995, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,825 on Sep. 22, 1998.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,076 also is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/986,717, filed Dec. 8, 1997, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,721 on Aug. 31, 1999, and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/093,415, filed Jun. 8, 1998, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,099 on Dec. 14, 1999.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,076 also is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,316, filed Dec. 18, 1998, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,162 on Feb. 29, 2000, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/263,141, filed Mar. 5, 1999, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,271 on Jun. 20, 2000, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/077,168, filed Mar. 6, 1998, now expired.
All of the above patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates generally to a bone screw for drawing together bone fragments separated by a fracture and more particularly to such a screw which draws the bone fragments together as a result of different-pitched threads on the screw.
In healing bone fractures it is desirable to compress the fractures so that the fractured surfaces are pressed against one another. In the prior art, bone screws have been used to draw the fractured surfaces together and thereby optimize the healing process.
A number of prior art bone screws have been constructed in a fashion resembling wood screws. For example, some prior art bone screws include a threaded distal portion and a head with a relatively long unthreaded shank disposed between the head and the distal portion. A drill is used to create a bore through the fracture and the screw is threaded into the remote bone fragment with the head of the screw compressing the near fragment tightly against the remote bone fragment.
Other bone screws are threaded along the length thereof, thus requiring a first drill bit to create a bore in both bone fragments extending across the fracture and a second bit to drill a larger bore in the near bone fragment so that the screw threads do not engage the near bone fragment. Thereafter, the screw is tightened in the same manner as described above in connection with the screw having an unthreaded shank, thereby compressing the fragments together.
The operation of two prior art headed lag screws is illustrated in
The importance of the unthreaded region of screw A1 is illustrated in
The proper bore configuration for using screw A2 is illustrated in
A variation of screw A3 is shown at A4 in
It can be seen from the above discussion that a headless screw of constant pitch does not achieve the desired compressive effect between the two fragments as will a lag screw with a head. It is, however, possible to draw two fragments together with a headless screw if it has varying pitch.
One drawback of a screw such as shown in Russell is the stripping or reaming of the female threads created in the bore by the leading threads as the trailing threads follow. Because the pitch changes along the length of the screw, no thread exactly follows the thread directly in front of it. Rather, each thread tends to cut its own new path which only partially overlaps the path of the thread ahead of it. Thus, the trailing threads tend to ream out the female threads in the bore made by the leading threads. This effect reduces the grip of the trailing threads and therefore the overall compressive force available to urge the fragments together.
Screw A6, as per Herbert, includes a shank C6 with leading threads J6 at the leading end, trailing threads K6 at the trailing end and an unthreaded region E6 separating the leading and trailing threads. Threads J6 and K6 each have fixed pitch, but leading threads J6 have a larger pitch and smaller outside diameter than trailing threads K6.
As soon as trailing threads K6 are engaged in bore F6 and leading threads J6 are engaged in bore H6, the two fragments start drawing together. See
The Herbert screw overcomes at least one of the drawbacks of the Russell screw, the reaming of female threads by subsequent threads on the screw, but at the same time suffers from a number of other disadvantages. In the Herbert screw, the leading threads have a smaller diameter than the trailing threads. This is necessary to permit the leading threads to pass through the relatively large bore in the near bone fragment and engage the smaller bore in the remote bone fragment. The larger trailing threads then engage the larger bore in the near bone fragment. As a result of this arrangement, any stripping of the threads cut into the bones during installation of the screw occurs in the remote bone. If the stripping occurred in the bore in the near bone fragment, a screw having a head thereon could still be used to compress the fracture even though the near bore was stripped; however, when stripping occurs in the bore in the remote bone, a standard screw with the head thereon cannot be used and another bore must be drilled.
Further, the Herbert screw must be correctly positioned, i.e., it is imperative that the fracture intersect the unthreaded central portion of the Herbert bone screw when the same is installed. Thus, the Herbert screw is not suitable for treating fractures that are very near the surface of the bone where the hole is to be drilled. In addition, because the Herbert screw is not threaded entirely along the length thereof, the purchase obtained by the screw in the bone is not as good as with a screw threaded along the entire length. Also, two bores of different sizes must be drilled to install the Herbert screw rather than a single bore.
Yet another problem with the Herbert screw is the stripping that can occur if additional tightening occurs after the screw has drawn the bone fragments together. While the bone fragments are being drawn together, trailing threads K6 all follow a single path through the near fragment. Similarly, leading threads J6 all follow a single path through the remote fragment. When, however, the bone fragments make contact, the two sets of threads can no longer move independently. Further rotation of the Herbert screw after contact between the fragments can cause the leading threads to strip out as they attempt to move forward through the distal bone fragment faster than the trailing threads will allow. See The Herbert Bone Screw and Its Applications in Foot Surgery, The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, No. 33, Vol 4, 1994, pages 346-354 at page 346, which reports on a study that found compression of 10 kg. after only two complete turns of the trailing threads engaged in the near bone fragment. Each subsequent revolution lead to a decrease in compressive force. Thus, care must be taken not to over-tighten the Herbert screw.
In addition to drawing two bone fragments together to repair fractures, it is sometimes desirable to draw together two bones for fusing the same together in connection with arthrodesis of the interphalangeal joints. This procedure is sometimes indicated with symptoms of pain or instability in the finger joints. The purpose is to immobilize and draw together adjacent bones across a joint to cause them to fuse together thereby preventing further movement at the joint.
In one prior art procedure for immobilizing the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP), axial bores are drilled in the articular surfaces of the distal and proximal phalanges. The bore in the distal bone is sufficiently large to receive without threading a screw which is inserted therein via an incision in the tip of the finger. The screw threadably engages the bore in the proximal bone and when the screw head is tightened against the distal end of the distal bone, the two bones are compressed together. After several weeks, the bones fuse together. A second procedure to remove the screw must be performed because the head of the screw will cause discomfort in the finger pad if the screw is not removed.
This procedure is undesirable because it requires two separate surgeries. Katzman, et al., Use of a Herbert Screw for Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis, Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, No. 296 pages 127-132 (November 1993), describes use of the screw disclosed in the Herbert patent in procedures for interphalangeal joint arthrodesis.
Many of the above-discussed disadvantages associated with using a Herbert screw to compress a fracture are also present when the Herbert screw is used for interphalangeal joint arthrodesis.
It would be desirable to provide a headless bone screw which overcomes the disadvantages associated with the Herbert bone screw, as well as other prior art bone screws.
A bone screw for drawing together bone fragments separated by a fracture includes a root portion having a leading end and a trailing end. The leading end has a smaller diameter than the trailing end. A screw thread is formed on the root portion between the leading and trailing ends and has a pitch which varies along the length thereof, having a larger pitch near the leading end and a smaller pitch near the trailing end. The thread is adapted to thread in the cancellous material of the respective bone fragments to be joined by the screw. Means are provided on the trailing end of the root portion to accommodate a tool for driving the screw. The present invention also contemplates a method for drawing together bone fragments separated by a fracture.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment which proceeds with reference to the drawings.
Indicated generally at 10 in
Root portion 12 includes a leading end 16 and a trailing end 18. As can best be seen in
Screw thread 14 extends continuously between nose portion 22 and bevel 20. As can be seen in
A similarly tapering leading thread 30 also has a crest 32 which varies in height over a first partial turn of screw thread 14 so as to form an angle of substantially 45° with axis 11 as illustrated in
The crest of screw thread 14 between trailing and leading threads 24, 30 respectively, varies in height along the length of thread 14. In the present embodiment of the invention, the outside diameter defined by the crest of thread 14 between the leading and trailing threads forms an angle 34, in
The pitch of thread 14, i.e., the distance from one point on the thread to the corresponding point on an adjacent thread measured parallel to axis 11, decreases between the leading and trailing ends of the screw. The term pitch is also sometimes used to refer to the number of threads per unit length, i.e., 20 threads per inch. This alternative definition is simply the inverse of the definition chosen for use in this application. The distinction is important to remember for proper understanding of the subsequent description because the screw of the present invention relies on varying pitch to achieve its function.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
The pitch depth, i.e., the distance between the crest and the radially outer surface of root portion 12 similarly varies along the length of the screw. In the present embodiment of the invention, the pitch depth where leading thread 30 joins the remainder of screw thread 14 is approximately 0.0302 inches. The pitch depth where trailing thread 24 joins the remainder of thread 14 is approximately 0.0240 inches.
The decrease in pitch depth between the leading end and trailing end of the screw can be seen by comparing
A hex socket 44 is formed on the trailing end of screw 10 to accommodate a driver as will be hereinafter further explained in connection with a description of the procedure in which the screw is used to draw opposing fragments of a fractured bone together.
An alternative embodiment of the screw of the present invention is shown generally at 410 in
Screw 410 also includes an axial bore 425 which extends from the leading end to the trailing end. Bore 425 is adapted to receive a stiff guide wire, not shown, which facilitates installation of screw 410. A hex socket 444 is formed at the trailing end to allow the screw to be driven by an hex wrench. See
Turning now to
In installing screw 10, a surgeon first drills bore 52 across bone fragments 48, 50 as shown. The bit may be a conventional cylindrical bone bit or may comprise a bit having a slight taper from the leading to the trailing end thereof. Thereafter, the surgeon inserts a tool (not shown) having a hex driver extending therefrom which is connectable to hex socket 44 for screwing screw 10 into bore 52. Bore 52 is of a size to just receive leading end 16 of screw 10. As soon as nose portion 22 is received within the bore, torque is applied using the tool inserted into hex socket 44 thereby causing leading thread 30 to cut into the bone adjacent bore 52.
In the view of
Because of the decreasing pitch along the length of the screw, each successive thread received in the path cut by thread 30 exerts pressure against the right side (as viewed in
As can be appreciated from the view of
The tapered root is also advantageous in that the radially outer surface of the root, i.e., that portion between adjacent threads, is tightly urged against uncut bone defining the wall of bore 52. It is desirable to maximize the surface area of screw 10 urged against adjacent bone, rather than a space cut by a thread, to increase purchase of the screw.
The details of the operation of the screw of the present invention, as currently understood, may be better appreciated by examination of
As the screw moves through bone fragments 348 and 350, thread 314 will cut a mating female thread 353. However, because the pitch of thread 314 changes along the length of the screw, female thread 353 will not precisely match thread 314 of screw 310 along its entire length. In particular, since subsequent threads will not track in the same path as the preceding threads, a pattern of leading gaps 355 and trailing gaps 357 will evolve between female thread 353 and screw thread 314 as the screw moves forward in the bores.
The screw will move forward in the bone fragment with rotation at a rate that is a function of the competing forces from all of the threads engaged in the bore. The rate will correspond to an effective pitch of the threads in the bore and will be equal to the pitch of the screw at an effective pitch point 359 along the portion of the screw engaged in the fragment. As more of the screw enters the bore, the effective pitch point will move back along the screw and further into the bone fragment. Once the screw extends completely through the bone fragment, the location of the effective pitch point will stabilize at a relatively constant location in the bone fragment, simply moving back along the screw at the rate the screw moves forward in the bore. The threads ahead of the effective pitch point, which will be referred to as the pulling threads 371, will have greater pitch than the effective pitch. Similarly, the threads behind the effective pitch point, or dragging threads 373, will have a pitch that is smaller than the effective pitch. In
Each rotation of the screw will move it forward in fragment 348 by an amount corresponding to the present value of the effective pitch. In
The pattern of leading and trailing gaps created by screw 310 in bone fragment 350 is also shown in
In the earlier position of screw 310, the effective pitch point falls at approximately thread T8. With the screw positioned as shown, the effective pitch point is at approximately thread T16, the screw having completed approximately 8 revolutions between the two positions. The current and prior screw positions are aligned at effective pitch point 367 in fragment 350 based on the assumption that thread 314 will track through this point uniformly. The evolution of the position of threads behind and ahead of the effective pitch point can thus be seen by comparing the prior position with the current position.
Leading gaps 361 have a sloping upper surface 365, which is a result of the gradual expansion of the outside diameter of thread 314 toward the trailing end of the screw. Upper surface 365 represents a line from the prior position of the thread to the position as shown. As thread 314 at a given point in the bone fragment is held back, it simultaneously expands in diameter. This effect prevents thread 314 from completely reaming out the female thread in the bone fragment, as discussed above. Without the taper, sloping upper surface 365 would be flat and as soon as the width of the gap grew to equal the spacing between the threads, there would be no purchase left for subsequent threads along a portion of the bore.
Once the leading end of screw 310 has passed through bone fragment 351 the effective pitch point remains at a relatively constant position along the bore for the remainder of the screw. If the pitch change per revolution is dP and the effective pitch points are separated by N threads, then the bone fragments will be drawn together by a distance N times dP for every revolution of the screw. In screw 310, dP=0.0008 inches and the effective pitch points are separated by approximately 11 threads, therefore the gap between the bone fragments will close by about 0.009 inches per revolution.
It is thought that the effective pitch point will be somewhat behind the geometric middle of the portion of the screw engaged in the bore as shown in
The other factor tending to cause the pitch point to be closer to the surface of the bone relates to balancing the amount of bone displaced as the leading and trailing gaps are formed. As shown in
Since the leading and trailing gaps are formed in opposition to one another, it is reasonable to assume that they will evolve at a relatively balanced rate. Combining this assumption with the fact that the effective pitch point is constantly moving forward in the bone fragment as the screw enters, suggests that the effective pitch point will be behind the geometric middle of the portion of the screw in the bone fragment. Because the effective pitch point is moving forward in the bone fragment by approximately one-half the pitch change per revolution, the dragging threads will be dragged forward by approximately an extra one-half the pitch change per revolution for each revolution of the screw. The fact that the effective pitch point is moving forward means that the pulling threads are not held back as much as would be the case if the effective pitch point remained constant. If the movement of the two thread regions through the bone are balanced, then the effective pitch point will not move forward in the bone fragment as rapidly as would otherwise be expected and the effective pitch point will lie behind the geometric middle.
Rotation of screw 310 after the bone fragments have come together tends to increase the pressure in the joint between them. Additional rotation can be used to set the depth of the screw as desired. Since the outside diameter of the thread tapers, as described above, the screw can be driven in until the trailing end is below the surface of the bone without danger of stripping the female thread formed by the preceding threads, even if the bone fragments first meet with the trailing end protruding substantially. This is because subsequent threads expand and cut into some new bone even as they partially ream the female threads left by preceding threads on the screw. This is in contrast to the Herbert screw, where, as discussed above, additional tightening after the fragments have come together can strip out the threads in the distal fragment and reduce compression. Since it is important in the preferred application of the present invention to have the trailing end of the screw below the surface of the bone, this is an important feature and advantage over prior art screws.
The tolerance in the screw of the present invention to further tightening after the fragments have come together is also important because it simplifies the installation process by eliminating the danger of over-tightening that must be guarded against when using the Herbert screw.
Turning now to
Turning now to
The joint includes a pair of articular surfaces 82, 84 which have been flattened in accordance with a known technique for immobilizing DIP joint 80. Bores 86, 88 are drilled into each of phalanxes 76, 78 from articular surfaces 82, 84, respectively. Thereafter the bones are repositioned as shown in
Screw 62 thus compresses across joint 80 even though it has a relatively small diameter, which is critical in DIP joint arthrodesis because of the small diameter of the bones involved. Screw 62 also has sufficient length, due to the leading and trailing extensions 66, 68, to provide stability while the bones are fusing. Because the screw is entirely received within the bones, i.e., there is no protrusion from the screw, it can remain implanted and thus a second procedure to remove the bone is not necessary.
A third embodiment of a screw constructed according to the present invention is shown generally at 110 in
Screw 110 is formed with a variable pitch portion 119 and a constant pitch portion 121. Variable pitch portion 119 extends from leading end 116 back toward trailing end 118 for about 70 percent of the length the of the screw. The length of the screw is 0.961 inches. Screw 110 does not include a bevel at the trailing end as formed on screw 10 and shown at 20 in
Variable pitch portion 119 of screw 110 is formed according to the previously described construction of screw 10. In particular, the pitch of thread 114 is largest at leading end 116 and decreases over variable pitch portion 119 back toward trailing end 118. The pitch starts at 0.050 inches and decreases to 0.0365 inches at the trailing end of the variable pitch portion. As shown in
The construction of constant pitch portion 121 is considerably different from that of variable pitch portion 119. The pitch and outside diameter of thread 114 are constant over the section of the screw forming constant pitch portion 121. Root portion 112 continues to taper outward relative to the axis of the screw but at a lesser angle 127 of 1.57° over the constant pitch portion. The width of land 174, i.e., the flat at the crest of the thread, which decreases from the leading end over the variable pitch portion, increases over the length of the constant pitch portion toward the trailing end. Land 174 starts at the leading end at 0.008 inches and decreases to 0.002 inches at the end of the variable pitch region. Land 174 starts to increase again moving back over the constant pitch portion, reaching a value of 0.006-0.007 inches at the trailing end.
The constant pitch portion at the rear of screw 110 allows construction of a longer screw without the commensurate increase in diameter that would occur by extending the structure of the variable pitch portion. This is important where the screw is to be used in small bones that cannot accept a larger bore, but which require a longer screw. A longer screw may be required to reach deeper fractures or for use in fusing two bones together. Screw 110 is particularly suitable for use in distal interphalangeal fusions in the hand as described above.
A fourth embodiment of a screw constructed according to the present invention is shown at 210 in
The principal difference between screws 110 and 210 is found in the constant pitch portions. In screw 210, neither the root portion nor the outside diameter of the thread is tapered in the constant pitch region. See
Thread 214 on screw 210 includes a land 274. Land 274 starts at a maximum of 0.007 inches at the leading end and decreases to 0.003 inches at the trailing end. In contrast to screw 110, land 274 does not increase over the constant pitch portion. Thread 214 also includes leading cutting flutes 215 and trailing cutting flutes 217 to facilitate installation and removal.
Screw 210 also varies from screw 110 in that it includes an axial bore 225. Axial bore 225 permits screw 210 to be guided into the bone on a stiff wire to facilitate positioning and prevent the screw from wandering off axis as it is driven in.
A screw according to the present invention particularly adapted for use in ankle fusions is shown generally at 410 in
A screw thread 418 is formed on root portion 412 and extends from the leading end to the trailing end thereof. Thread 418 has a thread crest 420 at its radial outermost edge. As with the previously described embodiments, the thread is terminated at the leading end and trailing end with a 45-degree taper. Thread 418 has a pitch measured between consecutive thread crests which varies between a larger value near the leading end to a smaller value near the trailing end. Preferably, the pitch changes uniformly between the ends from a value of 0.097-inches at the leading end to a value of 0.066-inches at the trailing end.
In contrast to the previously described screws, screw 410 has a guide taper 422 at the leading end of the root portion. The guide taper has a taper angle of approximately 15-degrees and serves to help maintain the leading end of the screw centered in the pilot hole in the bone in which it is installed. The guide taper extends along the root portion back from the 45-degree taper for a distance of 0.129-inches.
Screw 410 has a region 424 of constant outside diameter that extends back from the guide taper for a length of 0.090-inches with a diameter of 0.205-inches. A second region 426 of constant diameter is disposed adjacent the trailing end of the screw with a diameter of 0.256-inches for a length of 0.197-inches. Provision of regions 424 and 426 allows screw 410 to have a long length while reducing the amount of taper that would otherwise be required. It is important to maintain the radius as large as possible near the lead end to obtain adequate grip in this region. This is particularly important in the preferred application for screw 410 of ankle fusions because the amount of screw 410 engaged in the tibia may be limited. It is likewise important not to make the radius at the trailing end any larger than necessary to minimize the size of the hole required. The region of constant diameter at the trailing end is also important because it provides a region for gripping the screw during manufacture. Between the regions of constant diameter is a central region 428 in which the pitch and diameter of the screw change together. The central region has a length of 1.870-inches in the preferred embodiment.
A significant difference between screw 410 and the previously described embodiment lies in the formation of the threads. In particular, in the previously described embodiments, the screw thread is cut with a tool with a flat face and outwardly sloping sides. In the previous embodiments, the width of the face determines the spacing between the threads on the root portion, which was therefore constant along the length of the screw. By pulling the tool back from the axis of the screw and adjusting the pitch properly, the thread can be cut with a varying pitch and depth. However, with each pass of the tool along the screw, the tool follows the same longitudinal path in the thread but simply cuts closer to the root portion. The land at the crest is also increased near the leading end to allow for additional pitch gain near the leading end while maintaining a decreasing outside radius.
In screw 410, in contrast, the longitudinal position of the tool along the root portion is changed from pass to pass as the screw is being turned. In particular, in one pass down the screw thread, the tool follows a first path. In a subsequent pass the tool is shifted longitudinally along the screw slightly at the same depth to increase the width of the inter-thread distance 428 on the root toward the leading end. Cutting the thread in this fashion allows a sharper thread to be produced while still obtaining the desired outside diameter taper and pitch variation. Sharper thread is beneficial because it leaves a smaller track in the bone which leaves more bone for subsequent threads to grip and makes the screw easier to drive in during installation. As with previously described embodiments, it is important that the radius and depth of the threads near the leading end be sufficient to provide a grip on the bone which is comparable to the grip of the threads near the trailing end of the screw.
Screw 410 could be manufactured in a variety of lengths to accommodate different size patients. Moreover, for shorter screws, the region of constant outside diameter near the leading end may be eliminated without unduly compromising the grip of the leading threads. Shorter screws will typically taper at a greater angle.
In the actual fusion, a hole is drilled up from the heel through the calcaneous and talus and into the distal end of the tibia. The screw is then driven into the hole to draw the three bones together. With time, the pressure generated by the screw leads to fusion of the bones. The present screw is advantageous for this operation because it can be mounted sub-surface since it does not have a head. Furthermore, the screw offers excellent grip and controllable compression when compared with standard lag screws.
Although not shown in
The length, number of threads, pitch, pitch change per revolution and the various diameters are not critical to the present invention and can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such parameters are chosen to suit the particular use to which the screw is applied.
While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense because numerous variations are possible. Applicant regards the subject matter of his invention to include all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element, or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. The following claims define certain combinations and subcombinations which are regarded as novel and non-obvious. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of applicant's invention.
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|1||Clearfix Meniscal Screw instructional technique brochure, © 1998, Innovasive Devices, Inc.|
|2||Haddad et al., "Acute Percutaneous Scaphoid Fixation," The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, vol. 80-B, No. 1, pp. 95-99, Jan. 1998.|
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|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US8858644||Jan 8, 2010||Oct 14, 2014||Memometal Technologies||Orthopaedic implant for arthroplasty of the fingers|
|US9011505||Feb 9, 2010||Apr 21, 2015||Memometal Technologies||Screw for osteosynthesis and arthrodesis|
|US9161793||Mar 27, 2013||Oct 20, 2015||Acumed Llc||Axial tension screw|
|U.S. Classification||606/317, 606/105|
|International Classification||A61B17/84, A61B17/86, A61B17/16, A61B17/064, F16B25/00, F16B33/02, A61B17/88, F16B39/30, F16B25/04, A61B17/00|
|Cooperative Classification||A61B2017/0648, A61B17/8863, A61B17/864, A61B2017/0646, A61B17/8635, A61B17/8645, A61B17/1686, A61B2017/00004, A61B17/863|
|European Classification||A61B17/88F, A61B17/86B2, A61B17/16S16|
|May 18, 2006||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: ACUMED LLC, OREGON
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HUEBNER, RANDALL J.;SMITH, HARRY C.;REEL/FRAME:017648/0295
Effective date: 20040727
|May 20, 2015||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4