Fixing screw

• US 20040116932A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spine Next
• Original Assignee: Spine Next
• Inventors: Mazda, Keyvan, Le Couedic, Regis
• Application Number:
  US10/468,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/73
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7035 Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 25/00 Screws that cut thread in the body into which they are screwed, e.g. wood screws F16B35/065 takes precedence; joining sheets or plates using screws with two separate threads F16B5/0275, using screws with adjustment sleeves F16B5/0283
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 35/041 Specially-shaped shafts shape of thread F16B33/02

Abstract

The invention relates to a fixing screw comprising a threaded longitudinal body (10) extending between a head (12) for driving it in rotation and a point-forming end (14) adapted to be inserted into a support. Said threaded longitudinal body (10) includes at least one break point (16) enabling said threaded longitudinal body (10) to be broken forcibly at said break point (16) in order to remove a portion (20) of said longitudinal body (10) extending from said break point (16) to said point-forming end (14), whereby said screw can be shortened prior to use.

Claims

1. A fixing screw comprising a threaded longitudinal body (10) extending between a head (12) adapted to be driven in rotation and a point-forming end (14) suitable for being inserted into a support, which screw is characterized in that said threaded longitudinal body (10) includes:

at least one break point (16) to enable said threaded longitudinal body (10) to be forcibly broken at said break point (16) in order to remove a portion (20) of said longitudinal body (10) extending from said break point (16) to said point-forming end (14), and

at least one frustoconical portion flared towards the head (12) and extending from said break point towards the head (12) to constitute a new point-forming end after said portion (20) of said longitudinal body (10) has been removed.

2. A fixing screw according to claim 1, characterized in that said break point (16) is formed by a groove at the periphery of said threaded longitudinal body (10), whereby forcible displacement of said portion (20) in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal body (10) of the screw breaks said body (10) in line with the bottom of said groove.

3. A fixing screw according to claim 2, characterized in that the wall of the groove (22) nearer said head (12) forms said frustoconical portion which is flared towards said head (12) to constitute said new point-forming end (24) after said threaded longitudinal body (10) has been broken.

4. A fixing screw according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said threaded longitudinal body includes a first break point (16) and a second break point (18) between said head (12) and said first break point (16) so that said threaded longitudinal body (10) can be forcibly broken at said first break point (16) to remove a first portion (20). of said threaded longitudinal body (10) extending from said first break point (16) to said point-forming end (14) or at said second break point (18) to remove a second portion (26) of said threaded longitudinal body (10) extending from said second break point (18) to said point-forming end (14).

5. A fixing screw according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said screw head (12) forms a ball in which there is formed a recess (28) facing away from said threaded longitudinal body (10), said recess (28) being adapted to receive a key to drive rotation of said head (12).

6. A fixing screw according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is made of stainless steel.

7. A fixing screw according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is made of titanium alloy.

8. A spine stabilizing system, characterized in that it includes at least one fixing screw according to any one of claims 1 to 7 adapted to be screwed into a pedicle of a vertebra.