Bone attachment devices with a threaded interconnection including a solid lubricious material

• US 20070270835A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wisnewski, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/429,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/86.A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00845 of moving parts with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00853 low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)

Abstract

One embodiment of the present application includes an apparatus comprising a bone attachment device for a spinal fixation system or other implant arrangement. The device has a socket with threading, with the socket defining a channel to accept a system component to be secured therein by engaging the threading with a threaded fastener. A solid lubricious material is applied between the threading and the threaded fastener to facilitate easier installation, increased locking forces, and decreased distortion of system components. The lubricious material may be affixed to one or more the threaded components to be separately carried therewith prior to interconnection. Other implant apparatus, systems, processes, and techniques are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a multiaxial bone screw device including a longitudinal threaded stem structured to engage bone and a head, the head defining a socket with threading;

a rod structured to extend through the socket;

a threaded fastener structured to engage the threading of the socket to fix the rod in the socket between the fastener and the stem; and

wherein a coating is affixed to one or more of the threading and the threaded fastener to be carried therewith when spaced apart from one another, the coating including a solid lubricious material to reduce friction between the threaded fastener and the threading of the socket when the threaded fastener engages the threading of the socket to secure the rod therein.

2. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein the coating has a coefficient of friction less than one or more of a material of the threading and a material of the threaded fastener when said coating is absent from said material of said threading and said material of said threaded fastener.

3. The apparatus in claim 2 wherein the solid lubricious material consists of at least one of a metallic material, a polymeric material, and an amorphous material.

4. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein the metallic material comprises chrome plating.

5. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein the polymeric material includes one or more of poly-tetraflouroethylene and parylene.

6. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein the amorphous material comprises diamond-like carbon.

7. A method, comprising:

making a multiaxial bone screw including a longitudinal stem with a threaded portion structured to anchor to bone and a head attached to the stem, the head including a threaded socket;

making a threaded fastener structured to engage the threaded socket to provide an implant construct; and

at least partially coating one or more of the threaded socket and the threaded fastener with a solid lubricious material.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the coating includes performing a gas deposition process.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the solid lubricious material includes at least one of poly-tetraflouroethylene and parylene.

10. The method of claim 7, which includes providing a rod structured to be received in the socket and fixed between the fastener and the socket when the fastener is threaded in the socket;

11. A method, comprising:

engaging a bone attachment device to a bone at a desired skeletal location, the device including a saddle member having a pair of upright portions defining a channel with threading;

placing a rod to extend through the channel;

providing a threaded fastener, at least one of the threading and the threaded fastener being coated with a solid lubricious material carried therewith when spaced apart from one another; and

securing the rod in the channel by engaging the threading of the saddle member with the threaded fastener.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the bone attachment device includes a longitudinal threaded stem structured to engage the bone, the threaded stem being positioned opposite the saddle member.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the bone attachment device includes a hook to contact the bone, the hook being positioned opposite the saddle member.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the solid lubricious material consists of at least one of a metallic material, polymeric material, and an amorphous material.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the polymeric material includes one or more of poly-tetraflouroethylene and parylene.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a bone attachment device including a saddle member, the saddle member having a pair of upright portions defining a channel with threading;

a rod structured to extend through the channel;

a threaded fastener structured to engage the threading of the channel to secure the rod in the channel between the fastener and the bone attachment device; and

wherein a solid lubricious material at least partially covers one or more of the threading and the threaded fastener to reduce friction between the threading of the saddle member and the threaded fastener when the threaded fastener engages the threading, the coating being affixed to the one or more of the threading and the threaded fastener to be carried therewith.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the bone attachment device includes a longitudinal threaded stem opposite the saddle member.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the bone attachment device includes a hook opposite the saddle member.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the solid lubricious material comprises a metallic coating.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the metallic coating comprises chrome plating.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the solid lubricious material comprises polymeric plating.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the polymeric coating comprises poly-tetraflouroethylene.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the polymeric coating comprises parylene.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the solid lubricious material comprises diamond-like carbon.