ORTHOPAEDIC SCREWS

• US 20100042167A1
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMed TA/TD, LLC. (Sites Medical LLC)
• Original Assignee: SMed TA/TD, LLC. (Sites Medical LLC)
• Inventors: Stalcup, Gregory C., Nebosky, Paul S., Zimmerman, Sarah L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,475,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/315
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7061 for stabilising vertebrae or discs by improving the condition of their tissues, e.g. using implanted medication or fluid exchange intraosseous injection devices A61B17/3472
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8625 Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

An orthopaedic screw having a plurality of regions, at least one of which may be porous. The orthopaedic screw includes a head, a tip and at least one thread. The porosity of the screw of the present invention can vary within the part or region, including changes in pore shape, size and density. These characteristics can vary along the length of the screw axis and/or radially (from the outer diameter to the axis). The orthopaedic screw may further include at least one solid region formed of any implantable polymer, reinforced polymer or metal.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic device comprising:

a screw including a head, a tip and at least one thread, said screw including a plurality of regions, at least one of said plurality of regions being porous.

2. The orthopaedic device of claim 1, wherein said screw is at least one of an implantable polymer, metal and ceramic.

3. The orthopaedic device of claim 2, wherein said implantable polymer is one of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Polyetherketone (PEK), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyethylene, polylactic acide (PLA) and polyglycolic acid (PGA).

4. The orthopaedic device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of regions includes at least one solid region.

5. The orthopaedic device of claim 4, wherein said at least one solid region is at least one of said head, said tip and an outer portion of said at least one thread.

6. The orthopaedic device of claim 4, wherein said solid region is one of implantable polymer, reinforced polymer and metal.

7. The orthopaedic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one thread is one of continuous and non-continuous.

8. The orthopaedic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one thread is one of a single lead thread and a multiple lead thread.

9. The orthopaedic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one porous region includes a plurality of pores, said plurality of pores being at least one of different sizes and different shapes.

10. The orthopaedic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one therapeutic agent.

11. The orthopaedic device of claim 10, wherein said therapeutic agent is one of hydroxyapetite, drugs and biologics.

12. An orthopaedic device comprising:

a therapeutic agent; and

a screw having at least one of channels, holes and a reservoir, said screw configured to deliver said therapeutic agent to a surrounding tissue when said screw is implanted in said tissue.

13. The orthopaedic device of claim 12, wherein said therapeutic agent is one of hydroxyapetite, drugs and biologics.

14. The orthopaedic device of claim 12, further comprising a self-sealing diaphragm configured for injection of said therapeutic agent into said screw.

15. The orthopaedic device of claim 12, further comprising a removable self-sealing cap configured for sealing said screw after delivery of said therapeutic agent.

16. The orthopaedic device of claim 12, further comprising a port and a catheter, wherein said screw is configured to receive said therapeutic agent through said port.

17. The orthopaedic device of claim 12, wherein said screw is one of porous and non-porous.

18. The orthopaedic device of claim 12, wherein said screw is one of cannulated and non-cannulated.

19. The orthopaedic device of claim 12, wherein said screw has opposing sides and includes a plurality of pores.

20. The orthopaedic device of claim 19, wherein said plurality of pores are interconnected and configured to deliver said therapeutic agent from said screw to said surrounding tissue.

21. An orthopaedic device comprising:

a screw including a radiolucent marker, said screw having a head, a tip and at least one thread.

22. The orthopaedic device of claim 21, wherein said radiolucent marker is one of stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, barium sulfate filled polyetheretherketone (PEEK), carbon filled PEEK, and a polymer including one of barium sulfate and zirconium dioxide.

23. The orthopaedic device of claim 21, wherein said radiolucent marker is at least one of a pin, said head, said tip, and said at least one thread.

24. The orthopaedic device of claim 21, wherein said screw further comprises a plurality of layers.

25. The orthopaedic device of claim 24, wherein at least one of said plurality of layers is said radiolucent marker.

26. Method of localized delivery of a therapeutic agent to surrounding tissue, the method comprising:

providing a therapeutic agent;

providing a screw having at least one of channels, holes and a reservoir for delivering a predetermined amount of said therapeutic agent to said surrounding soft tissue; and

positioning said screw at a predetermined location in the body of a patient.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said therapeutic agent is pre-loaded in said screw.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said therapeutic agent is loaded into said screw one of before, during and after a surgery.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of providing one of a self-sealing polymer diaphragm and a removable cap for direct interface with a needle for loading said therapeutic agent into said screw.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein said therapeutic agent is one of hydroxyapetit, drugs and biologics.

31. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of providing a marker for indicating position and orientation of said screw in said body of said patient.