Tension screw

• US 5,702,398 A
• Filed: 02/21/1997
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sam Tarabishy
• Original Assignee: Sam Tarabishy
• Inventors: Tarabishy, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/803,574
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72-75, 606/104, 606/232, 623/13
• US Class Current: 606/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0829 without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

A tension screw of the type primarily intended for anchoring one end of a ligament graft to a bone during surgery to repair a damaged or torn ligament. The tension screw includes two principal elements: a cannulated screw and a bone screw which is insertable through the longitudinal bore of the cannulated screw. The bone screw actually anchors the graft to a bone, while the cannulated screw includes a small hook for attaching the ligament graft thereto. The cannulated screw is free to rotate around the bone screw so as to place the ligament graft under tension. Then, the bone screw is tightened into the bone, fixing the graft to the bone.

Claims

1. A tension screw of the type primarily intended for anchoring one end of a ligament graft to a bone during surgery to repair a ligament, said tension screw comprising:

a cannulated screw having a head and a shaft extending distally from said head, said cannulated screw further comprising a hook-type projection extending radially from a segment of said shaft, whereby an end of the ligament graft may be attached to said projection; and

a bone screw dimensioned and configured to extend through said cannulated screw, said bone screw comprising a bone screw head, a body extending distally from said bone screw head, and a threaded shaft extending distally from said body, said threaded shaft extending longitudinally beyond a distal end of said cannulated screw shaft, whereby said bone screw may be attached to the bone.

2. A tension screw as in claim 1 wherein said tension screw further comprises a first roughened surface formed on an interior portion of said cannulated screw head in engaging relation to said bone screw head when said bone screw is fully tightened into the bone.

3. A tension screw as in claim 1 wherein said bone screw further comprises a second roughened surface formed on a distal portion of said bone screw head in engaging relation to said cannulated screw head when said bone screw is fully tightened into the bone.

4. A tension screw as in claim 1 wherein said cannulated screw is rotatable around said bone screw until said bone screw is fully tightened into the bone.

5. A tension screw as in claim 1 wherein said cannulated screw head is dimensioned and configured to receive an implement whereby said cannulated screw may be rotated around said bone screw to apply tension to the ligament graft attached to said projection.

6. A tension screw as in claim 5 wherein said bone screw head further comprises a tool receptor formed in a proximal surface thereof whereby a tool may be operatively engaged with said receptor to attach said bone screw to the bone and to tighten said bone screw fully into the bone.

7. A tension screw as in claim 6 further comprising means for tensioning the ligament graft attached to said projection, said means for tensioning comprising an implement comprising an elongated implement body, a handle formed at a proximal end of said implement body, a driver formed at a distal end of said implement body, said driver being dimensioned and configured to be received by said cannulated screw head, and a longitudinal bore formed through said implement body.

8. A tension screw as in claim 7 further comprising means for attaching said bone screw into the bone, said means for attaching comprising a tool comprising an elongated tool body, a handle formed at a proximal end of said tool body, a driving tip formed at a distal end of said tool body, said driving tip being dimensioned and configured to be received by said tool receptor, said tool body having an exterior surface dimensioned and configured to be received by said longitudinal bore and being free to rotate about its longitudinal axis within said bore.

9. A tension screw of the type primarily intended for anchoring one end of a ligament graft to a bone during surgery to repair a ligament, said tension screw comprising:

a cannulated screw having a head and a shaft extending distally from said head, said cannulated screw further comprising

a hook-type projection extending radially from a segment of said shaft, whereby an end of the ligament graft may be attached to said projection, and

a first roughened surface formed on an interior portion of said cannulated screw head in engaging relation to said bone screw head when said bone screw is fully tightened into the bone; and

a bone screw dimensioned and configured to extend through said cannulated screw, said bone screw comprising

a bone screw head, a body extending distally from said bone screw head, and a threaded shaft extending distally from said body, said threaded shaft extending longitudinally beyond a distal end of said cannulated screw shaft, whereby said bone screw may be attached to the bone;

said bone screw further comprising a second toughened surface formed on a distal portion of said bone screw head in engaging relation to said first roughened surface when said bone screw is fully tightened into the bone;

said cannulated screw being rotatable around said bone screw until said bone screw is fully tightened into the bone.

10. A tension screw as in claim 9 wherein said cannulated screw head is dimensioned and configured to receive an implement whereby said cannulated screw may be rotated around said bone screw to apply tension to the ligament graft attached to said projection, and wherein said bone screw head further comprises a tool receptor formed in a proximal surface thereof whereby a tool may be operatively engaged with said receptor to attach said bone screw to the bone and to tighten said bone screw fully into the bone.

11. A tension screw as in claim 10 further comprising means for tensioning the ligament graft attached to said projection and means for attaching said bone screw into the bone,

said means for tensioning comprising an implement comprising an elongated implement body, a handle formed at a proximal end of said implement body, a driver formed at a distal end of said implement body, said driver being dimensioned and configured to be received by said cannulated screw head, and a longitudinal bore formed through said implement body;

and

said means for attaching comprising a tool comprising an elongated tool body, a handle formed at a proximal end of said tool body, a driving tip formed at a distal end of said tool body, said driving tip being dimensioned and configured to be received by said tool receptor, said tool body having an exterior surface dimensioned and configured to be received by said longitudinal bore and being free to rotate about its longitudinal axis within said bore.