High-torque resorbable screws
First Claim
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1. A non-magnetic fastening device, comprising:
- a threaded shaft having a shaft proximal end, a shaft distal end, and a shaft rotational axis extending therebetween, the threaded shaft having a shaft diameter measured in a direction transverse to the rotational axis;
a plurality of buttress threads disposed on the threaded shaft; and
a head connected to the proximal end of the threaded shaft, the head having a head proximal end, a head distal end, and a head rotational axis extending therebetween, the head having a head diameter measured in a direction transverse to the head rotational axis and a head perimeter, the head distal end comprising a tapered portion having a first slope, the tapered portion of the head distal end tapers in a distal direction, the tapered portion of the head distal end beginning near the head perimeter and decreasing in diameter to the shaft proximal end, the head perimeter of the fastener forming a star shape.
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Abstract
A high-torque fastener having a threaded shaft and a star-shaped head is disclosed. The high-torque fastener is made of a resorbable or other non-magnetic material. A mating driver snugly fits around the star-shaped head of the fastener, to thereby apply torque to the perimeter of the star-shaped head. The driver can be made disposable, and the driver and fastener packaged together in a single, disposable assembly. Additionally, the driver can be color coded to indicate the size of the fastener which is pre-attached to the driver in the packaging.
215 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A non-magnetic fastening device, comprising:
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a threaded shaft having a shaft proximal end, a shaft distal end, and a shaft rotational axis extending therebetween, the threaded shaft having a shaft diameter measured in a direction transverse to the rotational axis;
a plurality of buttress threads disposed on the threaded shaft; and
a head connected to the proximal end of the threaded shaft, the head having a head proximal end, a head distal end, and a head rotational axis extending therebetween, the head having a head diameter measured in a direction transverse to the head rotational axis and a head perimeter, the head distal end comprising a tapered portion having a first slope, the tapered portion of the head distal end tapers in a distal direction, the tapered portion of the head distal end beginning near the head perimeter and decreasing in diameter to the shaft proximal end, the head perimeter of the fastener forming a star shape.
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2. A fastener and driver assembly, comprising:
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(a) a driver having a driver proximal end, a driver distal end and a driver rotational axis extending therebetween, the driver comprising a driver opening at the driver distal end; and
(b) a resorbable fastener including;
(i) a threaded shaft having a shaft proximal end, a shaft distal end, and a shaft rotational axis extending therebetween; and
(ii) a head connected to the shaft proximal end, the head having a head proximal side, a head distal side, a head rotational axis extending therebetween, and a head perimeter connecting the head proximal side to the head distal side;
(c) wherein the head of the fastener is sized and configured to be firmly and frictionally secured within the driver opening, so that the fastener cannot be separated from the driver by any shaking movement of the driver by a hand of a user, the shaking movement being defined as a motion wherein the only contact to the fastener and driver assembly is the user'"'"'s hand, which contacts only the driver and which remains on the driver throughout the motion. - View Dependent Claims (3)
the head perimeter of the fastener forms a star shape; and
the driver opening forms a star-shaped opening which generally corresponds in size and configuration to the star shape formed by the head perimeter of the fastener.
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4. A method of securing a biocompatible screw into a bone, the biocompatilbe screw comprising a threaded shaft and a head, the head having a proximal side, a distal side secured to the threaded shaft, and a perimeter connecting the proximal side to the distal side, the method comprising the following steps:
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securing the perimeter of the head to a driver, the driver surrounding and frictionally gripping the perimeter of the head but not contacting the distal side of the head, the head being frictionally secured to the driver along the perimeter so that the head cannot be separated from the driver by any shaking movement of the driver by a hand of a user, the shaking movement being defined as a motion wherein the only contact to the biocompatible screw and driver is the user'"'"'s hand, which contacts only the driver and which remains on the driver throughout the motion; and
rotating the driver to apply rotational forces onto the biocompatible screw, wherein the rotational forces are applied to the perimeter of the head of the biocompatible screw to thereby rotate the biocompatible screw and secure the screw into the bone. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of securing a screw into a countersunk hole of a bone plate and also into a bone, the screw comprising a threaded shaft and a tapered head portion shaped to fit snugly into the countersunk hole of the bone plate, the method comprising the following steps:
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securing the perimeter of the head to a driver, the driver having a distal end, and the driver surrounding and frictionally gripping the perimeter of the head;
rotating the driver to apply torque onto the biocompatible screw, wherein the torque is applied to the perimeter of the head of the biocompatilbe screw to thereby rotate and advance the biocompatible screw into the countersunk hole;
the driver being rotated and advanced, until the distal end of the driver contacts the countersunk hole but the tapered head portion of the biocompatible screw does not yet touch the countersunk hole;
continuing to rotate the driver while the distal end of the driver remains in contact with the countersunk hole and the distal end does not advance, the continued rotation of the driver further advancing the biocompatible screw until a time when the tapered head portion of the biocompatible screw contacts and snugly fits into the countersunk hole, whereby the biocompatible screw is at least partially ejected from the driver by the time the tapered head portion snugly fits into the countersunk hole. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification