Surgical bone screw

• US 6,368,322 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Osteotech Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Osteotech Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rosenthal, Daniel E., Luks, Howard J., Kaes, David R., Morris, John W., Martz, Erik O., Shimp, Lawrence A., Boyle, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/542,556
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/73, 606/76, 623/13.11, 623/13.12, 623/13.14, 623/13.17, 623/23.63, 623/925, 411/402, 411/403, 411/410
• US Class Current: 606/308
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/861 specially shaped for gripping driver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8645 Headless screws, e.g. ligament interference screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8877 characterised by the cross-section of the driver bit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer

Abstract

An interference screw suitable for surgical use is provided. The interference screw is constructed from bone and includes an elongated body having an outer threaded surface, a tapered insertion end and a central throughbore. Insertion tool engaging structure is formed along the walls defining the throughbore. The insertion tool engaging structure extends from the proximal end of the elongated body over a substantial portion of the length of the elongated body. The insertion tool engaging structure functions to distribute the forces required to insert the interference screw throughout the body of the interference screw to prevent fracturing of the interference screw during insertion into bone.

Claims

1. A surgical interference screw for use in attaching bone to bone and soft tissue to bone, the interference screw comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal head portion and a distal insertion end and being constructed from bone, the elongated body defining a longitudinally extending bore which extends from the proximal head portion towards the distal insertion end, the longitudinally extending bore including engaging structure formed along at least a portion of the longitudinally extending bore, the engaging structure being configured and dimensioned to non-rotatably engage an insertion tool for inserting the interference screw into bone, and the proximal head portion being configured to simultaneously non-rotatably engage the iron tool to evenly distribute forces required to insert the interference screw throughout the interference screw during insertion of the interference screw into bone.

2. A surgical interference screw according to claim 1, wherein the distal insertion end is tapered.

3. A surgical interference screw according to claim 2, wherein the engaging structure extends from the proximal end of the elongated body to a position adjacent the distal insertion end.

4. A surgical interference screw according to claim 1, wherein the elongated body is threaded over at least a portion of its length.

5. A surgical interference screw according to claim 4, wherein the distal insertion end is tapered.

6. A surgical interference screw according to claim 5, wherein the proximal end of the elongated body includes a hexagonally-shaped head.

7. A surgical interference screw according to claim 6, wherein the engaging structure includes hexagonal-shaped walls defining the longitudinally extending bore.

8. A surgical interference screw according to claim 7, wherein the engaging structure extends along a substantial portion of the length of the elongated body.

9. A surgical interference screw comprising:

an elongated body including a head portion, a threaded body portion and a tapered insertion end, the head portion having an outer surface configured to non-rotatably engage an insertion tools and the elongated body defined an elongated bore confined to simultaneously non-rotatably engage the insertion tool to evenly distribute forces required to insert the interference screw throughout the interference screw during insertion of the interface screw into bone.

10. A surgical interference screw according to claim 9, wherein the elongated bore includes hexagonally-shaped walls.

11. A surgical interference screw according to claim 9, wherein the head portion is hexagonally shaped.

12. A surgical interference screw according to claim 9, wherein the elongated bore extends through a substantial portion of the length of the elongated body.

13. A surgical interference screw according to claim 9, wherein the width of the head portion is smaller than the diameter of the threaded body portion.

14. A surgical interference screw according to claim 9, wherein the elongated body is constructed from bone.

15. A surgical interference screw according to claim 9, wherein the bore and the head portion are hexagonally shaped.

16. A surgical interference screw according to claim 9, wherein the elongated body is constructed from bone.