Fenestrated surgical screw and method

• US 6,565,572 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Chappius, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/746,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 606/65, 606/73, 606/92, 606/93, 606/94, 623/17.11, 623/17.16
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/686 Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7092 for checking pedicle hole has correct depth or has an intact wall pedicle drill depth limiters A61B17/1626
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7098 wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw hollow surgical screws A61B17/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8635 Tips of screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body

Abstract

A preferred surgical anchor includes an elongated body with a proximal end and a distal end, a passage extending at least partially through the body from the proximal end, and at least one hole extending at least partially through the body that communicates with the passage. The passage and the at least one hole are configured so that a material is receivable in the passage, preferably, at the proximal end of the elongated body. So configured, the material may be delivered through the passage, through the at least one hole, and into the skeletal member. Additionally, a cutting member preferably is arranged at the distal end of the elongated body, with the cutting member being configured to enable penetration of the at least a portion of the elongated body into the skeletal member. Systems and methods also are provided.

Claims

1. A method for inserting an anchor into a vertebral body, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a first anchor having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cutting member, said cutting member being configured to enable penetration of the distal end into the vertebral body, said first anchor having a longitudinal passage formed at least partially therethrough and at least one hole transversely communicating with said longitudinal passage;

inserting the first anchor at least partially into the pedicle region of the vertebral body to form an anchor-receiving hole such that the at least one hole is at least partially disposed within the vertebral body; and

checking for a transverse violation of a wall of the vertebral body, comprising;

dispensing a material through the passage and the at least one hole of the first anchor and into the vertebral body; and

determining whether the material disperses transversely beyond a predetermined portion of the vertebral body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the material disperses beyond the predetermined portion of the vertebral body:

removing the first anchor from the anchor-receiving hole;

re-inserting the first anchor into the pedicle region of the vertebral body to form another anchor-receiving hole; and

re-checking for a violation of a wall of the vertebral body.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said material is a radiopaque dye.

4. A system for inserting an anchor into a skeletal member, comprising:

an anchor body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion being configured to enable penetration into the skeletal member;

a passage extending from said proximal end portion and at least partially through said anchor body;

at least one hole extending at least partially through said anchor body and communicating with said passage; and

a dye deliverable through said passage, out said at least one hole, and into surrounding tissue of the skeletal member; and

wherein said anchor body is removable from said skeletal member to provide an anchor-receiving opening in the skeletal member with a second anchor insertable into said anchor-receiving opening in the skeletal member, said second anchor including an anchor body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a passage extending from said proximal end portion and at least partially through said anchor body, and at least one hole extending at least partially through said anchor body and communicating with said passage.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said distal end portion of said anchor body is self-drilling to enable formation of an anchor-receiving opening in the skeletal member.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said dye is radiopaque.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising bonding cement deliverable through said passage, out said at least one hole, and into surrounding tissue of the skeletal member.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising bonding cement deliverable through said passage of said second anchor, out said at least one hole of said second anchor, and into surrounding tissue of the skeletal member.

9. A method for inserting an anchor into a skeletal member, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a first anchor having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cutting member, said cutting member being configured to enable penetration of the distal end into the skeletal member;

inserting the first anchor into the skeletal member to form an anchor-receiving hole;

checking for a violation of a wall of the skeletal member;

removing the first anchor from the skeletal member; and

inserting a second anchor into the anchor-receiving hole.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said second anchor has a passage formed therethrough, and at least one hole communicating with said passage, and further comprising:

delivering bonding cement into the passage of the second anchor such that at least a portion of the cement is delivered from said passage, through said at least one hole, and into the skeletal member for anchoring the second anchor within the skeletal member.