Interference screw

• US 6,589,245 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Weiler, Andreas, Strobel, Michael, Timmermans, André
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US09/693,381
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 606/73, 606/65, 606/66, 606/72, 606/77
• US Class Current: 623/13.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0841 Longitudinal channel for insertion tool running through the whole tendon anchor, e.g. for accommodating bone drill, guidewire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/02 Shape of thread; Special thread-forms F16B25/00 takes precedence; used to remove paint or dirt layers F16B35/007, F16B37/002; used as screw-locking device F16B39/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material

Abstract

An interference screw serves for anchoring a flexible transplant like a tendon or a ligament in an opening in a bone. The screw has a screw body, a head at one end of said body and a penetrating end at an opposite end of said head and is provided with an outer threading. The outer threading is formed as a sharp threading adjacent to said penetrating end and is formed as a blunt threading in a following region (FIG. 1).

Claims

1. An interference screw for anchoring a flexible transplant in an opening in a bone, comprising:

a screw body,

a head at one end of said body,

a penetrating end at an opposite end of said head end,

an outer threading provided on an outer side of said screw body,

wherein said outer threading is formed as a sharp threading adjacent to said penetrating end, and is formed as a blunt threading in a following region following said sharp threading, and wherein said sharp threading extends to a maximum core diameter of said screw body, thereby cutting entrance paths for said blunt threading into a wall of said opening within said bone.

2. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein at least one 360°

thread winding of said body is formed to be sharp.

3. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein said penetrating end is tapered, and wherein said sharp threading extends from said penetrating end up to about where a maximum outer diameter of said outer threading in said screw body is reached.

4. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein a transition from said sharp to said blunt threading is smooth.

5. The interference screw claim 1, wherein said outer threading is formed as a buttress threading.

6. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein said screw is made of a biodegradable material.

7. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein said screw body is formed as a hollow body.

8. The interference screw of claim 1, wherein said screw body is provided with several perforations.

9. The interference screw of claim 8, wherein said perforations are provided between windings of said outer threading.