Load distribution crown
First Claim
1. An apparatus for distributing a load in bony tissue, comprising:
- a crown body comprising a lower bone engaging surface having one or more curved protrusions and an upper surface opposite the bone engaging surface defining an opening having a spherical curvature; and
a fastener including a head that interferes with the spherical curvature of the opening; and
wherein the fastener is selectively engageable with the opening to allow the crown to distribute the load caused by the insertion of the fastener into bony tissuewherein at least one or more slits are formed in a base of the crown is capable of being deformed by a predetermined amount,wherein the curved protrusions are oriented on the bottom surface of the crown body to permit rotational sliding in one direction more readily than in another direction,wherein one or more tabs that are deflectable are positioned on an upper portion of the crown body, the upper portion of the crown body being in communication with the fastener head and the one or more tabs are configured to deflect under axial loading by the fastener, andwherein one or more recesses are formed on the upper portion of the crown body corresponding to the shape of the one or more tabs so that as the tabs are deflected when in communication with the fastener, the one or more tabs move into the recesses.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for distributing the load caused by the insertion of a fastening device into bony tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a crown having a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions may have any desired physical properties, and function to obtain purchase in the bony tissue. Preferably, the crown includes an opening that is selectively engageable with a spherical head of the fastening device. The opening preferably comprises a spherical curvature that allows the surfaces of the spherical head and the opening to maintain flush contact, even when the fastening device is inserted into the bony tissue at a non-orthogonal angle. When the fastening device is inserted into the bony tissue, the crown distributes the load over a wider section of the bone, allowing the bone to maintain its structural integrity.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for distributing a load in bony tissue, comprising:
-
a crown body comprising a lower bone engaging surface having one or more curved protrusions and an upper surface opposite the bone engaging surface defining an opening having a spherical curvature; and a fastener including a head that interferes with the spherical curvature of the opening; and wherein the fastener is selectively engageable with the opening to allow the crown to distribute the load caused by the insertion of the fastener into bony tissue wherein at least one or more slits are formed in a base of the crown is capable of being deformed by a predetermined amount, wherein the curved protrusions are oriented on the bottom surface of the crown body to permit rotational sliding in one direction more readily than in another direction, wherein one or more tabs that are deflectable are positioned on an upper portion of the crown body, the upper portion of the crown body being in communication with the fastener head and the one or more tabs are configured to deflect under axial loading by the fastener, and wherein one or more recesses are formed on the upper portion of the crown body corresponding to the shape of the one or more tabs so that as the tabs are deflected when in communication with the fastener, the one or more tabs move into the recesses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus for distributing a load in bony tissue, comprising:
-
a fastener; and a crown comprising a lower facing bone engaging surface having a plurality of curved protrusions and an opposite upper facing top surface defining an opening; at least one or more slits formed in a base of the crown for deforming the crown by a predetermined amount, wherein the opening comprises a spherical curvature and wherein tangents to the spherical curvature of the opening intersect at a position above the top surface; and wherein the fastener is selectively engageable with the opening to allow the crown to distribute the load caused by the insertion of the fastener into bony tissue at a plurality of angles, wherein the curved protrusions are oriented on the bottom surface of the crown body to permit rotational sliding in one direction more readily than in another direction, wherein one or more tabs that are deflectable are positioned on an upper portion of the crown body, the upper portion of the crown body being in communication with the fastener head and the one or more tabs are configured to deflect under axial loading by the fastener, and wherein one or more recesses are formed on the upper portion of the crown body corresponding to the shape of the one or more tabs so that as the tabs are deflected when in communication with the fastener, the one or more tabs move into the recesses. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. An apparatus for distributing a load in bony tissue, comprising:
-
a crown comprising one or more pyramidal protrusions and an opening having a spherical curvature; and a fastener including a head that interferes with the spherical curvature of the opening; wherein the fastener is selectively engageable with the opening to allow the crown to distribute the load caused by the insertion of the fastener into bony tissue, and wherein the one or more protrusions include a base, wherein the average base to base distance between neighboring protrusions is between about 0.5 and 1.0 mm, wherein at least one or more slits are formed in a base of the crown is capable of being deformed by a predetermined amount, wherein the curved protrusions are oriented on the bottom surface of the crown body to permit rotational sliding in one direction more readily than in another direction, wherein one or more tabs that are deflectable are positioned on an upper portion of the crown body, the upper portion of the crown body being in communication with the fastener head and the one or more tabs are configured to deflect under axial loading by the fastener, and wherein one or more recesses are formed on the upper portion of the crown body corresponding to the shape of the one or more tabs so that as the tabs are deflected when in communication with the fastener, the one or more tabs move into the recesses.
-
Specification