Bone connector with pivotable joint
First Claim
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1. A method of connecting bones using a connector including a leading screw element and a trailing screw element attached to one another by only one ball-and-socket joint, the method comprising:
- driving the connector as a unit into a scaphoid bone and a lunate bone such that an external thread of each screw element is disposed in threaded engagement with one of the bones,wherein the trailing screw element includes opposing leading and trailing ends and defines a channel extending through the trailing screw element from the leading end to the trailing end, and wherein the leading screw element includes a driver engagement structure that is accessible to mate with a corresponding driver advanced to the driver engagement structure from the trailing end via the channel.
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Abstract
System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for connecting bones and/or bone portions using a bone connector with a pivotable ball and socket joint.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of connecting bones using a connector including a leading screw element and a trailing screw element attached to one another by only one ball-and-socket joint, the method comprising:
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driving the connector as a unit into a scaphoid bone and a lunate bone such that an external thread of each screw element is disposed in threaded engagement with one of the bones, wherein the trailing screw element includes opposing leading and trailing ends and defines a channel extending through the trailing screw element from the leading end to the trailing end, and wherein the leading screw element includes a driver engagement structure that is accessible to mate with a corresponding driver advanced to the driver engagement structure from the trailing end via the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of connecting scaphoid and lunate bones using a connector including a leading screw element and a trailing screw element attached to one another by a ball-and-socket joint formed by a ball of one of the screw elements disposed in a socket defined by the other screw element, the socket having a mouth that is narrower than a diameter of the ball such that withdrawal of the ball from the socket is resisted, the method comprising:
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driving the connector as a unit into the scaphoid and lunate bones using a driver that extends into and/or through the trailing screw element to engage the leading screw element, such that an external thread of each screw element is disposed in threaded engagement with a respective one of the bones, wherein the connector includes only one ball-and-socket joint. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of connecting bone members using a connector including a leading screw element and a trailing screw element attached to one another by a ball-and-socket joint that traps a ball of one of the screw elements in a socket defined by the other screw element, the method comprising:
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driving the connector as a unit into a pair of bone members using a driver that extends into and/or through the trailing screw element to engage the leading screw element, wherein the step of driving disposes an external thread of each screw element in threaded engagement with a respective one of the bone members, wherein the external thread of the leading screw element has a larger pitch than the external thread of the trailing screw element such that the step of driving urges the bone members toward each other, wherein the step of driving disposes one of the screw elements in threaded engagement with a scaphoid bone and the other of the screw elements in threaded engagement with a lunate bone, and wherein the connector includes only one ball-and-socket joint. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification