Bioactive fusion device

• US 9,743,961 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Toledo
• Original Assignee: University of Toledo
• Inventors: Goel, Vijay K., Agarwal, Anand K., Dick, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bray, Stuart S
• Application Number:
  US14/392,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20160166291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• 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 17/7035 Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7071 Implants for expanding or repairing the vertebral arch or wedged between laminae or pedicles; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/681 Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8655 with special features for locking in the bone

Abstract

A fusion device includes a screw having a head and a shaft. A hollow bone dowel is disposed about the shaft of the screw. The bone dowel is formed from a bone-like, biocompatible, or allograft material.

Claims

1. A fusion device comprising:

a screw portion including an externally threaded portion and a connecting portion having one or more flexible shaft portions having retainer portions provided thereon;

a hollow bone dowel portion disposed about the screw portion, wherein the hollow bone dowel portion is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a bone-like material, a biocompatible material, a biocompatible polymer, an allograft material, and combinations thereof; and

a head portion including an opening having a shoulder provided therein, wherein the flexible shaft portions extend through the opening such that the retainer portions engage the shoulder, and wherein the head portion is releasable from the screw portion.

2. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion has a proximal end located adjacent to the head portion and a distal end, and the distal end of the hollow bone dowel portion has an internally threaded portion that cooperates with the externally threaded portion.

3. The fusion device defined in claim 2 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion has a flange provided between the proximal end and the distal end.

4. The fusion device defined in claim 3 wherein the flange is radially outwardly movable from a relaxed orientation to a compressed orientation.

5. The fusion device defined in claim 4 wherein the flange is radially outwardly movable from the relaxed orientation to the compressed orientation in response to rotation of the screw portion relative to the flange.

6. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion is composed of a biocompatible polymer.

7. The fusion device defined in claim 6 wherein the biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyaryletherketone (PAEK), a polyetherketone (PEK), a polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), a polyetheretherketoneketone (PEEKK), a polyetherketoneetherketoneketone (PEKEKK), an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), an antioxidant stabilized UHMWPE, and combinations thereof.

8. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the screw portion is formed from a metallic material.

9. The fusion device defined in claim 8 wherein the screw portion is composed of titanium.

10. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion is retained on the screw portion.

11. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion has an internally threaded portion that cooperates with the externally threaded portion of the shaft.

12. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the externally threaded portion of the screw portion is formed from a solid body of material having an external helical thread or other similar structure provided thereon.

13. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the externally threaded portion of the screw portion is formed from a ribbon of material having a helical or other similar shape.

14. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion is composed of a bone-like material.

15. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion is composed of a biocompatible material.

16. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion is composed of an allograft material.

17. The fusion device defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow bone dowel portion includes one or more external threads, external barbs, external teeth, and/or external ribs.