Screw for medical purposes and a driving tool

• US 20010007074A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 07/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Timmermans, Andre, Weiler, Andreas, Strobel, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,261,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/73
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8615 at the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/862 at the periphery of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8625 Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8645 Headless screws, e.g. ligament interference screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8877 characterised by the cross-section of the driver bit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8883 the driver bit acting on the periphery of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• 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

Abstract

A screw for medical purpose has a screw body having a head portion with a facial end face, a shaft portion extending from an end opposite to said facial end face along an axial direction of said screw body, a threading provided on an outer side of said shaft portion, and at least one axially extending groove cut into said outer side of said shaft portion, said at least one groove extending along said head portion and an entire length of said shaft portion, said at least one groove being provided for inserting a drive element of a driving tool therein.

Claims

1. A screw for medical purposes comprising

a screw body having

a head portion having a facial end face,

a shaft portion extending from said head portion from an end opposite to said facial end face along an axial direction of said screw body

a threading provided on an outer side of said shaft portion, and

at least one axially extending groove cut into an outer side of said screw body, said at least one groove extending along said head portion and an entire length of said shaft portion, said at least one groove being provided for inserting a drive element of a driving tool therein.

2. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein a depth of said at least one axial groove is such that said drive element of said driving tool lies within said at least one axially groove and does not extend beyond an outer periphery of said screw body.

3. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein said depth of said at least one axially groove is such that said drive element of said driving tool is housed within said groove without extending radially beyond said threading of said shaft portion.

4. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein at least one recess is provided in said facial end face of said head portion, a corresponding projection on said tool can be introduced into said recess for centering said tool on said screw.

5. The screw of

claim 4

, wherein said recess is configured as a channel completely passing through said screw body.

6. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein several axially extending grooves are provided to be distributed uniformly about a circumference of said screw body.

7. The screw of

claim 6

, wherein up to five axial extending grooves are cut into said outer side of said screw body.

8. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein said at least one axially extending groove is open axially at said facial end face end of said head portion.

9. The screw of

claim 8

, wherein a bridge is provided for bridging said at least axially extending groove in a circumferential direction.

10. The screw of

claim 9

, wherein said bridge is provided in said head portion of said screw body.

11. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein a bridge is provided for bridging said at least one axially extending groove in an circumferential direction of said screw body, said bridge is formed by said outer threading of said shaft portion.

12. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein it is made of a biodegradable material.

13. The screw of

claim 1

, wherein it is configured as an interference screw for anchoring a transplant in an opening in a bone.

14. The screw of

claim 13

, wherein said transplant is selected from the group consisting of a tendon and a ligament.

15. A tool for rotating a screw for medical purpose, said screw comprising a screw body having a head portion having a facial end face, a shaft portion extending from an end opposite to said facial end face along an axial direction of said screw body, a threading providing on an outer side of said shaft portion, and at least one axially extending groove cut into said outer side of said shaft portion, wherein said tool comprising at least one rod-like drive element which can be inserted into said at least one axially extending groove.

16. The tool of

claim 15

, wherein said at least one drive element is configured in said it can be slit in a longitudinal direction from said head portion of said screw into said axial groove.

17. The tool of

claim 15

, wherein at least one projection extends from said tool in a direction directed to a recess in said facial end face of said head portion of said screw, said projection penetrates into said recess when said tool is mounted on said screw.

18. The tool of

claim 15

having several drive elements for inserting into a screw having a corresponding number of several axially extending grooves, said drive elements are cross-connected to one another by at least one circumferential bridge.

19. The tool of

claim 18

, wherein breakage points are provided between said drive elements and said bridges.