DIP FUSION SPIKE SCREW

• US 20170189090A1
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ExsoMed Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Exsomed International IP, LLC
• Inventors: Champagne, Lloyd P., Zoldos, Jozef
• Granted Patent: US 10,245,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7291 for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for the fusion of joints (particularly finger joints or toe joints) in a bent (or angled) position. The device is not cannulated, straight and inserted into the joint in its straight configuration. The device is configured to have a thicker portion at its proximal end than at its distal end. The device is preferably inserted into a finger joint that is already bent at an angle, and the thin, distal end is configured to screw into and attach to the bone of second joint thereby fusing the first joint to the second joint.

Claims

1. A bone fusion screw comprising:

(a) a first end having a first diameter, threads, and a driving head; and

(b) a second end with threads that tapers from a second diameter to a smaller, third, diameter.

2. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that is configured to fuse the DIP joint of a finger.

3. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein the driving head is selected from the group consisting of:

a flat screwdriver opening, a Phillips screwdriver opening, a hex head, an Allen wrench head, Torx and Star drive?

4. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein the threads on the second end are of the same pitch and height.

5. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein there is an intermediary section between the first end and the second end.

6. The bone fusion screw of claim 5 wherein the intermediary section is not threaded.

7. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that does not include a cannula.

8. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein the threads at the first end have a different pitch than the threads at the second end.

9. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein the threads at the first end have a different height than the threads at the second end.

10. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein the threads at the first end have a smaller pitch than the threads at the second end.

11. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein the second end tapers to a point.

12. The bone fusion screw of claim 5 wherein the intermediary section is longer than the first section.

13. The bone fusion screw of claim 5 wherein the intermediary section and second section have a diameter less than a diameter of the first section.

14. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that does not include a cannula.

15. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that includes a self-tapping feature on the second end.

16. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that is comprised of one of the group consisting of:

nitinol, stainless steel, and plastic.

17. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that includes an orientation marker.

18. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 wherein the orientation marker is one or more of the group consisting of:

an indentation stamp, a cast in the screw 10, and a mark made with a surgical marker.

19. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that is between ½

″ and

3″

long, or between ¾

″ and

1¾

″

long.

20. The bone fusion screw of claim 1 that is between 1 mm to 5 mm in diameter at its thickest point, or about 3 mm in diameter at its thickest point.