Bone screw with fluid delivery structure

• US 7,608,097 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millennium Dental Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Millennium Dental Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Kyle, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Araj; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US10/836,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 606/65, 606 69- 73, 606 92- 94, 606300-321, 604/264, 604523-539, 604/284
• US Class Current: 606/304
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7098 wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw hollow surgical screws A61B17/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8625 Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated

Abstract

A device and method to mechanically strengthen bone matrix and deliver tissue reinforcement material to weakened areas in skeletal structures. A preferred embodiment is an orthopedic screw configured to receive and directionally disperse a therapeutic fluid through the screw'"'"'s channels and apertures.

Claims

1. A bone screw for entering an area of a host'"'"'s bone matrix to mechanically strengthen the matrix and radially deliver tissue reinforcement material, the bone screw comprising:

a shaft comprising a first external threaded portion, a distal end, a middle portion, a proximal end, a circumferential outer shaft wall, and a longitudinal axis extending from the distal end of the shaft to the proximal end of the shaft;

a lumen defined by the outer shaft wall and extending from the proximal end of the shaft toward the distal end of the shaft;

at least one directional channel extending through the outer shaft wall from said lumen to at least one aperture on an outer surface of the shaft to deliver tissue reinforcement material from the bone screw; and

a sleeve comprising a closed distal end and sized to be slideably positionable inside said lumen to selectively block at least one of the channels during delivery of tissue reinforcement material;

wherein the proximal end of the shaft and the lumen are configured to receive at least a portion of the sleeve.

2. The bone screw of claim 1 wherein the first threaded portion of the shaft extends from the proximal end to the distal end.

3. The bone screw of claim 1 wherein the middle portion of the shaft is not threaded.

4. The bone screw of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the shaft has a closed tip.

5. The bone screw of claim 1 wherein at least one aperture is located within a threaded portion of said shaft.

6. The bone screw of claim 5 wherein at least one aperture is located in a grooved section of a threaded portion.

7. The bone screw of claim 6 wherein at least one aperture is located in a land of a threaded portion.

8. The bone screw of claim 1 wherein at least one directional channel is directed proximally at a proximal portion of said screw.

9. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a non-threaded portion, and wherein the diameter of the non-threaded portion is at least equal to the outside diameter of the threaded portion.

10. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a non-threaded portion, and wherein the diameter of the non-threaded portion is less than the outside diameter of the threaded portion.

11. The bone screw of claim 1 wherein at least one aperture is located at a medial portion of the screw and is shaped for directional radial dispersal of a bone reinforcing material therefrom.

12. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the at least one directional channel is angled towar the distal end of the shaft.

13. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises a central lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and at least one fluid dispersement channel extending from the lumen of the sleeve to an aperture on an outer wall of the sleeve.

14. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the shaft comprises an open tip in fluid communication with said lumen.

15. The bone screw of claim 14, wherein the sleeve is further sized to block the open tip of the shaft.

16. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein at least one aperture is directed toward the distal end of the shaft.

17. The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises a lumen extending along at least a portion of its length and at least one fluid-dispersement channel extending from the lumen to an aperture on an outer tubular wall of the sleeve.

18. A method of fixating a bone screw comprising:

inserting a bone screw into a host'"'"'s damaged bone matrix so as to cross trabeculae and adjacent zones, wherein the bone screw comprises a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending from the distal end to the proximal end, a lumen extending through the bone screw along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end, and at least one directional channel extending from the lumen to at least one aperture on an outer surface of the screw to direct fluid from the lumen at an angle that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

inserting a tubular sleeve at least partially into the lumen at the proximal end of the screw, wherein the sleeve comprises a longitudinal axis, an open proximal end, a closed distal end, a lumen extending along at least a portion of a length of the sleeve, and at least one fluid dispersement channel extending from the lumen of the sleeve to an aperture on an outer wall of the sleeve;

connecting a fluid supply to the proximal end of said screw;

supplying fluid into the lumen of the screw through the fluid dispersement channel of the sleeve for distributing the fluid through at least one of the apertures of the screw; and

sliding the sleeve within the lumen of the screw along the longitudinal axis of the screw to a position that blocks fluid from flowing into at least one of the directional channels of the screw.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the fluid is selected from the group of recombinant bone growth factors, hydroxyapatite, and calcium phosphate.

20. A bone screw for mechanically strengthening the matrix of a bone and directionally and selectively delivering tissue reinforcement material, the bone screw comprising:

a shaft comprising a first external threaded portion, a distal end, a middle portion, a proximal end, a circumferential outer shaft wall, and a longitudinal axis extending from the distal end of the shaft to the proximal end of the shaft;

a lumen defined by the outer shaft wall and extending from the proximal end of the shaft toward the distal end of the shaft;

an opening through the outer shaft wall that allows for fluid flow from the distal end of the shaft in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bone screw;

at least one directional non-radial channel extending through the outer shaft wall from said lumen to at least one aperture on an outer surface of the shaft to deliver tissue reinforcement material from the device; and

a tubular sleeve having a proximal end, a closed distal end, and a central channel extending through the entire length of the sleeve from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the sleeve is positionable and slideable inside the lumen of the shaft to selectively allow fluid movement from the distal end of the sleeve to at least one directional channel of the shaft.