	US 7,476,228 B2
	Distraction screw for skeletal surgery and method of use
M. Samy Abdou, 7790 Doug Hill, San Diego, Calif. 92127 (US)
Filed on Oct. 10, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/683,325.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/417776, filed on Oct. 11, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0133207 A1, Jul. 08, 2004
Int. Cl. A61B 17/58 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 606—104 [606/305; 606/300; 606/86 A; 606/286; 606/295; 606/323; 606/99; 81/453]

42 Claims

1. A distraction screw adaptable for surgical work on a mammalian bone structure, comprising:

(a) a proximal segment having an elongated body with an internal bore extending through the length of the elongated body;

(b) a deployable member disposed within the internal bore of the elongated body and adapted to be retractably deployed outside the internal bore wherein the deployable member has a length that is greater than a length of the elongated body such that the deployable member protrudes outside of first and second ends of the elongated body when disposed within the internal bore;

(c) a distal segment including a head portion and a threaded shank portion and being detachably coupled to the elongated body and engageable with the proximal segment for implantation onto the bone structure, wherein the head portion of the distal segment has a height that is equal to its mean diameter; and

a poly-axial head adapter secured to the distal segment, the poly-axial head adapter being swivelable around the axis defined by direction of the thread rotation of the shank portion, wherein the poly-axial head adapter further comprises a cap having a threaded opening to accommodate the deployable member passing therethrough for asserting a force against the distal segment and effecting the engagement between at least a portion of the head portion of the distal segment and the poly-axial head adapter.