| US 7,569,058 B2 | ||
| Adjustable length tap and method for drilling and tapping a bore in bone | ||
| Ralph Fritz Zwirnmann, Roslyn, Pa. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Synthes USA, LLC, West Chester, Pa. (US) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 07, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/221,546. | ||
| Application 11/221546 is a division of application No. 10/292515, filed on Nov. 13, 2002, granted, now 6,951,562. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0004372 A1, Jan. 05, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/16 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—80 | 24 Claims |
| 1. A method for drilling and tapping a threaded bore in bone comprising:
selecting a self-drilling tap having a longitudinal axis and cutting threads on a distal end of the tap;
positioning a stop collar on the tap, the stop collar configured to lockingly engage the tap;
coupling a locking collar to the stop collar;
sliding the stop collar along the longitudinal axis of the tap to a user selectable position;
locking the stop collar to the tap at the desired position to set an effective penetration length for the cutting threads;
drilling a threaded bore into the bone with the cutting threads on the tap; and
contacting the stop collar against a surface to limit the penetration depth of the tap into the bone; and
rotating the stop collar with respect to the tap while the stop collar is locked at the desired position when the stop collar
contacts against the surface.
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