| US 7,578,836 B2 | ||
| Orthopedic screw and method | ||
| Daniel F. Justin, Logan, Utah (US); Thomas Wade Fallin, Hyde Park, Utah (US); and Thomas F. Winters, Winter Park, Fla. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Depuy Mitek, Raynham, Mass. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 24, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/338,259. | ||
| Application 11/338259 is a division of application No. 10/206073, filed on Jul. 25, 2002, granted, now 6,989,014. | ||
| Application 10/206073 is a continuation of application No. 09/542100, filed on Apr. 04, 2000, granted, now 6,468,277. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0122612 A1, Jun. 08, 2006 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61F 2/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—916 [606/304; 606/305; 606/317] | 8 Claims |
| 1. A system for repairing a tissue injury in a patient, the system comprising a screw having:
a root having a proximal end and a distal section having a narrowing cross section toward a distal end;
a thread atop the root along at least a portion thereof between the proximal end and the distal end, the thread having a helical
pitch having a substantially constant value along a leading section extending proximal of the distal end and having a variable
value along a trailing section extending proximal of the leading section, wherein the helical pitch decreases along the trailing
section to the proximal end of the root, the thread further having a leading face facing the distal end, the leading face
making a first angle with a helical axis having a directionality pointing from the proximal to the distal end, the first angle
decreasing from a first oblique angle adjacent the distal end to a second oblique angle adjacent the proximal end, the second
oblique angle smaller than the first oblique angle; and
an axial bore at least partially therethrough generally along a helical axis proceeding from the proximal end and into the
root, the bore having a noncircular cross-sectional shape; and
an elongated driving device having:
a distal end having means for mating with the bore;
a proximal end having means for being rotationally driven; and
a noncircular cross-sectional shape along a distal section adjacent the distal end, the distal section dimensioned for entry
into the bore and to permit relative axial sliding and rotational coupling movement therebetween.
|