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Publication Number
US-12611239-B2
Publication Date
2026-04-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure describes a bone screw for use in orthopedic procedures. The bone screw includes a shank portion having a helical thread and a head portion also having a helical thread. The shank also includes a first purchase zone having a first thread pitch configured for purchase in cancellous bone and a second purchase zone having a second thread pitch configured for purchase in cortical bone, the first purchase zone extending proximally from the distal end of the screw, and the second purchase zone extending proximally from an interface with the first purchase zone; wherein the first thread pitch and the second thread pitch are compression neutral.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an orthopedic bone screw for orthopedic surgery at an anatomical target site in a human patient. The screw has a head, a neck, and a shank that are colinear along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end of the head and a distal end of the shank. The head includes a proximal base with an upper surface transverse to the longitudinal axis, a distal base, and a curved lateral surface extending between the bases.
The head includes at least one helical thread extending from the proximal base of the head to the distal base of the head, with a diameter defining a major diameter of the head and at least one pitch. The helical thread is configured to contact bone forming part of the anatomical target site when the head is implanted during use to enhance the purchase of the head into the bone. The shank includes a curved lateral surface with at least one helical thread extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, where the at least one helical thread includes at least two purchase zones.
The at least two purchase zones comprise a first purchase zone including a cancellous pitched zone with a first thread pitch configured for purchase in cancellous bone and a second purchase zone including a cortical pitched zone with a second thread pitch configured for purchase in cortical bone. The cancellous pitched zone extends proximally from the distal end of the screw, and the cortical pitched zone extends proximally from an interface with the cancellous pitched zone. The first thread pitch and the second thread pitch are compression neutral.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims consistently claim an orthopedic surgery screw for a human patient with a colinear head/neck/shank geometry, helical-thread purchase regions, and compression neutral pitch differentiation between cancellous bone and cortical bone. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features include zoned shank pitches for cancellous versus cortical purchase, matching pitch relationships across zones and/or adding additional purchase zones, and optionally head geometry features and microthreads at the neck or at a pitch-interface location.
Compression neutral cancellous and cortical shank purchase zones
A screw where the shank has at least two purchase zones including a cancellous pitched zone with a first thread pitch configured for purchase in cancellous bone and a cortical pitched zone with a second thread pitch configured for purchase in cortical bone, with the first thread pitch and the second thread pitch being compression neutral.
Heiclical head thread for enhanced purchase of the head
A screw where the head includes at least one helical thread extending from the proximal base to the distal base of the head, configured to contact bone at the anatomical target site when implanted during use to thereby enhance purchase of the head into the bone.
Colinear head, neck and shank along a longitudinal axis
A screw where the head, neck and shank are colinear along a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the head and a distal end of the shank.
Compression neutral head pitch matched to the first purchase zone
A screw where the thread pitch of the helical thread of the head is the same as the thread pitch of the helical thread in the first purchase zone, while the first and second thread pitches are compression neutral.
Beveled head surface for reduced or eliminated head protrusion at an angle
A screw where the head comprises a beveled surface extending from the proximal base of the head to a predetermined location along the curved lateral surface, angled relative to the upper surface of the head to define a bevel angle dimensioned to be positioned along and flush with an exterior surface of a bone when the head is implanted at an angle, thereby reducing or eliminating extension beyond the exterior surface of the bone; the beveled surface comprises a first beveled surface and a second beveled surface defining a second bevel angle.
Third cancellous purchase zone with pitch relationship
A screw where the helical thread of the shank further comprises a third purchase zone extending distally between the neck and an interface with the second purchase zone, the third purchase zone configured for purchase in cancellous bone, and wherein the third purchase zone and the first purchase zone have the same thread pitch.
Microthreads on the neck
A screw where the neck includes micro threads disposed thereon, in combination with compression neutral first and second thread pitches in the cancellous and cortical shank purchase zones.
Microthreads at the interface between cancellous and cortical purchase zones
A screw where the shank further comprises micro threads at the interface between the first purchase zone and the second purchase zone, in combination with compression neutral first and second thread pitches.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on an orthopedic surgery screw with a colinear head/neck/shank arrangement and helical-threaded bone-contact features. The shank is partitioned into cancellous and cortical pitched purchase zones with different thread pitches that are compression neutral. Additional independent-claim refinements include matching the head thread pitch to the first purchase zone pitch, adding a third cancellous purchase zone with a pitch relationship, and adding microthreads on the neck or at the interface between purchase zones, with optional beveled head surfaces to reduce or eliminate head protrusion when implanted at an angle.
Stated Advantages
Enhances the purchase of the head into the bone.
Increases purchase for bone by configuring the cancellous pitched zone for purchase in cancellous bone and the cortical pitched zone for purchase in cortical bone.
Reduces or eliminates the degree to which the head extends beyond the exterior surface of the bone when the head is implanted at an angle relative to the bone.
Compression neutral first and second thread pitches.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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