Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A bone screw fixation assembly, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending member having an aperture therethrough defining an inner wall with spaced first and second end portions; (b) first thread means formed in said inner wall at said first end portion for receiving cooperating second thread means disposed about the exterior of a headed fixation device having an uninterrupted and arcuate terminal end; (c) longitudinally extending rod means having a first arcuate end portion and a second spaced end portion, said rod means receivable in said aperture for permitting said rod means first end portion to engage the fixation device when received within said member first end portion and said first arcuate end portion extends in substantially the same direction as the terminal end of the fixation device; and, (d) means operably associated with said member for selectively locking said rod means in engagement with the received fixation device so that the movement of said first thread means relative to the second thread means is prevented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A bone screw fixation assembly, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending member having an aperture therethrough defining an inner wall with spaced first and second end portions; (b) first thread means formed in said inner wall at said first end portion for receiving cooperating second thread means disposed about the exterior of a headed fixation device having an uninterrupted and arcuate terminal end; (c) longitudinally extending rod means having a first arcuate end portion and a second spaced end portion, said rod means receivable in said aperture for permitting said rod means first end portion to engage the fixation device when received within said member first end portion and said first arcuate end portion extends in substantially the same direction as the terminal end of the fixation device; and, (d) means operably associated with said member for selectively locking said rod means in engagement with the received fixation device so that the movement of said first thread means relative to the second thread means is prevented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein: (a) said rod means has a length at least equal to the distance between said member first and second end portions so that said rod means extends therebetween when received in said member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein: (a) said locking means are operably associated with said member second end portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein said locking means includes: (a) third thread means formed in said inner wall at said member second end portion; and, (b) fourth thread means formed about said rod means second end portion and cooperating with said third thread means so that engagement of said rod means first end portion with the fixation device prevents said third and fourth thread means from moving relative to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein: (a) said first and third thread means are commonly rotatable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein: (a) said member first end portion has an external diameter less than the external diameter of said member second end portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 2, wherein: (a) said rod means second end portion includes a handle element disposed exteriorly of said member second end portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein: (a) said rod means second end portion includes a handle element disposed exteriorly of said member second end portion, and said third thread means are disposed intermediate said handle element and said rod means first end portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein: (a) said rod means first end portion includes an arcuate recess conforming to the fixation element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A fixation device, comprising: (a) a cylindrical shank having first and second end portions; (b) first thread means formed in said first end portion extending toward but terminating short of said second end portion; (c) a head mounted to said second end portion, said head having an upper surface being uninterrupted and arcuate, and a side rim extending from said upper surface; and, (d) second thread means formed about said side rim.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A fixation device, comprising: (a) a cylindrical shank having first and second end portions; (b) first thread means formed in said first end portion extending toward but terminating short of said second end portion; (c) a head mounted to said second end portion, said head having an upper surface being uninterrupted and arcuate, and a side rim extending from said upper surface; and, (d) second thread means formed about said side rim.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 10, wherein: (a) said rim has a diameter exceeding the diameter of said shank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 10, wherein: (a) said head includes a lower surface secured to said shank, said lower surface extends arcuately from said shank toward said rim.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 10, wherein (a) said second thread means has no more than two threads.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
153 words
A bone screw insertion assembly, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending member having a central aperture therethrough defining an inner wall with spaced first and second end portions; (b) first thread means formed in said inner wall at said first end portion; (c) a bone screw having a head with second thread means formed exteriorly thereabout and an upper surface being arcuate and uninterrupted, said second thread means in threaded engagement with said first thread means so that said bone screw is operably associated with said member and extends therefrom; (d) rod means received within said aperture and having a first end portion engaged with and conforming to said bone screw upper surface for applying a force thereto so that movement of said first thread means relative to said second thread means is prevented; and, (e) means operably associated with said member for selectively locking said rod means in engagement with said bone screw.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
153 words
A bone screw insertion assembly, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending member having a central aperture therethrough defining an inner wall with spaced first and second end portions; (b) first thread means formed in said inner wall at said first end portion; (c) a bone screw having a head with second thread means formed exteriorly thereabout and an upper surface being arcuate and uninterrupted, said second thread means in threaded engagement with said first thread means so that said bone screw is operably associated with said member and extends therefrom; (d) rod means received within said aperture and having a first end portion engaged with and conforming to said bone screw upper surface for applying a force thereto so that movement of said first thread means relative to said second thread means is prevented; and, (e) means operably associated with said member for selectively locking said rod means in engagement with said bone screw.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
The assembly of claim 14, wherein said locking means includes: (a) third thread means formed in said inner wall at said second end portion; and, (b) fourth thread means cooperating with said third thread means formed about said rod means at a second end portion thereof so that engagement of said rod means first end portion with said bone screw causes said third and fourth thread means to be locked together for thereby locking said rod means thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The assembly of claim 15, wherein: (a) said rod means second end portion includes a handle element, and said fourth thread means are disposed intermediate said handle element and said rod means first end portion.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
139 words
The method of securing a bone screw, comprising: (a) providing a tubular screw holder having a central aperture therethrough defining an inner wall with a first set of threads formed therein at a first end portion thereof; (b) providing a bone screw having a head which has an upper surface being arcuate and uninterrupted and a second set of threads formed about the head; (c) threadedly engaging the first and second sets of threads so that the bone screw is attached to the holder and extends therefrom; (d) positioning a rod means in the aperture so that an end of the rod means engages the bone screw upper surface and presses the first and second sets of threads together so that movement of the sets of threads relative to each other is prevented; and, (e) locking the rod means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
139 words
The method of securing a bone screw, comprising: (a) providing a tubular screw holder having a central aperture therethrough defining an inner wall with a first set of threads formed therein at a first end portion thereof; (b) providing a bone screw having a head which has an upper surface being arcuate and uninterrupted and a second set of threads formed about the head; (c) threadedly engaging the first and second sets of threads so that the bone screw is attached to the holder and extends therefrom; (d) positioning a rod means in the aperture so that an end of the rod means engages the bone screw upper surface and presses the first and second sets of threads together so that movement of the sets of threads relative to each other is prevented; and, (e) locking the rod means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 10, wherein: (a) said uninterrupted surface is continuous.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 10, wherein: (a) said second thread means includes no more than
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 17, comprising the further step of: (a) providing the bone screw with a substantially convex head; and (b) providing a concavity, operably associated with the convex head, in the end of the rod means that engages the bone screw.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 17, further including the step of: (a) inserting the bone screw into a bone such that the second set of threads formed about the head of the bone screw protrude from the bone; and (b) disengaging the bone screw from the tubular screw holder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 21, further including the step of: (a) engaging the first and second set of threads at a position removed from the bone so as to prevent movement of the set of threads relative to each other; and (b) withdrawing the bone screw from the bone.