US5690632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Osteosynthesis screw fastener having angularly adjustable threads and methods of use therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-11-30
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2015-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An osteosynthetic screw fastener and method of using such fastener is disclosed. When threaded onto an end of a bone screw for securing the screw to fractured bone, the fastener has a bone contacting surface that is alignable, independently of the orientation of the screw shaft, with an orientation of the bone surface adjacent to where the screw shaft exits the bone. The independent alignment of the fastener with the bone surface is due to a ball and socket configuration wherein the ball portion includes a spherical threaded nut and the socket is a cavity within the fastener for retaining the spherical nut. Accordingly, the fastener has an access to a threaded bore of the spherical nut so that the screw shaft can be threaded into the bore and secure the fastener against the bone. Additionally, the fastener's bone contacting surface is relatively large with projections thereon that secure the fastener in a desired orientation on the bone and thereby inhibit the fastener from shifting.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Steven Schwartz
- 👤 Jerry K. Erben
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/683; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A screw fastener, comprising: a housing having: (a) an interior chamber and; (b) an exterior surface, said exterior surface provided for contacting a fastener attachment surface; a threaded means provided within said interior chamber, said threaded means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end and which is configured to receive a threaded portion of a screw to threadably secure said screw fastener on said screw, wherein said threaded means has a high coefficient of friction with respect to said interior chamber to prevent undesired rotational movement of said threaded means; and means for resisting a separation of said housing and said threaded means; wherein said threaded means is adjustable, relative to said housing, for receiving said threaded screw portion at a plurality of angles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A screw fastener, comprising: a housing having: (a) an interior chamber and; (b) an exterior surface, said exterior surface provided for contacting a fastener attachment surface; a threaded means provided within said interior chamber, said threaded means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end and which is configured to receive a threaded portion of a screw to threadably secure said screw fastener on said screw, wherein said threaded means has a high coefficient of friction with respect to said interior chamber to prevent undesired rotational movement of said threaded means; and means for resisting a separation of said housing and said threaded means; wherein said threaded means is adjustable, relative to said housing, for receiving said threaded screw portion at a plurality of angles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment surface includes bone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said angle of said plurality of angles is determined relative to said housing exterior surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said threaded means has a rounded outer shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interior chamber of said housing has a spherical shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing substantially encapsulates said threaded means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interior chamber has an opening through said housing exterior surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exterior surface includes a gripping means for gripping the attachment surface, thereby inhibiting movement of said housing relative to the attachment surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said gripping means includes a plurality of projections projecting away from said housing exterior surface and substantially toward the attachment surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for resisting a separation includes a surface of said interior chamber substantially surrounding said threaded means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
An osteosynthetic fastener, comprising: a housing having: (a) an interior chamber; and (b) an exterior surface with an opening to said interior chamber, said exterior surface being for contacting a fastener attachment surface; and an attachment means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end and which is configured to receive a bone setting shaft, said attachment means having an outer surface and being secured in said interior chamber so that the bone setting shaft is received through said opening at any one of a plurality of orientations relative to said exterior surface, said outer surface of said attachment means conforming to the shape of said interior chamber such that said attachment means cannot easily rotate about an axis, whereby attaching said attaching means to the bone setting shaft secures said housing against the attachment surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
An osteosynthetic fastener, comprising: a housing having: (a) an interior chamber; and (b) an exterior surface with an opening to said interior chamber, said exterior surface being for contacting a fastener attachment surface; and an attachment means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end and which is configured to receive a bone setting shaft, said attachment means having an outer surface and being secured in said interior chamber so that the bone setting shaft is received through said opening at any one of a plurality of orientations relative to said exterior surface, said outer surface of said attachment means conforming to the shape of said interior chamber such that said attachment means cannot easily rotate about an axis, whereby attaching said attaching means to the bone setting shaft secures said housing against the attachment surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bone setting shaft is threaded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said attachment means has a coefficient of friction with respect to said housing interior chamber to prevent said attachment means from undesired rotational movement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
An osteosynthetic fastener, comprising: a housing having an interior spherical chamber with an opening to an exterior of said housing, said opening capable of receiving a bone securing shaft at a plurality of angles; a substantially spherical shaft attaching means for attaching to the bone securing shaft at any one of said plurality of angles, said shaft attaching means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end; wherein said shaft attaching means is mounted in said interior spherical chamber so that attaching said attaching means to the bone securing shaft also attaches said housing to the bone securing shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
An osteosynthetic fastener, comprising: a housing having an interior spherical chamber with an opening to an exterior of said housing, said opening capable of receiving a bone securing shaft at a plurality of angles; a substantially spherical shaft attaching means for attaching to the bone securing shaft at any one of said plurality of angles, said shaft attaching means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end; wherein said shaft attaching means is mounted in said interior spherical chamber so that attaching said attaching means to the bone securing shaft also attaches said housing to the bone securing shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An osteosynthetic fastener as set forth in claim 14, wherein said spherical shaft attaching means is inhibited from rotation once said bone securing shaft is received in said threaded bore.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for securing bone fractures, comprising: providing a hole through bone material through which a threaded screw can pass; inserting a threaded screw through said opening; engaging said threaded screw with a screw fastener capable of engaging said threaded screw, said screw fastener comprising: a housing having an interior chamber and an exterior surface; and a threaded means having an outer surface positioned within said interior chamber, said threaded means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end and which is configured to receive a threaded portion of a screw to threadably secure said screw fastener on said screw, said threaded means being adjustable relative to said housing for receiving said threaded screw portion at a plurality of angles, wherein the shape of said outer surface of said threaded means conforms to the shape of said interior chamber such that substantially the entirety said outer surface of said threaded means has a high coefficient friction with respect to said interior chamber to prevent undesired rotational movement.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for securing bone fractures, comprising: providing a hole through bone material through which a threaded screw can pass; inserting a threaded screw through said opening; engaging said threaded screw with a screw fastener capable of engaging said threaded screw, said screw fastener comprising: a housing having an interior chamber and an exterior surface; and a threaded means having an outer surface positioned within said interior chamber, said threaded means having a threaded bore which is closed at one end and which is configured to receive a threaded portion of a screw to threadably secure said screw fastener on said screw, said threaded means being adjustable relative to said housing for receiving said threaded screw portion at a plurality of angles, wherein the shape of said outer surface of said threaded means conforms to the shape of said interior chamber such that substantially the entirety said outer surface of said threaded means has a high coefficient friction with respect to said interior chamber to prevent undesired rotational movement.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |