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US5716359A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Anchor and method for fixing a screw in bone

Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1996-05-29
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Granted: 1998-02-10
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Expires: 2016-05-29
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Abstract

Abstract An anchor including a shank formed from a hardened product of a calcium phosphate compound. The anchor having a strength capable of retaining its original shape, before, during and after insertion into a pre-drilled hole of a bone, and a brittleness capable of causing its original shape to disintegrate as a result of a breakage of the shank upon an application of a driving force from the screw to the shank during a driving of the screw through the anchor inserted in the bone. The present invention also relates to a method for fixing a screw in a bone. Using the anchor of the present invention, it becomes possible to easily and reliably fix a screw in a bone having a reduced strength.

Inventors

  • 👤 Satoshi Ojima
  • 👤 Masahiro Kohketsu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 12:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/686; A61L; A61L31/00; A61L31/02; A61L31/026; A61B17/70; A61B2017/00004; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
An anchor to be inserted into a pre-drilled hole of a bone, thereby assisting a fixation of a screw in the bone, comprising in combination: a shank composed of hardened product of calcium phosphate compound; said shank comprising a screw-receiving hole and having a strength capable of retaining an original shape, before, during and after insertion into said pre-drilled hole; and said shank further having a brittleness capable of causing said original shape to disintegrate as a result of a breakage of said shank upon application of a driving force from said screw to said shank when said screw is driven through said anchor inserted in the bone; and a screw, said screw comprising a portion sized to be insertable into said hole and a portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of said hole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 136 words
An anchor to be inserted into a pre-drilled hole of a bone, thereby assisting a fixation of a screw in the bone, comprising in combination: a shank composed of hardened product of calcium phosphate compound; said shank comprising a screw-receiving hole and having a strength capable of retaining an original shape, before, during and after insertion into said pre-drilled hole; and said shank further having a brittleness capable of causing said original shape to disintegrate as a result of a breakage of said shank upon application of a driving force from said screw to said shank when said screw is driven through said anchor inserted in the bone; and a screw, said screw comprising a portion sized to be insertable into said hole and a portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of said hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The anchor according to claim 1, wherein said calcium phosphate compound has a molar ratio of calcium to phosphorous of about 1.5 to 2.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The anchor according to claim 2, wherein said calcium phosphate compound comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of hydroxyapatite, fluoroapatite, tricalcium phosphate and tetracalcium phosphate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The anchor according to claim 3, wherein said calcium phosphate compound comprises hydroxyapatite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The anchor according to claim 1, wherein said hardened product is a sintered product of said calcium phosphate compound having a porosity of about 40 to 80%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The anchor according to claim 1, wherein said hardened product is a molded product of said calcium phosphate compound having a porosity of about 20 to 70%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said shank has a diameter and a length substantially the same as that of said pre-drilled hole in the bone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The anchor according to claim 5, wherein said shank is a column-shaped body having a diameter of about 1.5 to 5.0 mm and a length of about 15 to 60 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The anchor according to claim 8, wherein said screw-receiving hole is bored in said column-shaped body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
The anchor according to claim 1, said anchor being used to drive and fix a screw in a weakened portion of a bone of a patient suffering from osteoporosis.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of fixing a screw in a bone, comprising: drilling a hole in a predetermined site in the bone; inserting an anchor into said pre-drilled hole, wherein said anchor comprises a shank composed of hardened product of calcium phosphate compound, said shank having a strength capable of retaining an original shape, before, during and after insertion into said pre-drilled hole, said shank also having a brittleness capable of causing said original shape to disintegrate as a result of a breakage of said shank upon application of a driving force from said screw to said shank when said screw is driven through said anchor inserted in the bone; and driving said screw through said anchor inserted in said bone to disintegrate said anchor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of fixing a screw in a bone, comprising: drilling a hole in a predetermined site in the bone; inserting an anchor into said pre-drilled hole, wherein said anchor comprises a shank composed of hardened product of calcium phosphate compound, said shank having a strength capable of retaining an original shape, before, during and after insertion into said pre-drilled hole, said shank also having a brittleness capable of causing said original shape to disintegrate as a result of a breakage of said shank upon application of a driving force from said screw to said shank when said screw is driven through said anchor inserted in the bone; and driving said screw through said anchor inserted in said bone to disintegrate said anchor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said hardened product is a sintered product of said calcium phosphate compound having a porosity of about 40 to 80%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said hardened product is a molded product of said calcium phosphate compound having a porosity of about 20 to 70%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said shank is a column-shaped body having a diameter of about 1.5 to 5.0 mm and a length of about 15 to 60 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein said column-shaped body has a screw-receiving hole bored therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said screw is driven into a weakened portion of a bone of a patient suffering from osteoporosis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein said column-shaped body has a screw-receiving hole therein.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5084050A Cited
US5064436A Cited
US4798585A Cited
US4778471A Cited
US5017518A Cited
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GB2237564A Cited
US5147361A Cited
US5149368A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-02-09 2001-08-11 2002-02-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-02-09 2005-08-11 2006-02-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-02-09 2009-08-11 2010-02-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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