IP Library Granted Patent US 12678205
Granted Patent B2
US 12678205 · App. 18/262,189 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Spacing-adjustable orthopedic apparatus

Inventor: Eui Seok Lee (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
A61B17/8009A61B17/8071A61B17/8605A61B17/8625A61B17/8685A61B17/8695A61B2017/00398A61B2017/00477A61B2017/00862A61B2017/681
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12678205
App. No.
18/262,189
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus. The apparatus may include a plate including a main body and a through portion having a predetermined length and formed to pass through the main body and a locking screw which is inserted into the through portion, which includes a screw body and a screw head which are capable of being coupled to each other, and in which outer circumferential surface saw teeth are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the screw head.

Claims (35)

1 . A spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus comprising:

a plate including a main body and a through portion having a predetermined length and formed to pass through the main body; and

a locking screw which is inserted into the through portion, which includes a screw body and a screw head which are coupled to each other, and in which outer circumferential surface saw teeth are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the screw head,

wherein the plate includes a sidewall formed at one side of the main body, and a plurality of plate saw teeth are formed on the sidewall in a longitudinal direction of the sidewall to extend toward the through portion,

wherein the screw body includes a body portion in which a screw thread is formed on an outer circumferential surface, and a head portion in which locking saw teeth are formed on an outer circumferential surface, and

wherein the outer circumferential surface saw teeth of the screw head are formed to engage with the plurality of plate saw teeth, and inner circumferential surface saw teeth are formed on a part of an inner circumferential surface of the screw head to engage with the locking saw teeth of the screw body.

2 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screw head is disposed on the through portion and supported by an upper surface of the main body of the plate.

3 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner circumferential surface of the screw head includes:

a locking region in which the inner circumferential surface saw teeth are formed; and

a locking release region other than the locking region,

wherein the locking region is formed to extend inside the inner circumferential surface of the screw head and has a predetermined height.

4 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

a locking protrusion protruding inward is formed on a portion adjacent to a lowermost side of the inner circumferential surface of the screw head; and

a lower side surface of the head portion of the screw body is caught by the locking protrusion.

5 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member which is disposed between a lower surface of the screw head and the main body and of which one side is inclined toward the lower surface of the screw head.

6 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the elastic member includes a spring washer.

7 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

head rachet saw teeth formed on a lower side surface of the screw head; and

body rachet saw teeth formed on an upper side surface of the main body and corresponding to a shape of the head rachet saw teeth.

8 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locking screw includes:

a first locking screw; and

a second locking screw disposed in the through portion to be spaced apart from the first locking screw in a longitudinal direction of the through portion.

9 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a screw fixing hole spaced apart from the through portion is formed in the plate.

10 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a first support part and a second support part which are formed to protrude from a bottom surface at one side of the main body and are spaced apart from each other,

wherein the spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus includes a worm which is supported by the first support part and the second support part and on which a screw thread that engages with the outer circumferential surface saw teeth of the locking screw is formed, and

the locking screw is used as a worm wheel.

11 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

one end portion of the worm passes through and is supported by the first support part; and

the other end portion of the worm passes through and is supported by the second support part.

12 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a motor which is connected to the worm and rotates the worm in one direction or the other direction.

13 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

the plate further includes a sidewall formed at the other side of the main body; and

a plurality of plate saw teeth that are disposed in front of the worm and engage with the outer circumferential surface saw teeth of the locking screw are formed on the sidewall in a longitudinal direction.

14 . The spacing-adjustable bone orthopedic apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a second locking screw disposed in the through portion to be spaced apart from the locking screw,

wherein the second locking screw engages with the plate saw teeth and moves in a longitudinal direction of the through portion.