SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BONE FIXATION USING BIODEGRADABLE SCREW HAVING RADIAL CUTOUTS

1 . A system for bone fixation comprising:

a bone screw comprised of a biodegradable polymer material, the bone screw having a head including a proximal surface, a distal surface and a side surface that extends between the proximal surface and the distal surface and further defines an outer perimeter of the screw head;

wherein the screw head defines at least two notches that extend distally along a direction from the proximal surface toward the distal surface, the notches are open at the side surface, and the notches are spaced apart from one another along the perimeter of the screw head.

2 . The system of bone fixation of claim 1 , wherein the notches of the bone screw are spaced regularly apart from one another along the perimeter of the screw head.

3 . The system of bone fixation of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymer contains at least one polymer of the group consisting of: polycaprolactone, polylactide, polyglycolide, poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide), poly(D,L-lactide), poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide), poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(D,L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), polydioxanone and polycarbonates.

4 . The system of bone fixation of claim 3 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) with a monomer base ratio in the range of about 70:30 to 90:10 of lactide to glycolide units.

5 . The system of bone fixation of claim 3 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) with a monomer base ratio in the range of about 70:30 to 96:4 of L-lactide to D,L-lactide units.

6 . The system of bone fixation of claim 3 wherein the biodegradable polymer has a polymer morphology in a fibrillar state.

7 . The system of bone fixation of claim 1 , wherein the screw head comprises at least four notches.

8 . The system of bone fixation of claim 1 , wherein the screw further comprises a threaded shaft that is neither self-drilling nor self-tapping.

9 . The system of bone fixation of claim 1 further comprising:

a bone screw driver configured to impart a driving force onto the bone screw, the bone screw driver comprising:

a driver body that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the driver body extending along a central axis from the proximal end to the distal end;

the driver further comprising at least two prongs that extend distally from the distal end and are spaced apart from one another, the prongs adapted to couple with the notches of the bone screw so as to transfer a driving force to the bone screw.

10 . The system of bone fixation of claim 9 , wherein the driver body defines an outer surface, and an inner surface spaced radially inward from the outer surface along a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis.

11 . The system of bone fixation of claim 10 , wherein the prongs have a first radial depth and the notches of the screw have a second radial depth, and the first radial depth is greater than the second radial depth before the notches couple to prongs, such that the prongs are adapted to couple with the notches of the screw head in a secure displacement fit.

12 . The system of bone fixation of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the driver defines a first maximum cross-sectional dimension at its distal end, the outer perimeter of the screw head defines a second maximum cross-sectional dimension, and the second maximum cross-sectional dimension is not less than the first maximum cross-sectional dimension when the notches and prongs are coupled in the secure displacement fit.

13 . The system of bone fixation of claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the driver defines a recess, and the screw head further defines a centrally raised plateau sized to be received in the recess of the driver.

14 . The system of bone fixation of claim 9 , further comprising at least one bone plate that defines at least one aperture sized to receive the bone screw so as to fix the bone plate to underlying bone.

15 . The system of bone fixation as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bone screws each comprised of a biodegradable polymer material, and each having a head including a proximal surface, a distal surface and a side surface that extends between the proximal surface and the distal surface and further defines an outer perimeter of the screw head;

wherein the screw head of each of the plurality of bone screws defines at least two notches that extend distally along a direction from the proximal surface toward the distal surface, the notches are open at the side surface, and the notches are spaced apart from one another along the perimeter of the screw head

16 . The system of bone fixation of claim 15 , further comprising at least one bone plate defining an aperture configured to receive at least one of the plurality of bone screws so as to fix the bone plate to underlying bone.

17 . The system of bone fixation according to claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the driver comprises at least four prongs, and wherein the screw head comprises at least four notches.

18 . A method for coupling the bone screw and the bone screw driver of claim 10 , the method comprising the steps of:

a) centering the distal end of the driver over the proximal surface of the screw head such that the distal end of the driver is in physical contact with the screw head;

b) applying an axially directed force to the driver such that the prongs engage with and couple to the notches in a secure displacement fit.

19 . A method for coupling the bone screw and the bone screw driver of claim 13 , the method comprising the steps of:

a) centering the distal end of the driver over the proximal surface of a screw head such that the distal end of the driver is in physical contact with the screw head and the central raised plateau is maintained within the prongs of the driver;

b) axially rotating the driver while the central raised plateau is maintained within the prongs of the driver until the prongs are aligned with the notches; and

c) applying an axially directed force to the driver such that the prongs engage with and couple to the notches and the central raised plateau is received within the recess.

20 . The method for coupling the bone screw and the bone screw driver of claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:

d) placing a distal tip of the screw at a bone fixation site;

e) axially rotating the driver to apply the screw into bone so as to fix the screw into the bone; and

f) disengaging the driver from the applied screw.