IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,931,145

Granted Patent B2

US 9,931,145 · App. 15/268,439 · Granted Apr 3, 2018

Flexible bone screw

Inventor: Daniel L. Martin (Palo Alto, CA)

Assignee: Syntorr, Inc.

A61B17/7208 A61B17/1717 A61B17/1728 A61B17/1739 A61B17/1778 A61B17/68 A61B17/863 A61B17/8605 A61B17/8625 A61B17/8635 A61B17/8645 A61B17/7233 A61B2017/00836 A61B2017/00946

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,931,145
App. No.: 15/268,439
Granted: Apr 3, 2018
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A flexible bone screw for insertion into the intramedullary cavity of a fractured bone facilitates enduring fixation of the fracture. The flexible bone screw includes a substantially smooth shaft and a threaded portion positioned at one end of the shaft, wherein the outer diameter of the threaded portion is greater than the shaft diameter and the length of the threaded portion is about 20% of the overall length of the flexible bone screw or less.

Claims (31)

1. A flexible bone screw comprising:

a shaft; and

an enlarged diameter portion directly joined to a transition portion between the shaft and the enlarged diameter portion, the transition portion having an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion and the enlarged diameter portion having threads along an entire length of the enlarged diameter portion,

wherein a ratio of a length of the enlarged diameter portion to a length of the flexible bone screw is less than 0.2 or less, and a ratio of the length of the flexible bone screw to a diameter of the shaft is at least 50.

2. The flexible bone screw according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible bone screw is made of stainless steel.

3. The flexible bone screw according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible bone screw is made of titanium or titanium-containing alloy.

4. The flexible bone screw according to claim 1 , wherein a core diameter of the threads of the enlarged diameter portion is tapered towards a tip of the enlarged diameter portion.

5. The flexible bone screw according to claim 4 , wherein the tip of the enlarged diameter portion has one of a spade point, a trocar point, a threaded point, and a corkscrew point.

6. The flexible bone screw according to claim 4 , wherein the tip of the enlarged diameter portion has an included angle that is at least 80 degrees.

7. The flexible bone screw according to claim 1 , wherein the enlarged diameter portion includes one or more cutting flutes.

8. The flexible bone screw according to claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the transition portion increases from a side of the shaft to a side of the enlarged diameter portion.

9. The flexible bone screw according to claim 1 , wherein the enlarged diameter portion is adapted for engagement with a portion of a humerus bone and the shaft is adapted for insertion into an intramedullary cavity of the humerus bone.

10. A flexible bone screw comprising:

a shaft; and

wherein a ratio of a length of the enlarged diameter portion to a length of the flexible bone screw is less than 0.2 or less, and an elastic bending arc that is attainable by the flexible bone screw is at least 15 degrees.

11. The flexible bone screw according to claim 10 , wherein the flexible bone screw is made of stainless steel.

12. The flexible bone screw according to claim 10 , wherein the flexible bone screw is made of titanium or titanium-containing alloy.

13. The flexible bone screw according to claim 10 , wherein a core diameter of the threads of the enlarged diameter portion is tapered towards a tip of the enlarged diameter portion.

14. The flexible bone screw according to claim 13 , wherein the tip of the enlarged diameter portion has one of a spade point, a trocar point, a threaded point, and a corkscrew point.

15. The flexible bone screw according to claim 13 , wherein the tip of the enlarged diameter portion has an included angle that is at least 80 degrees.

16. The flexible bone screw according to claim 10 , wherein the enlarged diameter portion includes one or more cutting flutes.

17. The flexible bone screw according to claim 10 , wherein the outer diameter of the transition portion increases from a side of the shaft to a side of the enlarged diameter portion.

18. The flexible bone screw according to claim 10 , wherein the enlarged diameter portion is adapted for engagement with a portion of a humerus bone and the shaft is adapted for insertion into an intramedullary cavity of the humerus bone.

19. A flexible bone screw configured for insertion into a side of a humerus bone and advancement substantially along a longitudinal axis of the humerus bone after the insertion, comprising:

a shaft; and

wherein a ratio of a length of the enlarged diameter portion to a length of the flexible bone screw is less than 0.2, and an elastic bending arc that is attainable by the flexible bone screw is large enough for the flexible bone screw to be inserted into the side of the humerus bone at an oblique angle and be advanced substantially along the longitudinal axis of the humerus bone with associated elastic bending.

20. The flexible bone screw according to claim 19 , wherein

a core diameter of the threads of the enlarged diameter portion is tapered towards a tip of the enlarged diameter portion, and

the enlarged diameter portion includes one or more cutting flutes.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2019

From: SYNTORR, INC.

To: SIMFIX SURGICAL INC.

Reel/Frame 048775/0266 →

Continuity (3)

Division 14462494 · Aug 18, 2014

Division 11951282 · Dec 5, 2007

Related Publication 20170000539A1 · Jan 5, 2017