IP Library Granted Patent US 12,246,413
Granted Patent B2
US 12,246,413 · App. 18/554,258 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Assembly method and a screwdriving tool and screw kit

Inventors: Sven Barthelmes (Emmingen-Liptingen, DE); Pedro Morales (Tuttlingen, DE)
Assignee: Aesculap AG
B25B13/48A61B17/2816F16B23/0007A61B2017/00526
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,246,413
App. No.
18/554,258
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly method, a screwdriving tool and a screw kit for screwing a screw into an internal thread of a medical instrument to connect two branches of the instrument to each other so that the branches are pivotable relative to each other. The method includes: impressing a punch geometry into a screw head of the screw by applying an axial compressive force to the screw by the screwdriving tool, and rotating the screwdriving tool relative to the instrument about a screw longitudinal axis to transmit a torque in a positively locking manner from the screwdriving tool to the screw via the impressed punch geometry and to screw the screw into the internal thread.

Claims (12)

1. An assembly method for screwing a screw into an internal thread of a medical instrument in order to connect two branches of the medical instrument to each other such that the two branches are pivotable relative to each other, using a screwdriving tool, the assembly method comprising the steps of:

imprinting a punch geometry into a screw head of the screw by applying an axial compression force to the screw using the screwdriving tool; and

rotating the screwdriving tool relative to the medical instrument about a longitudinal screw axis to transmit torque from the screwdriving tool in a form-fitting manner via the punch geometry to the screw and to screw the screw into the internal thread.

2. The assembly method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

aligning the screwdriving tool and the screw when the axial compression force is applied to the screw by the screwdriving tool.

3. The assembly method according to claim 1 , wherein the screw head is unprofiled.

4. The assembly method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

axially moving a tool shaft and a counterhold tool of the screwdriving tool for clamping the screw into the screwdriving tool, wherein the punch geometry is imprinted into the screwdriving tool when the screw is clamped into the screwdriving tool and the screwdriving tool and the screw are rotated relative to the medical instrument for screwing in the screw.

5. The assembly method according to claim 4 , wherein a first branch of the two branches comprises a first through-hole and a second branch of the two branches comprises a second through-hole at which the internal thread is configured, and the method further comprises the step of:

axially moving the counterhold tool towards the tool shaft and through the second through-hole before clamping the screw into the screwdriving tool and inserting the screw into the internal thread.

6. The assembly method according to claim 4 , wherein a first branch of the two branches comprises a first through-hole and a second branch of the two branches comprises a second through-hole at which the internal thread is configured, and the method further comprises the step of:

passing the screw through the first through-hole and inserting the screw into the internal thread before moving the counterhold tool axially through the second through-hole towards the tool shaft and clamping the screw into the screwdriving tool.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2023
From: BARTHELMES, SVEN; MORALES, PEDRO
To: AESCULAP AG
Reel/Frame 065433/0145 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 108 715.5 · Apr 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240189967A1 · Jun 13, 2024
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