# US 11,298,168 B2 · Orthopedic surgical method, system and structure for securing a bone screw to a bone > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,168 B2 - Document ID: US11298168B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/743,620 - Filed: 2020-01-15 - Published: 2020-07-16 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-15 - Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Peter L. Bono; James D. Lark; John S. Scales - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298168B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/16: Instruments for performing osteoclasis; Drills or chisels for bones; Trepans {(arthroscopic bone cutters A61B17/320016)} - A61B 17/8625: {Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue} - A61B 17/7032: {Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass} - A61B 17/7035: {Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other} - A61B 17/1655: {for tapping} - A61B 2017/1602: {Mills} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention provides a method of forming pilot apertures for surgical screws. The method provides at least three points of contact to the screw shank to provide reliable positioning and retention of the bone screw. The method also provides slots or areas for insertion and retention of bone growth promoting materials which further secure the bone screw over time. The method is useful for patients of all ages, and may be particularly useful for patients that have osteoporosis or patients that are very active by providing additional securement of the bone screw to the underlying bone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for securing a bone screw to a bone in a surgical procedure comprising: a surgical screw having a cylindrical shank section, said shank portion having at least one helical thread for engaging bone material, said at least one helical thread having a major thread diameter that is the diameter of an imaginary coaxial cylinder that just touches the crest of said at least one helical thread, said surgical screw having a minor or root diameter which is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder that just touches the root of said at least one helical thread, a pilot hole formed into a bone, said pilot hole having a plurality of lobes, said lobes projecting radially outwardly from a center of said pilot hole, and spaced circumferentially apart with respect to each other, said lobes overlapping at a central portion of said pilot hole so that said pilot hole is sized for receipt of said shank therein, spandrels formed in areas between adjacent walls of said lobes provide a transition between adjacently positioned lobes, said spandrels forming purchase areas for said helical thread, said lobes sized and shaped to provide an open space between said major thread diameter and a most radially outward portion of a respective end of each said lobe, an effector configured to create the pilot hole and the plurality of lobes, the effector coupled to a machining element attached to a shaft coupled to a drive device that is part of a surgical robot that controls operation of the machining element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said open space between said major thread diameter and said most radially outward portion of a respective end of each said lobe is sufficient for the insertion of a bone inducing growth material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said open space between said major thread diameter and said most radially outward portion of a respective end of each said lobe is sufficient for the insertion of a plurality of bone fragments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said open space between said major thread diameter and said most radially outward portion of a respective end of each said lobe is at least one eighth of an inch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of lobes are spaced at substantially equal angles with respect to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said pilot hole includes at least three said lobes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said pilot hole includes at least four said lobes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said shank portion is tapered at a distal end thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 8 wherein said surgical screw is self-tapping. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said shank includes a plurality of lobes, an outer perimeter of each said lobe including segments of said helical thread. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 10 wherein said shank includes three said lobes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said surgical screw is a pedicle screw. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said surgical screw is a poly-axial pedicle screw. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said surgical screw is a mono-axial pedicle screw. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system for securing a bone screw to a bone of claim 1 wherein said helical thread includes two different thread pitches along the length of said helical thread.