# US 12,178,485 B1 · Cannulated continuous compression screw

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,178,485 B1
- Document ID: US12178485B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/375,482
- Filed: 2023-09-30
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2023-08-26
- Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation
- Applicants: University of Utah Research Foundation
- Inventors: Colin S. Gregersen; T. Wade Fallin; Charles L. Saltzman; Chase Hagman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178485B1

## CPC

- A61B 17/864: {hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated}
- A61B 17/8605: {Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone}
- A61B 17/863: {with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper}
- A61B 17/8635: {Tips of screws}
- A61B 17/866: {Material or manufacture}
- A61B 17/8685: {comprising multiple separate parts}
- A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect}
- A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment}
- A61B 2017/681: {Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A bone screw may be insertable into a bone. The bone screw may have a distal member with bone-engaging threads, a proximal member configured to slidably engage the distal member, and a tension member with a proximal end coupled to the proximal member, and a distal end coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bone screw insertable into a bone, the bone screw comprising:
a distal member comprising bone-engaging threads and a driver engagement feature;
a proximal member comprising a proximal opening through which a driver is insertable to engage the driver engagement feature, and configured to slidably and rotatably engage the distal member; and
a tension member comprising:
a proximal end configured to be coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal end configured to be coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bone screw of claim 1, wherein the tension member further comprises a shaft extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft comprising a cannula sized to receive a guidewire.

### Claim 3

A bone screw insertable into a bone, the bone screw comprising:
a distal member comprising bone-engaging threads;
a proximal member configured to slidably and rotatably engage the distal member to cause the bone screw to have a minimum length and a maximum length that is greater than the minimum length; and
a tension member comprising:
a proximal end configured to be coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal end configured to be coupled to a distal end of the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member;
wherein:
the proximal member comprises a proximal shaft with a proximal shaft width;
the distal member comprises a distal shaft with a distal shaft width; and
at each of the minimum length and the maximum length, the proximal shaft width is greater than the distal shaft width.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The bone screw of claim 3, wherein the tension member further comprises a shaft extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft comprising a cannula sized to receive a guidewire.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The bone screw of claim 3, wherein the proximal member comprises a shank and a head comprising head threading with a first pitch different from a second pitch of the bone-engaging threads.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The bone screw of claim 3, wherein:
the proximal member and the distal member define a longitudinal axis; and
the proximal member comprises a shank and a head comprising a proximal-most surface that is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The bone screw of claim 3, wherein:
the proximal member and the distal member define a longitudinal axis;
the distal member comprises a distal engagement surface facing away from the longitudinal axis;
the proximal member comprises a proximal engagement surface facing toward the longitudinal axis; and
the distal engagement surface is positioned to abut the proximal engagement surface to transmit bending loads from the distal member to the proximal member without transmission of torque about the longitudinal axis between the distal engagement surface and the proximal engagement surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The bone screw of claim 3, wherein:
the bone screw has a length from a proximal-most end of the proximal member to a distal-most end of the distal member; and
the proximal member, the distal member, and the tension member cooperate to define a length limiting mechanism configured to:
prevent the length from exceeding a maximum length; and
prevent the length from decreasing below a minimum length.

### Claim 9

A bone screw insertable into a bone, the bone screw comprising:
a distal member comprising bone-engaging threads;
a proximal member comprising a head, wherein the proximal member is configured to slidably engage the distal member to cause the bone screw to have a minimum length and a maximum length that is greater than the minimum length; and
a tension member comprising:
a proximal end configured to be coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal end configured to be coupled to a distal end of the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member;
wherein:
the proximal member comprises a proximal shaft with a proximal shaft width;
the distal member comprises a distal shaft with a distal shaft width; and
at each of the minimum length and the maximum length, the proximal shaft and the distal shaft both have circular cross-sectional shapes from a portion of the proximal shaft adjacent the head to a portion of the distal shaft adjacent the bone-engaging threads.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The bone screw of claim 9, wherein the tension member further comprises a shaft extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft comprising a cannula sized to receive a guidewire.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The bone screw of claim 9, wherein:
the proximal member and the distal member define a longitudinal axis;
the distal member comprises a distal engagement surface facing away from the longitudinal axis;
the proximal member comprises a proximal engagement surface facing toward the longitudinal axis; and
the distal engagement surface is positioned to abut the proximal engagement surface to transmit bending loads from the distal member to the proximal member without transmission of torque about the longitudinal axis between the distal engagement surface and the proximal engagement surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The bone screw of claim 9, wherein:
the bone screw has a length from a proximal-most end of the proximal member to a distal-most end of the distal member; and
the proximal member and the distal member cooperate to define a length limiting mechanism configured to:
prevent the length from exceeding a maximum length; and
prevent the length from decreasing below a minimum length.

### Claim 13

A bone screw insertable into a bone, the bone screw comprising:
a distal member comprising:
bone-engaging threads; and
a driver engagement feature;
a proximal member configured to slidably engage the distal member such that the driver engagement feature is accessible while the proximal member and the distal member are engaged; and
a tension member comprising:
a proximal end configured to be coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal end configured to be coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the
distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member;
wherein, with the distal member, the proximal member, and the tension member fully assembled, the driver engagement feature is configured to mate with a driver to receive torque directly from the driver to insert the screw into the bone and to remove the screw from the bone.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The bone screw of claim 13, wherein the tension member further comprises a shaft extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft comprising a cannula sized to receive a guidewire.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The bone screw of claim 13, wherein the proximal member comprises a proximal opening through which the driver is insertable to engage the driver engagement feature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The bone screw of claim 13, wherein the proximal member is further configured to rotatably engage the distal member.

### Claim 17

A bone screw insertable into a bone, the bone screw comprising:
a distal member comprising bone-engaging threads;
a proximal member configured to slidably engage the distal member to cause the bone screw to have a minimum length and a maximum length that is greater than the minimum length; and
a tension member comprising:
a proximal end configured to be coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal end configured to be coupled to a distal end of the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member;
wherein:
the proximal member comprises a proximal shaft with a proximal shaft width;
the distal member comprises a distal shaft with a distal shaft width;
at each of the minimum length and the maximum length, the proximal shaft width is greater than the distal shaft width; and
the proximal member comprises a distalmost rim that, at the minimum length, does not abut the distal member.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The bone screw of claim 17, wherein the tension member further comprises a shaft extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft comprising a cannula sized to receive a guidewire.

### Claim 19

A bone screw insertable into a bone, the bone screw comprising:
a distal member comprising:
bone-engaging threads; and
a driver engagement feature configured to mate with a driver to receive torque directly from the driver;
a proximal member configured to slidably engage the distal member such that the driver engagement feature is accessible while the proximal member and the distal member are engaged; and
a tension member comprising:
a proximal end configured to be coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal end configured to be coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member;
wherein the proximal member comprises a proximal opening through which the driver is insertable to engage the driver engagement feature.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein the tension member further comprises a shaft extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft comprising a cannula sized to receive a guidewire.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein the proximal member comprises a shank and a head comprising head threading with a first pitch different from a second pitch of the bone-engaging threads.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein:
the proximal member and the distal member define a longitudinal axis; and
the proximal member comprises a shank and a head comprising a proximal-most surface that is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein:
the proximal member and the distal member define a longitudinal axis;
the distal member comprises a distal engagement surface facing away from the longitudinal axis;
the proximal member comprises a proximal engagement surface facing toward the longitudinal axis; and
the distal engagement surface is positioned to abut the proximal engagement surface to transmit bending loads from the distal member to the proximal member without transmission of torque about the longitudinal axis between the distal engagement surface and the proximal engagement surface.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein:
the bone screw has a length from a proximal-most end of the proximal member to a distal-most end of the distal member; and
the proximal member, the distal member, and the tension member cooperate to define a length limiting mechanism configured to:
prevent the length from exceeding a maximum length; and
prevent the length from decreasing below a minimum length.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein the driver engagement feature comprises a slot shaped to receive a blade-shaped torque output feature of a driver.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein the proximal member is further configured to rotatably engage the distal member.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein:
the bone screw has a length from a proximal-most end of the proximal member to a distal-most end of the distal member;
the proximal member comprises a proximal shaft with a proximal shaft width;
the distal member comprises a distal shaft with a distal shaft width; and
at each of a minimum length and a maximum length of the bone screw, the distal shaft has a constant cross-sectional shape from a portion of the distal shaft adjacent the proximal member to a portion of the distal shaft adjacent the bone-engaging threads.

### Claim 28

A bone screw insertable into a bone, the bone screw comprising:
a distal member comprising bone-engaging threads and a driver engagement feature;
a proximal member configured to slidably and rotatably engage the distal member; and
a tension member comprising:
a proximal end configured to be coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal end configured to be coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member;
wherein, with the distal member, the proximal member, and the tension member fully assembled, the driver engagement feature is configured to mate with a driver to receive torque directly from the driver when the bone screw is fully implanted within the bone.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The bone screw of claim 28, wherein the tension member further comprises a shaft extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft comprising a cannula sized to receive a guidewire.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The bone screw of claim 28, wherein the proximal member comprises a shank and a head comprising head threading with a first pitch different from a second pitch of the bone-engaging threads.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The bone screw of claim 28, wherein:
the proximal member and the distal member define a longitudinal axis; and
the proximal member comprises a shank and a head comprising a proximal-most surface that is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The bone screw of claim 28, wherein:
the proximal member and the distal member define a longitudinal axis;
the distal member comprises a distal engagement surface facing away from the longitudinal axis;
the proximal member comprises a proximal engagement surface facing toward the longitudinal axis; and
the distal engagement surface is positioned to abut the proximal engagement surface to transmit bending loads from the distal member to the proximal member without transmission of torque about the longitudinal axis between the distal engagement surface and the proximal engagement surface.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The bone screw of claim 28, wherein:
the bone screw has a length from a proximal-most end of the proximal member to a distal-most end of the distal member; and
the proximal member, the distal member, and the tension member cooperate to define a length limiting mechanism configured to:
prevent the length from exceeding a maximum length; and
prevent the length from decreasing below a minimum length.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The bone screw of claim 28, wherein:
the bone screw has a length from a proximal-most end of the proximal member to a distal-most end of the distal member;
the proximal member comprises a proximal shaft with a proximal shaft width;
the distal member comprises a distal shaft with a distal shaft width; and
at each of a minimum length and a maximum length of the bone screw, the distal shaft has a constant cross-sectional shape from a portion of the distal shaft adjacent the proximal member to a portion of the distal shaft adjacent the bone-engaging threads.