Fastening devices, systems, and methods
AssigneeRTG Scientific, LLC
InventorsRichard Justin Hyer, Jonathan Bitter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process of forming a fastener with improved threading to resist multi-axial forces and off-axis loading scenarios is provided. The process may include placing first and second mill tools adjacent a shaft of the fastener having a proximal end and a distal end, rotating the shaft and the first and second mill tools, and translating the first and second mill tools along at least part of a length of the shaft to form: a first concave undercut surface oriented toward the proximal end, a first convex undercut surface oriented toward the distal end, a second concave undercut surface oriented toward the distal end, and a second convex undercut surface oriented toward the proximal end.
Claims20
A fastener comprising:
- a first helical thread of a first helical thread type disposed about a shaft of the fastener along a longitudinal axis of the fastener and between a proximal end and a distal end of the fastener, the first helical thread type comprising:
- a first undercut surface;
- a second undercut surface;
- a third undercut surface;
- and
- a fourth open surface;
- a second helical thread, the second helical thread embodying the first helical thread type and disposed about the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the fastener between the proximal and distal ends;
- a third helical thread of a second helical thread type disposed about the shaft of the fastener along the longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends, the second helical thread type comprising:
- a fifth undercut surface;
- a sixth undercut surface;
- a seventh undercut surface;
- and
- an eighth open surface;
- a fourth helical thread, the fourth helical thread embodying the second helical thread type and disposed about the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the fastener between the proximal and distal ends;
- wherein, when the fastener is viewed in section along a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the fastener:
- the first undercut surface, the third undercut surface, the sixth undercut surface, and the eighth open surface are angled toward the distal end of the fastener as they extend away from the longitudinal axis;
- and
- the second undercut surface, the fourth open surface, the fifth undercut surface, and the seventh undercut surface are angled towards the proximal end of the fastener as they extend away from the longitudinal axis.
A substrate anchor for implanting into a substrate, the substrate anchor comprising:
- a shaft;
- a proximal end;
- a distal end;
- a first helical thread of a first helical thread type disposed about the shaft along a longitudinal axis of the substrate anchor and between the distal and proximal ends of the substrate anchor, the first helical thread type comprising:
- a first concave undercut surface open toward the proximal end of the shaft;
- and
- a first convex undercut surface facing toward the distal end of the shaft;
- a second helical thread, the second helical thread embodying the first helical thread type and disposed about the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the substrate anchor and between the distal and proximal ends of the substrate anchor;
- a third helical thread of a second helical thread type disposed about the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the substrate anchor and between the distal and proximal ends of the substrate anchor, the second helical thread type comprising:
- a second concave undercut surface open toward the distal end of the shaft;
- and
- a second convex undercut surface facing toward the proximal end of the shaft;
- a fourth helical thread, the fourth helical thread embodying the second helical thread type and disposed about the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the substrate anchor and between the distal and proximal ends of the of substrate anchor;
- wherein, when the substrate anchor is viewed in section along a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the substrate anchor:
- a first interlocking space is formed intermediate the first concave undercut surface and the second concave undercut surface;
- and
- a second interlocking space is formed intermediate the first convex undercut surface and the second convex undercut surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.