Surgical fasteners and related implant devices having bioabsorbable components
OwnerJames Ralph, Stephen Tatar +1inventors
InventorsJames Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas Troxell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Surgical implants including fasteners and related devices which are partially bioabsorbable. The implants are constructed of a non-bioabsorbable base comprising metals and or high strength plastic materials. The base is partially or completely coated with a bioabsorbable material which can have its own mechanical features, such as the threads on a screw. Attachment elements are provided on the base to enhance the mechanical attachment of the bioabsorbable material to the base. The implants can withstand the torques and stresses encountered during surgery and, following implantation, in the body.
Claims31
A surgical fastener comprising a base, all or a portion of said base having attachment elements thereon and a bioabsorbable material overlaying all or a portion of said base and attached thereto, said base comprising a metal or a high strength plastic material, wherein the surgical fastener is selected from the group consisting of screws, cannulated screws, suture anchors, bone anchors, pins, tacks, bolts, nails and staples.
A surgical implant device selected from the group consisting of rods, plates and wires comprising a base, all or a portion of said base having attachment elements thereon and a bioabsorbable material overlaying all or a portion of said base and attached thereto, said base comprising a metal or a high strength plastic material.
A surgical screw comprising
- a base having an elongated shank, all or a portion of said base having attachment elements thereon, and a head comprising a proximal surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank, said shank protruding distally from said head to a distal end, said head comprising one or more than one recess in said proximal surface, said base comprising a metal or a high strength plastic material, and
- a bioabsorbable material overlaying all or a portion of said base and attached thereto and at least a portion of the outer surface of said bioabsorbable material is threaded.
A surgical fastener comprising
- a partially bioabsorbable screw comprising a base having an elongated shank, all or a portion of said base having attachment elements thereon, and a head having a first outer diameter comprising a proximal surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank, said shank protruding distally from said head to a distal end, said head comprising one or more than one recess in said proximal surface, said base comprising a metal or a high strength plastic material, and a bioabsorbable material overlaying all or a portion of said base and attached thereto, at least a portion of the outer surface of said bioabsorbable material being threaded and having an outer thread diameter;
- an annular ring having a second outer diameter affixed circumferentially around the shank in proximity to the head but spaced from the head a distance along the shank, said second outer diameter being less than the first outer diameter and greater than the outer thread diameter;
- a washer removably connected to said partially bioabsorbable screw and having a thickness and an opening of a first inner diameter, said thickness being less than the distance along the shank and said first inner diameter being greater than the outer thread diameter and less than the second outer diameter, fingers circumferentially spaced around said opening and having sufficient flexibility to permit the washer to be snapped over the annular ring, the washer having an upper surface facing the head and a lower surface having a plurality of protuberances.
A surgical pin comprising
- a base having an elongated shank, all or a portion of said base having attachment elements thereon, and a head comprising a proximal surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank, said shank protruding distally from said head to a distal end, said base comprising a metal or a high strength plastic material, and
- a bioabsorbable material overlaying all or a portion of said base and attached thereto.
A method of attaching soft tissue to a bone comprising
- providing a surgical fastener comprising
- a partially bioabsorbable screw comprising a base having an elongated shank, all or a portion of said base having attachment elements thereon, and a head having a first outer diameter comprising a proximal surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank, said shank protruding distally from said head to a distal end, said head comprising one or more than one recess in said proximal surface, said base comprising a metal or a high strength plastic material, and a bioabsorbable material overlaying all or a portion of said base and attached thereto, at least a portion of the outer surface of said bioabsorbable material being threaded and having an outer thread diameter;
- an annular ring having a second outer diameter affixed circumferentially around the shank in proximity to the head but spaced from the head a distance along the shank, said second outer diameter being less than the first outer diameter and greater than the outer thread diameter;
- a washer rotatably disposed between the head and the annular ring and having a thickness and an opening of a first inner diameter, said thickness being less than the distance along the shank and said first inner diameter being greater than the outer thread diameter and less than the second outer diameter, fingers circumferentially spaced around said opening and having sufficient flexibility to permit the washer to be snapped over the annular ring, the washer having an upper surface facing the head and a lower surface having a plurality of protuberances;
- and
- inserting the distal end of the fastener through soft tissue and then inserting the distal end of the fastener into the bone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.