Self-locking screws for medical implants
OwnerJames D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell +1inventors
InventorsJames D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell, Mark Michels
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Self-locking surgical screw assemblies are described for fastening a medical implant to a bone. The invention also includes combinations of self-locking screws and implants, devices implanted with self-locking screws and related methods which insure the stable attachment of the implant to the bone. Each self-locking surgical screw assembly is comprised of a screw having a non-threaded head affixed to a shank, a threaded portion on the shank, a neck on the shank and a locking device externally affixed to or disposed on the head and/or neck. The locking device lockingly engages the head and/or neck of the screw when the screw is in fastening engagement with the medical implant and the bone.
Claims15
A self-locking surgical screw assembly for fastening a medical implant to a bone comprising
- a screw having a non-threaded head affixed to a shank,
- a threaded portion on the shank,
- a neck portion on the shank disposed between the head and the threaded portion, and
- a locking device externally affixed to or disposed on the head and/or neck,
- wherein the locking device is lockingly engaged with the head and/or neck of the screw when the screw is in fastening engagement with the medical implant and the bone.
A medical implant device comprising
- a self-locking surgical screw assembly for fastening a medical implant to a bone, the self-locking surgical screw assembly comprising
- a screw having a non-threaded head affixed to a shank,
- a threaded portion on the shank,
- a neck portion on the shank disposed between the head and the threaded portion, and
- a locking device externally affixed to or disposed on the head and/or neck,
- and a medical implant comprising at least one untapped through hole to accommodate the self-locking screw assembly,
- wherein the locking device is lockingly engaged with the head and/or neck of the screw when the screw is in fastening engagement with the medical implant and the bone.
A medical implant device affixed to a bone of a surgical patient comprising
- a medical implant comprising at least one untapped through hole,
- a bone of a surgical patient, and
- a self-locking screw assembly affixed in the at least one untapped through hole and fastening the medical implant to the bone, the self-locking surgical screw assembly comprising
- a screw having a non-threaded head affixed to a shank,
- a threaded portion on the shank,
- a neck portion on the shank disposed between the head and the threaded portion, and
- a locking device externally affixed to or disposed on the head and/or neck,
- wherein the locking device is lockingly engaged with the head and/or neck of the screw when the screw is in fastening engagement with the medical implant and the bone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.