# US 2016/0256209 A1 · Awl-tipped pedicle screw and method of implanting same

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- Number: US 2016/0256209 A1
- Document ID: US20160256209A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/159,426
- Filed: 2016-05-19
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-28
- Assignees: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
- Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
- Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mobasser; Y. Raja Rampersaud
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160256209A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/8635: {Tips of screws}
- A61B 17/863: {with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper}
- A61B 17/7037: {wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A bone screw and method of inserting the same is disclosed. In one example, the bone screw includes an awl tip for creating a pilot hole in the pedicle of a vertebra without having to predrill a starter hole. One or more threads located adjacent to the awl tip engage the wall of the pilot hole and draw the screw into the bone, thereby eliminating the need to drill and tap a hole in the bone prior to implantation of the screw.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-18. (canceled)

### Claim 19

A bone screw, comprising:
a tip portion comprising an awl tip, said awl tip having a pyramidal configuration capable of creating a hole in bone;
a shank portion proximate to said tip portion;
a head portion proximate to said shank portion; and
at least one helical thread which begins at said tip portion and continues through said shank portion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces, said flat surfaces intersecting at a common point.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces that converge at a distalmost tip of the tip portion.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The bone screw of claim 19, wherein said tip portion further comprises at least one flute that extends into said shank portion.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The bone screw of claim 23, wherein said flute is a spiral flute.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The bone screw of claim 23, wherein said flute further comprises a cutting edge.

### Claim 26

A pedicle screw, comprising:
a tip portion located at the distal end of said pedicle screw, said tip portion comprising an awl tip, said awl tip having a pyramidal configuration capable of starting a hole in bone;
a head portion located at the proximate end of said pedicle screw;
a shank portion disposed between said tip portion and said head portion; and
at least one thread beginning on said tip portion and continuing in said shank portion, said at least one thread overlapping a portion of said awl tip.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The bone screw of claim 26, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The bone screw of claim 26, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces, said flat surfaces intersecting at a common point.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The bone screw of claim 26, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces that converge at a distalmost tip of the tip portion.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The pedicle screw of claim 26, wherein said tip portion further comprises at least one flute.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The pedicle screw of claim 30, wherein said flute extends into said shank portion.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The pedicle screw of claim 30, wherein said flute is a spiral flute.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The pedicle screw of claim 30, wherein said flute further comprises a cutting edge.

### Claim 34

A bone screw, comprising:
a tip portion, comprising an awl tip and at least one thread;
a shank portion, located proximate to said tip portion and comprising part of the at least one thread of the tip portion; and
a head portion proximate to said shank portion and adapted to receive a driving tool;
wherein said awl tip has a pyramidal configuration capable of creating a hole in bone when torsional force is applied to the screw;
wherein said at least one thread is disposed on said tip portion such that said thread engages the walls of the hole created by said awl tip and draws the screw into bone.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The bone screw of claim 34, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The bone screw of claim 34, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces, said flat surfaces intersecting at a common point.

### Claim 37 (depends on 34)

The bone screw of claim 34, wherein said awl tip comprises three flat surfaces that converge at a distalmost tip of the tip portion.

### Claim 38 (depends on 34)

The bone screw of claim 34, wherein said at least one thread is spaced apart from said flat surfaces.