Magnetic Screw and Plate Apparatus
AssigneeGomboc, LLC
InventorsStephen D. Cook, Michael C. Harrison, Liam P. Nolan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bone screw comprising a shaft, in which the shaft comprises a bore that is configured to fit a magnet. In addition, a bone plate comprising apertures that can fit the bone screw. The bone plate may be fastened to bone using the bone screws, and the bone screws may be oriented to generate attractive or repulsive forces.
Claims31
A bone screw comprising
- (a) a shaft comprising:
- (i) an upper section, a lower section, and a middle section therebetween, wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross-section;
- (ii) an outer wall surface, wherein a plurality of threads is disposed along at least a portion of the outer wall surface;
- and
- (iii) a bore defining an inner wall surface;
- and
- (b) a magnet configured to fit within the bore.
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10-11. (canceled)
14-20. (canceled)
An apparatus comprising:
- (1) plate comprising a first end section, a second end section, and a middle section therebetween;
- and a first surface and a second surface;
- wherein
- (a) the first end section comprises at least one aperture, wherein the at least one aperture of the first end section is generally circular;
- (b) the second end section comprises at least one aperture, wherein the at least one aperture of the second end section is generally an elongated slot;
- and
- (2) at least two bone screws, wherein each of the two bone screws comprises
- (a) a shaft comprising:
- (i) an upper section, a lower section, and a middle section therebetween, wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross-section;
- (ii) an outer wall surface, wherein a plurality of threads are disposed along at least a portion of the outer wall surface;
- and
- (iii) a bore defining an inner wall surface;
- and
- (b) a magnet configured to fit within the bore;
- wherein the at least one aperture of the first end section and the at least one aperture of the second section are each configured to receive one of the at least two bone screws.
24-30. (canceled)
32-37. (canceled)
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44-47. (canceled)
50-57. (canceled)
A method of stabilizing a fused intervertebral joint between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, comprising fastening a bone plate via one or more bone screws to the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the plate traverses the fused intervertebral joint;
- wherein the plate comprising a first end section, a second end section, and a middle section therebetween;
- and a first surface and a second surface;
- wherein
- (a) the first end section comprises at least one aperture, wherein the at least one aperture of the first end section is generally circular;
- (b) the second end section comprises at least one aperture, wherein the at least one aperture of the second end section is generally an elongated slot;
- and
- wherein each bone screw comprises
- (a) a shaft comprising:
- (i) an upper section, a lower section, and a middle section therebetween, wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross-section;
- (ii) an outer wall surface, wherein a plurality of threads is disposed along at least a portion of the outer wall surface;
- and
- (iii) a bore defining an inner wall surface;
- and
- (b) a magnet configured to fit within the bore, wherein the magnet generates a magnetic force;
- and
- wherein the bone screws are inserted through the apertures of the plate to fasten the plate to the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the bone screw inserted through the one or more apertures of the first end section fastens the first end section to the first vertebra, and the bone screw inserted though the one or more apertures of the second end section fastens the second end to the second vertebra;
- and
- wherein the bone screws are oriented to generate an attractive magnetic force between the bone screw inserted through the one or more apertures of the first end section and the bone screw inserted though the one or more apertures of the second end section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.