# US 2019/0167388 A1 · Screwdriver and screw for medical applications, in particular for dental applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167388 A1 - Document ID: US20190167388A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/093,490 - Filed: 2017-04-12 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-14 - Assignees: Neoss Limited - Applicants: Neoss Limited - Inventors: Lars JINTON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167388A1 ## CPC - A61C 8/0089: {Implanting tools or instruments} - A61B 17/8615: {at the central region of the screw head} - A61B 17/888: {the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head} - A61B 17/8888: {at its central region} - A61C 8/0018: {characterised by the shape} - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A screwdriver for medical, in particular dental applications, is provided, the screwdriver (2, 2′, 2″) being configured to cooperate with a screw (1, 1′), the screw (1, 1′) having an apical end (11), a coronal end (10), a screw axis (S) and a first recess (14) at the coronal end for engagement with the screwdriver, the first recess (14) having a substantially polygonal inner contour in a radial plane that is perpendicular to the screw axis (S), the screwdriver (2, 2′, 2″) comprising a shaft (2) defining a longitudinal axis (D) of the screw driver, and an engagement portion (21, 21′, 21″) for engagement with the first recess (14) of the screw (1, 1′), the engagement portion (21, 21′, 21″) having a substantially polygonal outer contour with corners (23, 23′, 23″) and outer surfaces (22, 22′, 22″) between the corners (23, 23′, 23″) wherein in a radial plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (D), the outer surfaces (22, 22′, 22″) between two neighbouring corners (23, 23′, 23″) are curved radially outward. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A screwdriver for medical applications, the screwdriver being configured to cooperate with a screw, the screw having an apical end, a coronal end, a screw axis and a first recess at the coronal end for engagement with the screwdriver, the first recess having a substantially polygonal inner contour in a radial plane that is perpendicular to the screw axis, the screwdriver comprising a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the screw driver, and an engagement portion for engagement with the first recess of the screw, the engagement portion having a substantially polygonal outer contour with corners and outer surfaces between the corners wherein in a radial plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, at least a proportion of the outer surfaces between two neighbouring corners are curved radially outward. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The screwdriver of claim 1, wherein in the radial plane, the outer surfaces are curved in a continuous arc shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The screwdriver of claim 1, wherein in the radial plane, the outer surfaces have a shape of a segment of a circle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The screwdriver of claim 1, wherein in the radial plane, the outer surfaces comprise at least two straight portions that are connected to each other and that include an obtuse angle with each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The screwdriver of claim 1, wherein the engagement portion has a free end opposite to the shaft and wherein at least a portion of the engagement portion tapers towards the free end to permit holding of the screw when engaging the first recess. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The screw driver of claim 1, wherein the engagement portion has in a plane including the longitudinal axis of the shaft at least a portion with a rounded outer contour to permit pivoting in the first recess of the screw. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A combination of a screwdriver and a screw for medical applications, in particular for dental applications, wherein the screwdriver is a screwdriver of claim 1 and wherein the screw has an apical end, a coronal end, a screw axis and a first recess at the coronal end for engagement with the screwdriver, the first recess having a substantially polygonal inner contour in a radial plane that is perpendicular to the screw axis, wherein the sidewalls between neighbouring corners of the first recess are substantially flat and extend substantially parallel to the screw axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The combination of claim 7, wherein the engagement portion and the first recess are sized such that when the engagement portion engages the first recess and the corners of the engagement portion are aligned with the corners of the polygon of the first recess a clearance between the sidewalls of the polygon of the first recess and the outer surfaces of the engagement portion is greater in a region adjacent to the corners of the first recess than at a distance from the corners of the first recess. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The combination of claim 7, wherein the screw comprises a plurality of second recesses that are provided in the sidewalls of the first recess and that taper from the coronal end of the screw in the direction of the apical end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the engagement portion has a free end and at least a portion of the engagement portion tapers towards the free end and wherein when the engagement portion engages the first recess and the corners of the polygon of the first recess are aligned with the corners of the polygon of the screwdriver a contact between the engagement portion and the first recess is established that permits to hold the screw with the screwdriver. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The screw of claim 9, wherein a width of the second recesses in the circumferential direction decreases in the direction towards the apical end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the second recesses are provided at substantially the center of each sidewall in a circumferential direction around the screw axis and wherein a width of the second recesses in the circumferential direction is smaller than a width of the sidewalls so that an intersection is formed between each sidewall and an associated second recess. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The combination of claim 12, wherein when the engagement portion engages the first recess and the corners of the polygon of the first recess are aligned with the corners of the polygon of the screwdriver the contact between the engagement portion and the first recess is established at contact areas located at the second recesses close to the intersection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The combination of claim 7, wherein the screw comprises at least a third recess that extends from the coronal end towards the apical end and that is coaxial with the first recess, wherein the third recess extends radially outward from the sidewalls connecting neighbouring corners of the first recess. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The combination of claim 10, wherein the engagement portion has in a plane including the longitudinal axis of the shaft at least a portion with a rounded outer contour and wherein the engagement portion and the first recess are sized such that when the engagement portion engages the first recess the engagement portion is permitted to pivot in the first recess of the screw. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A screw for medical applications, in particular for dental applications, the screw being configured to cooperate with a screwdriver of on claim 1, the screw comprising an apical end, a coronal end, a screw axis and a first recess at the coronal end for engagement with the screwdriver, the first recess having a substantially polygonal inner contour in a radial plane that is perpendicular to the screw axis, wherein the sidewalls between neighbouring corners of the first recess (44) are substantially flat and extend substantially parallel to the screw axis; and wherein a plurality of second recesses are provided in the sidewalls of the first recess that taper from the coronal end of the screw in the direction of the apical end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The screwdriver of claim 4, wherein the obtuse angle is greater than an angle of the corners that define the polygon of the engagement portion.