# US 8,540,756 B2 · Surgical fastener and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,756 B2 - Document ID: US8540756B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/856,471 - Filed: 2010-08-13 - Published: 2011-11-03 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-03 - Assignees: Ortho Vation Medical LLC - Applicants: Russell G. Olsen; Steven S. Ramboz - Inventors: Russell G. Olsen; Steven S. Ramboz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540756B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/862: {at the periphery of the screw head} - A61B 17/888: {the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head} - A61B 17/8886: {holding the screw head} - A61B 17/8891: {at its periphery} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a fastener includes a shank defined about a central axis and a head coupled to the shank. The head includes a continuous receptacle circumscribing the central axis. The continuous receptacle includes a radially inner surface that is angled radially inwardly toward the central axis in a head-to-shank direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastener, comprising: a shank defined about a central axis; and a head coupled to the shank, the head comprising a continuous receptacle circumscribing the central axis, wherein the continuous receptacle comprises a radially inner surface angled radially inwardly toward the central axis in a head-to-shank direction, and wherein the continuous receptacle comprises an annular shape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein the continuous receptacle comprises a radially outer surface angled radially inwardly toward the central axis in the head-to-shank direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein the continuous receptacle is located on the head between the central axis and an outer periphery of the head. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fastener of claim 1, wherein the continuous receptacle comprises an opening defined between a first circular edge formed in the head and a second circular edge formed in the head, the first and second circular edges defining concentric circles. ### Claim 5 A fastener and installation tool system, comprising: a fastener comprising: a shank defined about a central axis; and a head coupled to the shank, the head comprising a continuous receptacle circumscribing the central axis, wherein the continuous receptacle comprises a radially inner surface angled radially inwardly toward the central axis in a head-to-shank direction; and an installation tool comprising: a flexible collet comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a plurality of projections each matingly engageable with the continuous receptacle; a collet flexing portion engageable with the collet to flex the collet to draw the plurality of projections radially inward toward each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the continuous receptacle comprises an annular shape and the plurality of projections each comprises an arcuate shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein when radially inwardly drawn toward each other, the plurality of projections collectively define an annular shape corresponding to the annular shape of the continuous receptacle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the fastener comprises a central bore extending through the shank and head, and wherein the flexible collet comprises an alignment rod engageable with the central bore to align the fastener and the flexible collet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of projections are matingly engageable with the continuous receptacle independently of the relative rotational orientation of the fastener and flexible collet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of projections are positioned about a periphery of the proximal end of the flexible collet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein each of the projections comprises a radially inner surface extending radially outwardly in a direction away from the distal end of the collet toward the proximal end of the collet. ### Claim 12 A fastener, comprising: a shank concentrically aligned with a central axis of the fastener; and a head coupled to the shank, wherein the head extends from a proximal end to a distal end, and the shank extends from a proximal end adjacent the distal end of the head to a distal end away from the distal end of the head, the head comprising at least one receptacle spaced radially outwardly away from the central axis of the fastener, wherein a radially innermost portion of the at least one receptacle extends radially inwardly toward the central axis in a direction away from the proximal end of the head; wherein the at least one receptacle comprises an annular-shaped receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fastener of claim 12, wherein the at least one receptacle circumscribes the central axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fastener of claim 12, wherein the radially innermost portion of the at least one receptacle forms a minor angle with the central axis of the fastener of at least 5°. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fastener of claim 14, wherein the radially innermost portion of the at least one receptacle forms a minor angle with the central axis of the fastener of at least 10°. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The fastener of claim 12, wherein the at least one receptacle is spaced radially inward from an outer periphery of the head, the outer periphery being defined along a plane perpendicular to the central axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The fastener of claim 12, wherein the radially innermost portion of the at least one receptacle forms a minor angle with the central axis of the fastener of at least 5° and an outermost portion of the at least one receptacle forms a minor angle with the central axis of the fastener of at least 10°. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The fastener of claim 12, wherein the at least one receptacle has a substantially triangular-shaped cross-section defined along a plane parallel to the central axis of the fastener.