# US 8,784,411 B2 · Electrode for stimulating bone growth, tissue healing and/or pain control, and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,411 B2 - Document ID: US8784411B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/089,104 - Filed: 2006-10-03 - Published: 2009-02-26 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-03 - Assignees: Washington University - Applicants: Eric C. Leuthardt; Daniel W. Moran - Inventors: Eric C. Leuthardt; Daniel W. Moran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784411B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/7061: {for stabilising vertebrae or discs by improving the condition of their tissues, e.g. using implanted medication or fluid exchange (intraosseous injection devices A61B17/3472)} - A61B 17/80: Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates} - A61B 17/8625: {Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue} - A61N 1/0558: {Anchoring or fixation means therefor} - A61N 1/205: {for promoting a biological process} - A61B 17/7037: {wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped} - A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)} - A61N 1/326: {for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A screw for use in stimulating bone growth, tissue healing and/or pain control. The screw includes an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length. The shaft has an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion. The screw also includes a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone. The screw includes an electrical conductor electrically connectable to the shaft for conveying current through the shaft to the bone through the conducting portion of the shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A screw for use in stimulating at least one of bone growth, tissue healing and pain control comprising: an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length, said screw thread having an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion, the electrically conducting portion being located for deposition in a first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue and the electrically insulating portion being located for deposition in a second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue; a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone; and an electrical conductor electrically connected to the shaft for conveying current through the electrically conducting portion of the screw thread to the first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue, the electrically insulating portion inhibiting current from being conveyed to the second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A screw as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises an electrically insulating coating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A screw as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the shaft comprises an electrically conductive material; and the electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises an insulating material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A screw as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the shaft comprises a titanium alloy; and the electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises titanium dioxide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A screw as set forth in claim 4 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends from the head of the screw to a position less than about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A screw as set forth in claim 5 wherein the position to which the insulating portion extends is between about three millimeters and about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A screw as set forth in claim 6 wherein the position to which the insulating portion of the screw thread extends is between about one centimeter and about two centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A screw as set forth in claim 4 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends at least forty percent of the length of the screw. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A screw as set forth in claim 8 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends between about fifty percent of the length of the screw and about ninety five percent of the length of the screw. ### Claim 10 A screw for use in stimulating at least one of bone growth, tissue healing and pain control comprising: an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length, said screw thread having an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion, the electrically conducting portion being located for deposition in a first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue and the electrically insulating portion being located for deposition in a second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue; a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone; and an electrical conductor connected to the shaft for conveying direct current through the electrically conducting portion of the screw thread to the first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue, the electrically insulating portion inhibiting current from being conveyed to the second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A screw as set forth in claim 10 wherein the electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises an electrically insulating coating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A screw as set forth in claim 10 wherein: the shaft comprises an electrically conductive material; and the electrically insulating portion of the shaft screw thread comprises an insulating material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A screw as set forth in claim 12 wherein: the shaft comprises a titanium alloy; and the electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises titanium dioxide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A screw as set forth in claim 13 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends from the head of the screw to a position less than about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A screw as set forth in claim 14 wherein the position to which the insulating portion extends is between about three millimeters and about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A screw as set forth in claim 15 wherein the position to which the insulating portion of the screw thread extends is between about one centimeter and about two centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A screw as set forth in claim 13 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends at least forty percent of the length of the screw. ### Claim 18 A screw for insertion into a spine of a patient for stimulating at least one of bone growth, tissue healing and pain control comprising: an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length, said screw thread having an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion, the electrically conducting portion being located for deposition in a first pre-specified portion of the spine and the electrically insulating portion being located for deposition in a second pre-specified portion of the spine; a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone; and an electrical conductor for conveying direct current through the conducting portion of the screw thread to the first pre-specified portion of the spine, the electrically insulating portion inhibiting current from being conveyed to the second pre-specified portion of the spine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A screw as set forth in claim 18 wherein the insulating portion is located on the screw thread adjacent the head. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A screw as set forth in claim 18 wherein the electrically insulating portion covers at least fifty percent of the screw thread.