# US 9,433,454 B2 · Variable angle screws, plates and systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,454 B2 - Document ID: US9433454B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/830,387 - Filed: 2013-03-14 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: AMEI Technologies Inc. - Applicants: Amei Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: John Paolino; John Lovell; Guy F. Birkenmeier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433454B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/8057: {the interlocking form comprising a thread} - A61B 17/8605: {Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone} - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - Y10T 408/03: Processes - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to orthopedic implantable device technology, and more specifically to variable angle implantable devices, systems, and methods. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable angle orthopedic screw, the screw comprising: a threaded shank having an upper end and a tip; and a head fixed to the upper end of the shank, the head comprising: a generally cylindrical core of radius (rcore) and with a longitudinal axis, a single continuous thread encircling the core, the apex of which comprises a thread that defines an outer periphery of radius (rhead), wherein the radius (rhead) peak varies along the length of the thread; and a thread trough, wherein the thread has a plurality of indentations and a plurality of thread peaks, wherein the peaks and indentations are spaced apart at regular intervals along the length of the thread, each indentation having a radius (rhead-indent), wherein rcorehmin3, hmax2>hmin3, and hmin3>0 for each turn independently, a fourth region having a maximum thread height (hmax4), and a fifth region having a minimum thread height (hmin5) positioned between the second region and the fourth region, wherein hmax2>hmin5, hmax4>hmin5, and hmin5>0 for each turn independently; wherein the third regions of each turn are aligned in a column parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the screw; and wherein the fifth regions of each turn are aligned in a column parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the screw. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 9, wherein each turn further comprises: a sixth region having a maximum thread height (hmax6), and a seventh region having a minimum thread height (hmin7) positioned between the fourth region and the sixth region, wherein hmax4>hmin7, hmax6>hmin7, and hmin7>0, wherein the seventh regions of each turn are aligned in a column parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the screw. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 10, wherein each turn further comprises: an eighth region having a maximum thread height (hmax8), and a ninth region having a minimum thread height (hmin9) positioned between the sixth region and the eighth region, wherein hmax6>hmin9, hmax8>hmin9, and hmin9>0, wherein the ninth regions of each turn are aligned in a column parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the screw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 11, wherein hmin3≈hmin5≈hmin7≈hmin9. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 12, wherein hmax1≈hmax2≈hmax4≈hmax6≈hmax8. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 13, wherein minimum thread height (hmin3) is about 1% to about 80% of maximum thread height (hmax1). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 13, wherein minimum thread height (hmin3) is about 5% to about 60% of maximum thread height (hmax1). ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 11, wherein hmax1≈hmax2≈hmax4≈hmax6≈hmax8. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 11, wherein the circumferential extent of the first region, the second region, the fourth region and the sixth region total more than 180°, the circumferential extent of the third region, the fifth region, and the seventh region total less than 180°, and circumferential extent of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh regions total 360° or less. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 11, wherein the circumferential extent of the first region, the second region, the fourth region and the sixth region total more than 210°, the circumferential extent of the third region, the fifth region, and the seventh region total less than 150°, and circumferential extent of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh regions total 360° or less. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 11, wherein the thread further comprises at least one of the following transitions from one region to the next region: step-wise transitions, graded transitions, and smooth transitions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 9, wherein each thread minimum is from about 1% to about 90% of the adjacent thread maxima. ### Claim 21 (depends on 9) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 9, wherein each thread minimum is from about 5% to about 80% of the adjacent thread maxima. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 21, wherein the at least two turns around the circumference of the head further comprises at least three turns around the circumference of the head. ### Claim 23 (depends on 9) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 9, wherein the at least one thread spanning at least one turn around the circumference of the head further comprises at least two turns around the circumference of the head. ### Claim 24 (depends on 9) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 9, wherein the head has a generally cylindrical shape. ### Claim 25 A variable angle orthopedic screw, the screw comprising: a variable angle head comprising at least one thread spanning at least a first turn and a second turn around the circumference of the head, wherein the apex of the thread comprises a thread peak that defines a thread height that varies along the length of the thread, wherein the first turn comprises: a first region having a maximum thread height (hmax1-1), a second region having a maximum thread height (hmax1-2), and a third region having a minimum thread height (hmin1-3) positioned between the first region and the second region, wherein hmax1-1>hmin1-3, hmax1-2>hmin1-3, and hmin1-3>0, wherein the second turn comprises: a first region having a maximum thread height (hmax2-1), a second region having a maximum thread height (hmax2-2), and a third region having a minimum thread height (hmin2-3) positioned between the first region and the second region, wherein hmax2-1>hmin2-3, hmax2-2>hmin2-3, and hmin2-3>0, wherein the third region of the first turn and the third region of the second turn are aligned in a column parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the head. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 25, wherein hmax1-1≈hmax1-2. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) A variable angle orthopedic screw according to claim 25, wherein minimum thread height (hmin1-3) is about 1% to about 80% of maximum thread height (hmax1-1).