Screw element for use in spinal, orthopedic or trauma surgery and a system of such a screw element and a screw driver adapted thereto

A system comprising:

• a screw element for use in spinal, orthopedic, or trauma surgery, the screw element comprising:
• a screw axis;
• a shank extending along the screw axis and configured to be inserted in a bone;
• and
• a drive portion configured to engage a screw driver, wherein the drive portion comprises a first wall defining a first recess, wherein a plurality of drive grooves are formed in the first wall and extend parallel to the screw axis, and wherein the drive portion further comprises a second wall defining a second recess, wherein the second wall extends axially from the first wall to a free end portion of the screw element, and wherein in a first radial direction relative to the screw axis, a distance between the screw axis and the second wall continuously increases from the first wall to the free end portion;
• wherein a plurality of guide grooves are formed in the second wall at circumferential positions around the screw axis that correspond respectively to circumferential positions of the drive grooves, wherein the guide grooves extend further radially from the screw axis than the drive grooves, and wherein in a second radial direction relative to the screw axis that corresponds to one of the guide grooves, a distance between the screw axis and at least a portion of the second wall remains constant as the second wall extends axially, and
• a screw driver configured to engage the drive portion of the screw element, the screw driver comprising a drive axis and an engagement portion with engagement protrusions each extending parallel to the drive axis;
• wherein the guide grooves of the drive portion are configured to guide the engagement portion of the screw driver from the free end portion of the screw element to the drive grooves, wherein the engagement protrusions are configured to engage the drive grooves, and wherein the engagement protrusions each comprises a bevelled end.

A method of implanting a screw element in a bone, the screw element comprising a screw axis, a shank extending along the screw axis, and a drive portion comprising a first wall defining a first recess and a second wall defining a second recess, wherein a plurality of drive grooves are formed in the first wall and extend parallel to the screw axis, wherein the second wall extends axially from the first wall to a free end portion of the screw element, and wherein in a first radial direction relative to the screw axis, a distance between the screw axis and the second wall continuously increases from the first wall to the free end portion, wherein a plurality of guide grooves are formed in the second wall at circumferential positions around the screw axis that correspond respectively to circumferential positions of the drive grooves, wherein the guide grooves extend further radially from the screw axis than the drive grooves, and wherein in a second radial direction relative to the screw axis that corresponds to one of the guide grooves, a distance between the screw axis and at least a portion of the second wall remains constant as the second wall extends axially, the method comprising:

• inserting the shank of the screw element into the bone;
• engaging the drive portion of the screw element with a screw driver, wherein the guide grooves are configured to guide an engagement portion of the screw driver from the free end portion of the screw element to the drive grooves;
• and
• using the screw driver to adjust a position of the screw element relative to the bone when the engagement portion of the screw driver is engaged with the drive grooves of the screw element.

A screw element for use in spinal, orthopedic, or trauma surgery, the screw element comprising:

• a screw axis;
• a shank extending along the screw axis and configured to be inserted in a bone;
• and
• a drive portion configured to engage a screw driver, wherein the drive portion comprises:
• a first wall having a cylinder segment-shaped portion defining a first recess extending along the screw axis, wherein a plurality of drive grooves are formed in the cylinder segment-shaped portion of the first wall and extend parallel to the screw axis;
• and
• a second wall defining a second recess, wherein the second wall extends axially from a free end portion of the screw element to the first wall, and wherein along a first direction perpendicular to the screw axis, the second wall has an inner width that is greater than an inner width of the first wall along the first direction;
• wherein a plurality of guide grooves are formed in the second wall at circumferential positions around the screw axis that correspond respectively to circumferential positions of the drive grooves, wherein the guide grooves extend further radially from the screw axis than the drive grooves, and wherein respective inclined portions directly connect a corresponding guide groove with a corresponding drive groove in an axial direction to guide an engagement portion of the screw driver from the free end portion of the screw element to the drive grooves,
• wherein at least part of each of the inclined portions is at a same axial height as part of the cylinder segment-shaped portion of the first wall, such that a cross-section taken along at least one plane perpendicular to the screw axis passes through the inclined portions and the cylinder segment-shaped portion of the first wall.