US20040210227A1 — Compression screw apparatuses, systems and methods

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

1 . A compression screw apparatus comprising: a) a primary screw having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, the primary screw having a lead portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and a trailing portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded; b) a secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the secondary screw defining a central opening with an inner surface that is at least partially threaded, the inner threaded surface being adapted for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw; and c) wherein the threads of the lead portion of the primary screw and the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical lead.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 131 words

1 . A compression screw apparatus comprising: a) a primary screw having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, the primary screw having a lead portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and a trailing portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded; b) a secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the secondary screw defining a central opening with an inner surface that is at least partially threaded, the inner threaded surface being adapted for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw; and c) wherein the threads of the lead portion of the primary screw and the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical lead.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

2 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary screw is cannulated.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

3 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the primary screw has a smooth, unthreaded transition portion between the lead portion and the trailing portion of the primary screw.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

4 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transition portion extends for less than approximately 5% of an entire length of the primary screw.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

5 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threads of the leading portion of the primary screw are of a greater pitch than the threads of the trailing portion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

6 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threads of the leading portion of the primary screw have a deeper root than the threads of the trailing portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

7 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threads of the leading portion of the primary screw taper with a gradually increasing diameter starting at or proximate the leading end of the primary screw.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

8 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threads of the trailing portion of the primary screw taper at least partially with a gradually decreasing diameter toward the trailing end of the primary screw.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

9 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trailing portion has a diameter that gradually decreases toward the trailing end.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

10 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 9 wherein the central opening of the secondary screw is of a diameter that increases toward an end of the secondary screw adapted for advancing first onto the trailing portion of the primary screw.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

11 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trailing end of the primary screw defines a recessed opening.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

12 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threads of the leading portion of the primary screw have a greater major diameter than that of the threads outer surface of the secondary screw.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

13 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer threads of the secondary screw are larger in diameter than the threads of the leading portion of the primary screw.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

14 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer threads of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical pitch as the threads of the leading portion of the primary screw.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

15 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer threads of the secondary screw are of an at least substantially constant major diameter.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

16 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threads of the inner surface of the secondary screw are of a larger lead than the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

17 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threads of the primary screw and the threads of the secondary screw are of the same hand.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

18 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 1 wherein an end of the central opening is adapted for receiving a driver.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 169 words

19 . A compression screw apparatus comprising: a) a cannulated, at least generally cylindrical primary screw having a lead portion terminating in a leading end and a trailing portion terminating in a trailing end, the lead portion having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and the trailing portion having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the trailing portion of the primary screw having a diameter that decreases toward the trailing end; and b) an at least generally cylindrical secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded with outer threads, the secondary screw defining a central opening with an inner surface that is at least partially threaded with inner threads, the central opening having an inner diameter that increases axially along a length of the secondary screw for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw, wherein the inner threads of the secondary screw are of a larger lead than the outer threads of the secondary screw.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 169 words

19 . A compression screw apparatus comprising: a) a cannulated, at least generally cylindrical primary screw having a lead portion terminating in a leading end and a trailing portion terminating in a trailing end, the lead portion having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and the trailing portion having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the trailing portion of the primary screw having a diameter that decreases toward the trailing end; and b) an at least generally cylindrical secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded with outer threads, the secondary screw defining a central opening with an inner surface that is at least partially threaded with inner threads, the central opening having an inner diameter that increases axially along a length of the secondary screw for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw, wherein the inner threads of the secondary screw are of a larger lead than the outer threads of the secondary screw.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 38 words

20 . The compression screw apparatus of claim 19 wherein the threads of the lead portion of the primary screw and the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical lead.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 186 words

21 . A compression screw system comprising: a) a compression screw for compressing bone, the compression screw comprising: i) a cannulated primary screw defining a central opening therethrough, the primary screw having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, the primary screw having a lead portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and a trailing portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded; ii) a secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the secondary screw defining an inner surface that is at least partially threaded, the inner threaded surface being adapted for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw; and iii) wherein the threads of the lead portion of the primary screw and the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical lead; b) a first driver for engaging and controlling rotational movement of the primary screw; and c) a second driver for engaging and controlling rotational movement of the secondary screw while the first driver is engaged with the primary screw.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 186 words

21 . A compression screw system comprising: a) a compression screw for compressing bone, the compression screw comprising: i) a cannulated primary screw defining a central opening therethrough, the primary screw having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, the primary screw having a lead portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and a trailing portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded; ii) a secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the secondary screw defining an inner surface that is at least partially threaded, the inner threaded surface being adapted for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw; and iii) wherein the threads of the lead portion of the primary screw and the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical lead; b) a first driver for engaging and controlling rotational movement of the primary screw; and c) a second driver for engaging and controlling rotational movement of the secondary screw while the first driver is engaged with the primary screw.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 174 words

22 . A method of compressing material, the method comprising: a) providing a compression screw apparatus comprising: i) a primary screw having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, the primary screw having a lead portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and a trailing portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded; ii) a secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the secondary screw defining a central opening with an inner surface that is at least partially threaded, the inner threaded surface being adapted for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw; and iii) wherein the threads of the lead portion of the primary screw and the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical lead; and (b) screwing the primary screw leading end first into a material to be compressed; and (c) screwing the secondary screw onto the trailing portion of the primary screw to compress the material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 174 words

22 . A method of compressing material, the method comprising: a) providing a compression screw apparatus comprising: i) a primary screw having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, the primary screw having a lead portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded and a trailing portion with an outer surface that is at least partially threaded; ii) a secondary screw having an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, the secondary screw defining a central opening with an inner surface that is at least partially threaded, the inner threaded surface being adapted for mating engagement on the threaded trailing portion of the primary screw; and iii) wherein the threads of the lead portion of the primary screw and the threads of the outer surface of the secondary screw are of at least substantially identical lead; and (b) screwing the primary screw leading end first into a material to be compressed; and (c) screwing the secondary screw onto the trailing portion of the primary screw to compress the material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 51 words

23 . The method of claim 22 wherein the material to be compressed is bone and wherein step (b) includes the step of screwing the primary portion into a distal bone fragment across a fracture line, and step (c) includes the step of screwing the secondary screw into proximal bone only.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 48 words

24 . The method of claim 22 wherein the primary screw is cannulated and defines an opening therethrough, and wherein the primary screw is positioning and slides on a guide wire extended through the primary screw opening during the step of screwing the primary screw into the material.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

25 . The method of claim 22 wherein the secondary screw is screwed into the material such that the secondary screw is completely below a surface of the material.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 101 words

26 . A method of compressing bone across a fracture line, the method comprising: (a) without causing compression of proximal bone and distal bone, screwing a primary screw into the proximal bone above a fracture line to cross the fracture line and extend through proximal bone and into the distal bone below the fracture line, the primary screw coming to rest in a position engaging the distal bone; and (b) screwing a secondary screw over a trailing end of the primary screw to engage the proximal bone and cause compression of the proximal bone and the distal bone toward one another.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 101 words

26 . A method of compressing bone across a fracture line, the method comprising: (a) without causing compression of proximal bone and distal bone, screwing a primary screw into the proximal bone above a fracture line to cross the fracture line and extend through proximal bone and into the distal bone below the fracture line, the primary screw coming to rest in a position engaging the distal bone; and (b) screwing a secondary screw over a trailing end of the primary screw to engage the proximal bone and cause compression of the proximal bone and the distal bone toward one another.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 50 words

27 . The method of claim 26 further comprising using a first driver to engage and screw in place the primary screw, and further comprising using a second driver to engage and screw in place the secondary screw while the first driver engages and maintains the primary screw in place.

Compression screw apparatuses, systems and methods

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