Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
The method of revising a surgical screw disposed in a tunnel in bone tissue, the screw having been previously inserted into the tunnel through a first opening in an advancing longitudinal direction with a first end of the screw in a leading position and a second end of the screw in a trailing position, the second end of the screw having been engaged by a driver to rotate the screw in a first rotational direction during insertion, said method comprising the steps of: (a) configuring said first and second ends of said screw to be alternatively engageable by said driver to thereby permit said screw to be rotated from each end selectively in both said first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction; (b) engaging the first end of the screw with said driver; and (c) rotating the screw in said first rotational direction to drive the screw with the engaged driver from said first end in said advancing longitudinal direction until the screw is removed from said tunnel via a second opening.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
The method of revising a surgical screw disposed in a tunnel in bone tissue, the screw having been previously inserted into the tunnel through a first opening in an advancing longitudinal direction with a first end of the screw in a leading position and a second end of the screw in a trailing position, the second end of the screw having been engaged by a driver to rotate the screw in a first rotational direction during insertion, said method comprising the steps of: (a) configuring said first and second ends of said screw to be alternatively engageable by said driver to thereby permit said screw to be rotated from each end selectively in both said first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction; (b) engaging the first end of the screw with said driver; and (c) rotating the screw in said first rotational direction to drive the screw with the engaged driver from said first end in said advancing longitudinal direction until the screw is removed from said tunnel via a second opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said tunnel is disposed in a patient's femur, the first opening being located in an inter-condylar notch of the femur, and said second opening belong located along the femur length, wherein step (b) is preceded by the step of picking through tissue in said bone tunnel from said second opening to obtain access to said first end of said screw.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) is preceded by the step of picking through tissue in said tunnel from said second opening to obtain access to said first end of said screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said step of picking includes picking tissue with a pointed end of said driver approaching the first end of the screw.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
An improved method of revising a surgical screw disposed in a tunnel in bone tissue, the screw having been previously inserted into the tunnel through a first opening in an advancing longitudinal direction with a first end of the screw in a leading position and a second end of the screw in a trailing position, the second end of the screw having been engaged by a driver to rotate the screw in a first rotational direction during insertion, the improvement comprising the steps of: (a) engaging the first end of the screw with a driver; and (b) rotating the screw in said first rotational direction to drive the screw with the engaged driver from said first end in said advancing longitudinal direction until the screw is removed from said tunnel via a second opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
An improved method of revising a surgical screw disposed in a tunnel in bone tissue, the screw having been previously inserted into the tunnel through a first opening in an advancing longitudinal direction with a first end of the screw in a leading position and a second end of the screw in a trailing position, the second end of the screw having been engaged by a driver to rotate the screw in a first rotational direction during insertion, the improvement comprising the steps of: (a) engaging the first end of the screw with a driver; and (b) rotating the screw in said first rotational direction to drive the screw with the engaged driver from said first end in said advancing longitudinal direction until the screw is removed from said tunnel via a second opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein step (b) is preceded by the step of picking through tissue in said tunnel from said second opening to obtain access to said first end of said screw.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein said step of picking includes picking tissue with a pointed end of said driver approaching the first end of the screw.