US6030162A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Axial tension screw
Assignee: Acumed LLC
•
Filing: 1998-12-18
•
Granted: 2000-02-29
•
Expires: 2018-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A screw having a root and threads formed on the root. The screw is configured to generate and/or maintain axial compression between threads formed in leading and trailing sections of the screw either by virtue of pitch differential in the threads or the way in which the screw is installed.
Inventors
- 👤 Randall J. Huebner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1662; A61B17/1682; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8625; A61B17/863; A61B17/88; A61B17/8863; A61B17/8875; A61B17/8886; A61B17/8891; A61B17/8635; A61B17/864; A61B17/8645; A61B2017/00004; A61B17/064; A61B2017/0646; A61B2017/0647; A61B2017/0648
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 84
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A fastener comprising: a root portion, the root portion having a leading end, a trailing end and an elongate axis extending therebetween; and a single continuous thread formed on the root portion and extending between the leading end and the trailing end of the root portion, the thread having an outside diameter which, moving from the leading end toward the trailing end, increases over several revolutions, then decreases, then increases again, wherein the pitch of the thread measured between corresponding points on consecutive threads near the leading end is larger than the pitch of the threads near the trailing end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A fastener comprising: a root portion, the root portion having a leading end, a trailing end and an elongate axis extending therebetween; and a single continuous thread formed on the root portion and extending between the leading end and the trailing end of the root portion, the thread having an outside diameter which, moving from the leading end toward the trailing end, increases over several revolutions, then decreases, then increases again, wherein the pitch of the thread measured between corresponding points on consecutive threads near the leading end is larger than the pitch of the threads near the trailing end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fastener of claim 1, wherein the root portion includes a bore extending along the elongate axis from the leading end to the trailing end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fastener of claim 1, wherein the thread includes an interthread spacing between revolutions of the thread on the root portion and further wherein the interthread spacing varies along the root portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The fastener of claim 3, wherein the thread includes an intermediate region disposed generally between the leading end and the trailing end, and further wherein the interthread spacing is larger in the intermediate region than near the trailing end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fastener of claim I further including a self-drilling tip disposed at the leading end of the root portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fastener of claim 1, wherein the thread includes an intermediate portion where the outside diameter is decreased and over which the outside diameter of the threads is substantially constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and an unthreaded intermediate section between the leading and trailing sections, the thread revolutions in the leading section having a greater average pitch and smaller average outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section, and where the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section generally increases toward the trailing section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and an unthreaded intermediate section between the leading and trailing sections, the thread revolutions in the leading section having a greater average pitch and smaller average outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section, and where the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section generally increases toward the trailing section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section tapers outward toward the trailing section at an angle of 0.5 to 2.5 degrees relative to an elongate axis of the screw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the leading section includes at least three thread revolutions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the leading section decreases toward the trailing section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the trailing section generally increases away from the leading section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the intermediate section has a smaller average diameter than the leading section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the trailing section is constant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the screw includes a central bore extending through the screw along an elongate axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The screw of claim 7, wherein the screw is headless.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
A screw comprising a leading end, a leading section proximal to the leading end and having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing end, a trailing section proximal the trailing end and having a plurality of thread revolutions, and a waist section having at least one thread revolution disposed between the leading and trailing sections, the thread revolutions in the leading section having a greater average pitch and smaller maximum outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section, and wherein the minimum outside diameter of the at least one thread revolution in the waist section is less than the maximum outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
A screw comprising a leading end, a leading section proximal to the leading end and having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing end, a trailing section proximal the trailing end and having a plurality of thread revolutions, and a waist section having at least one thread revolution disposed between the leading and trailing sections, the thread revolutions in the leading section having a greater average pitch and smaller maximum outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section, and wherein the minimum outside diameter of the at least one thread revolution in the waist section is less than the maximum outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The screw of claim 16, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section is smaller toward the leading end and larger toward the trailing end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The screw of claim 16, wherein the pitch of the threads in the leading section is larger toward the leading end and smaller toward the trailing end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The screw of claim 16, wherein the minimum outside diameter in the waist region is at least five percent smaller than the maximum outside diameter in the leading section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The screw of claim 16 further including a root portion on which the thread revolutions are formed and where the thread revolutions are the only part of the screw with a larger diameter than the root portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The screw of claim 20, wherein the thread depth measured between the root portion and the outside diameter of the thread revolutions is at least as large near the leading end as the change in outside diameter of the thread revolutions between the leading and trailing sections.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The screw of claim 20, wherein the thread depth in the leading section is at least substantially as large as the radius of the root portion in the leading section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The screw of claim 20, wherein the root portion is substantially cylindrical over at least one of the sections.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The screw of claim 16, wherein the maximum diameter of the thread revolutions is at least equal to the largest diameter of any part of the screw.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The screw of claim 16, wherein, at least along part of the screw, the pitch gradually decreases as the outside diameter gradually increases.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The screw of claim 16, wherein the pitch changes substantially continuously over the majority of the threaded sections.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and an intermediate section between the leading section and the trailing section, the thread revolutions in the leading section having a greater average pitch and smaller maximum outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section, the intermediate section having a smaller average outside diameter than the leading or trailing sections and where the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section generally increases from revolution to revolution toward the trailing section.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
96 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and an intermediate section between the leading section and the trailing section, the thread revolutions in the leading section having a greater average pitch and smaller maximum outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section, the intermediate section having a smaller average outside diameter than the leading or trailing sections and where the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section generally increases from revolution to revolution toward the trailing section.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the intermediate section includes a plurality of thread revolutions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The screw of claim 28, wherein the thread revolutions in the leading, intermediate and trailing sections form a single continuous thread.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The screw of claim 28, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the intermediate section is substantially constant.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The screw of claim 28, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section tapers outward toward the trailing section at an average angle of approximately 0.8 to 3 degrees.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the average pitch of the thread revolutions in the trailing section is less than about 90 percent of the average pitch of the thread revolutions in the leading section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein each section covers at least 10 percent of the length of the screw.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the screw has an elongate axis and includes a bore extending through the screw along the elongate axis.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section tapers at an angle of between 0.5 and 5 degrees relative to an elongate axis of the screw.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the leading section is substantially constant.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the trailing section is substantially constant.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the average pitch of the thread revolutions in the trailing section is at least substantially half of the average pitch of the thread revolutions in the leading section.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
11 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the intermediate section is unthreaded.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The screw of claim 39, wherein the intermediate section covers at least 20 percent of the length of the screw.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the leading section decreases toward the trailing section.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the trailing section increases toward the leading section.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The screw of claim 27, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the trailing section decreases toward the leading section.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The screw of claim 27 further comprising an unthreaded extension projecting from an end of the leading section opposite the trailing section.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The screw of claim 27 further comprising an unthreaded extension projecting back from an end of the trailing section opposite the leading section.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
117 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and an intermediate section disposed between the leading section and the trailing section and having a plurality of thread revolutions, the outside diameter of the thread revolutions forming a surface of revolution about an elongate axis of the screw, the surface of revolution being convex in the transition from the leading section to the intermediate section and concave in the transition from the intermediate section to the trailing section, and wherein the thread revolutions in the leading section have a greater average pitch and smaller maximum outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
117 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions, a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and an intermediate section disposed between the leading section and the trailing section and having a plurality of thread revolutions, the outside diameter of the thread revolutions forming a surface of revolution about an elongate axis of the screw, the surface of revolution being convex in the transition from the leading section to the intermediate section and concave in the transition from the intermediate section to the trailing section, and wherein the thread revolutions in the leading section have a greater average pitch and smaller maximum outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the surface of revolution is generally conical in the leading section.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
17 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the surface of revolution is generally cylindrical in the trailing section.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
36 words
The screw of claim 46 further including a root portion extending through the leading, intermediate and trailing sections, wherein the diameter of the root portion is substantially constant through the leading section and the intermediate section.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
The screw of claim 49, wherein the root portion has a leading end and a trailing end and a central bore extending therebetween.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
32 words
The screw of claim 48, wherein the surface of revolution tapers generally outward at an average angle of between 0.5 and 5 degrees relative to the elongate axis over the leading section.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
93 words
The screw of claim 46 further including a root portion, and further wherein there is a termination zone in the thread revolutions in the leading section in which the thread revolutions diminishes from approximately the average outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section down to a starting point on the root portion, and wherein the diameter of the root portion does not diminish substantially in the termination zone and the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section generally increases from revolution to revolution outside the termination zone.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
15 words
The screw of claim 52, wherein the termination zone includes less than one thread revolution.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
17 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the surface of revolution is generally conical in the trailing section.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
22 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein no part of the screw has a larger diameter than maximum diameter of the thread revolutions.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
19 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the thread revolutions in the three sections form a single, substantially continuous thread.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
25 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the surface of revolution tapers outward at an angle of approximately 0.5 to 5 degrees in the leading section.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
26 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the average pitch in the leading section is at least 10% larger than the average pitch in the trailing section.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
25 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein each section extends for at least 15% of the total length of the three sections along the elongate axis.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
19 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the leading section is substantially constant.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
19 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in the trailing section is substantially constant.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
21 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions in at least one of the sections is variable.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
14 words
The screw of claim 62, wherein the pitch is variable in the intermediate section.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
14 words
The screw of claim 62, wherein the pitch is variable in all three sections.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
23 words
The screw of claim 46 further comprising an unthreaded leading extension disposed at an end of the leading section opposite the trailing section.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
23 words
The screw of claim 46 further comprising an unthreaded trailing extension disposed at the end of the trailing section opposite the leading section.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
14 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the screw is formed of a biocompatible material.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
14 words
The screw of claim 67, wherein the screw is formed of a resorbable material.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
11 words
The screw of claim 68, wherein the resorbable material is osteoductive.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
20 words
The screw of claim 46, wherein the combined length of the three sections is between 0.5 inches and 4 inches.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
46 words
The screw of claim 46 further comprising a root portion on which the thread revolutions are formed, and wherein the thread revolutions have an interthread spacing on the root portion, and further wherein the interthread spacing on the root is not constant over the three sections.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
22 words
The screw of claim 46 further comprising a self-cutting tip disposed at the end of the leading section opposite the trailing section.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
9 words
The screw of claim 46 further comprising a head.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
190 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions and a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and forming a continuous extension of the thread revolutions of the leading section, the outside diameter of the thread revolutions forming a surface of revolution about an elongate axis of the screw, the surface of revolution being convex in the transition from the leading section to the trailing section, and wherein the thread revolutions in the leading section have a greater average pitch and smaller average outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section and the length of the leading section is less than the length of the trailing section, the screw further including a root portion and wherein there is a termination zone in the thread revolutions in the leading section in which the thread revolutions diminish from approximately the average outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section down to a starting point on the root portion, and wherein the diameter of the root portion does not diminish substantially in the termination zone whereby the screw has a relatively blunt leading end.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
190 words
A screw comprising a leading section having a plurality of thread revolutions and a trailing section having a plurality of thread revolutions and forming a continuous extension of the thread revolutions of the leading section, the outside diameter of the thread revolutions forming a surface of revolution about an elongate axis of the screw, the surface of revolution being convex in the transition from the leading section to the trailing section, and wherein the thread revolutions in the leading section have a greater average pitch and smaller average outside diameter than the thread revolutions in the trailing section and the length of the leading section is less than the length of the trailing section, the screw further including a root portion and wherein there is a termination zone in the thread revolutions in the leading section in which the thread revolutions diminish from approximately the average outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section down to a starting point on the root portion, and wherein the diameter of the root portion does not diminish substantially in the termination zone whereby the screw has a relatively blunt leading end.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
27 words
The screw of claim 74, wherein the outside diameter of the thread revolutions in the leading section generally increases from revolution to revolution outside the termination zone.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
36 words
The screw of claim 75, wherein the surface of revolution in the leading section tapers at an angle of between 0.5 and 5 degrees relative to the elongate axis of the screw outside the termination zone.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
22 words
The screw of claim 74, wherein the pitch of the thread revolutions gradually decreases in the leading section toward the trailing section.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
10 words
The screw of claim 74, wherein the screw is headless.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-28 | 2003-08-30 | 2004-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-28 | 2007-08-30 | 2008-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-28 | 2011-08-30 | 2012-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |