Abstract: In one embodiment, a bone screw includes a shaft having a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end spaced from the proximal shaft end in a distal direction along a central axis. The shaft is helically threaded between the proximal and distal shaft ends. A tip extends from the distal shaft end in the distal direction, and defines a plurality of lands with cutting flutes disposed between adjacent lands. Each land has a bore-cutting edge that extends from an inner cutting edge end to an outer cutting edge end. The inner cutting edge end is disposed at a center of the distal end of the tip, and the outer cutting edge end is spaced from the center of the distal end of the tip. The bore-cutting edges may blunt the feel of the tip so as to reduce the likelihood of soft-tissue damage.

Abstract: A bone nail (1) for the heel includes: a front portion (2) determined for insertion into one or more bones (14, 15, 16) or bone fragments of the heel and having a tip (3), and an arc-shaped main portion (4) extending from the front portion (2) and having a rear end (5), wherein the main portion (4) includes a tapered shape such that a cross sectional diameter of the main portion (4) within at least one first section (20) increases towards the rear end (5). According to embodiments, a curvature of the arc-shaped main portion (4) includes a radius of curvature rc which amounts to at least 130 mm. According to other embodiments, the tapered shape is a conical shape.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for stabilizing first and second bone portions relative to one another. In one example, implants, instruments and methods are provided that can be used with minimal exposure of the fractured bone and along curved path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant system that comprises an implant, a handle configured to removably receive the implant, and, in some embodiments, a spacer tool configured to be mounted on the implant. In further embodiments, a k-wire is employed to guide the implant to a desired location. The handle has a hole for receiving a first portion of the implant. Using the handle to implant the implant, along with an associated spacer, provides a quick and convenient method for implanting the implant as described herein and in the associated drawings.

Abstract: The disclosure provides examples of an open architecture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone, for example, to repair a torn rotor cuff. The anchor includes at least one open helical coil defining a polygonal internal volume and at least one rib disposed within the polygonal internal volume and connected to at least two turns of the at least one open helical coil. The at least one rib is sized to engage a driver and a combination of the at least one rib and the polygonal internal volume is sized to provide an anchor drive torque required to drive the anchor into bone.

Abstract: A self-drilling, self-tapping bone screw is described in which the bone screw has a drill tip free of threads and having a length at least as great as about the thickness of a proximal cortical bone layer, with the drill tip having opposed lands and a helical flute between each of the lands with each of the lands having a cutting edge configured to cut bone as the drill tip is rotated into the bone with the flutes conveying the bone debris away from the drill tip, where a lead thread begins to self-tap internal threads in the proximal cortical bone layer after the drill tip has drilled through the proximal cortical bone layer so as to avoid stripping the threads formed in the bone layer. A method of installation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bone fastener comprises a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal axis and being configured to penetrate tissue. The second end has a first portion having a thread diameter and a core diameter. The second portion has a core diameter less than the core diameter of the first portion. The second portion includes a threaded surface and a substantially even surface. Systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A bone screw and method of inserting the same is disclosed. In one example, the bone screw includes an awl tip for creating a pilot hole in the pedicle of a vertebra without having to predrill a starter hole. One or more threads located adjacent to the awl tip engage the wall of the pilot hole and draw the screw into the bone, thereby eliminating the need to drill and tap a hole in the bone prior to implantation of the screw.

Abstract: A device and method for stabilizing a broken bone while it heals is disclosed. The device is preferably a metal rod that has a threaded portion. The device is positioned into a bone, such as a metacarpal bone, by forming an opening in the bone suitable for receiving the device, and inserting it into the opening wherein the threaded portion retains the device in position.

Abstract: A surgical device of a drill/driver with bit recognition to set a desired application mode and a method of utilization thereof is provided. Various operating modes of the drill/driver are automatically set by a sensor which recognizes the bit applied to the drill/driver. A method of utilizing the drill/driver allows the drill driver to apply surgical screws at very high speeds while automatically preventing excessive torque levels that would strip out the surgical screw from the patient's bone.

Abstract: A bone anchor which has thread characteristics on the distal shaft adjacent the tip suitable for engaging bone cement and different thread characteristics on the proximal shaft adjacent the head suitable to engage and secure the anchor to natural cancellous and cortical bone. The thread on the distal shaft is designed to engage and secure the anchor to bone cement embedded within the bone without fracture of the bone cement. In particular embodiments, the distal shaft bears two threads which merge to form a single proximal thread on the proximal shaft, the distal threads having half the pitch of the proximal thread.

Abstract: A bone screw and method of inserting a bone screw into a bone is disclosed. In one example, the bone screw includes a tip segment for creating a starter hole in the bone. A pilot segment is located proximally of the tip segment for creating a pilot hole in the bone after creation of the starter hole. A threaded segment is located proximally of the pilot segment for fixedly securing the bone screw in the bone. A head is located proximally of the threaded segment for allowing a surgical rod to be fixedly secured to the bone screw.

Abstract: A device for fixing soft tissue. A sleeve is detachably connected to a self-drilling tapping screw, moving and rotating the self-drilling tapping screw. A guide bar is detachably connected to the self-drilling tapping screw and fit in the sleeve. A fixing pin is fit in a washer and connected to the self-drilling tapping screw. The guide bar is detachably fit in the fixing pin. The fixing pin abuts the washer and the self-drilling tapping screw.

Abstract: A cannulated compression screw is used as an orthopedic implant and has a threaded distal end with an insertion tip that includes at least one and preferably two, three or four flutes to allow the screw to be self-tapping. Optionally, the screw also includes one or more reverse cutting flutes proximal to the insertion tip. The distal threads are cancellous threads having a generally constant minor diameter and a generally constant major diameter and a generally constant thread pitch. An intermediate portion of the screw is non-threaded and the proximal end includes a compression wedge or taper that has at least one, and preferably two to five flutes that terminate before the top of the screw. The proximal end further includes a radiused bevel to the terminal surface that includes a hexagonal torque driving recess. The diameter of the non-threaded shaft section is constant distal from the compression wedge to the distal tip where it defines the minor diameter of the threaded portion.

Abstract: A drilling screw contains on its front end facing away from the screw head a drill bit having two drilling cutters. At an axial distance from the drilling cutters the screw shank has a constriction, within which the diameter of the screw shank is smaller than the diameter of the hole produced by the drill bit. The constriction is configured such that it has a shoulder running almost transversely to the longitudinal axis and facing the screw head and from which the diameter gradually approaches again the core diameter of the shank. Within this constriction begins the thread, wherein the thread edge initially has a distance from the longitudinal axis of the screw which corresponds roughly to the radius of the hole. The thread edge then runs along a spiral up to the final outer diameter of the thread on the shank.

Abstract: A fracture fixation device is described for fixing a bone having a near cortex and a far cortex, comprising a shaft portion configured to span a distance between the near cortex and the far cortex of the bone; a head portion adjoining the shaft portion and providing for engagement of the device with a bone plate, wherein the head portion is integral with the shaft portion; and a threaded front section for engagement of the device with the far cortex of the bone, wherein the device permits motion of the shaft portion relative to the near cortex.

Abstract: A bone screw having a head portion and an adjoining shaft portion is described. The shaft portion has a front, a mid, and a neck section, where at least two of the sections having complementary features and/or attributes to facilitate positive-locking, but flexible engagement of the bone screw to a bone.

Abstract: A bone screw and method of inserting the same is disclosed. In one example, the bone screw includes an awl tip for creating a pilot hole in the pedicle of a vertebra without having to predrill a starter hole. One or more threads located adjacent to the awl tip engage the wall of the pilot hole and draw the screw into the bone, thereby eliminating the need to drill and tap a hole in the bone prior to implantation of the screw.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention provide a system, including methods, apparatus and kits for connecting bones and/or bone portions using a multi-part bone connector with one or more rotating joints.

Abstract: A system for bone fixation is provided including a biodegradable polymer screw and corresponding driver element. The screw is provided with a head having at least two regularly spaced notches. The driver element is provided with a distal end having at least two regularly spaced notches. The outer surface of the driver can correspond to the outer perimeter of the screw head and the notches and prongs are adapted to securably couple in a displacement fit to allow the drive to apply the screw into bone.

Abstract: A device for fixing soft tissue. A sleeve is detachably connected to a self-drilling tapping screw, moving and rotating the self-drilling tapping screw. A guide bar is detachably connected to the self-drilling tapping screw and fit in the sleeve. A fixing pin is fit in a washer and connected to the self-drilling tapping screw. The guide bar is detachably fit in the fixing pin. The fixing pin abuts the washer and the self-drilling tapping screw.

Abstract: A bone screw includes a tubular body including a wall having a bone thread in at least a portion of an outer portion of the wall, an open first end and a second end. A plurality of cutting teeth is provided at the open first end, and a head is provided at the second end. An insert in the tubular body is configured to guide a wire therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for joining members together using a self-drilling screw apparatus or stapling apparatus are disclosed. The screw apparatus includes a shell and first and second first screw members having tapered ends and threaded bodies that are disposed within the shell. A drive mechanism rotatably drives the first and second screw members from the shell in opposite directions and causes the screw members to embed themselves in the members to be joined. The screw apparatus can be used to join members such as bones, portions of the spinal column, vertebral bodies, wood, building materials, metals, masonry, or plastics. The stapling apparatus includes first and second lever arms rotatably joined together at a fulcrum, and the lever arms rotate in opposite directions. First and second cartridges are disposed at the ends of the lever arms. Each cartridge is capable of holding a staple including a bracket, a nail member and an alignment slot.

Abstract: A self-drilling bone screw includes a screw body centered on a longitudinal axis and having an external thread winding. The bone screw has a head portion at one end of the screw body and a drill point at the other end. The drill point has two blades, each having a cutting lip and a primary relief surface trailing from the cutting lip. The two blades defining a flute between them. The flute has an opening to the side of the screw body, which opening spans an obtuse angle, such as about 120°, about the longitudinal axis. The primary relief surfaces have a lip relief angle of about 30°. The drill point has a point angle of about 100°.

Abstract: A screw fastener for attachment to an orthopedic component such as an orthopedic plate for use in connection with fracture fixation, joint reconstruction or spinal stabilization or fusion is disclosed as having a shank with at least two different shank diameters, one in a plate engaging portion of the shank and one in the bone or other component engaging portion of the shank. At least two of the different shank diameters on the shank include threads, the threads on the two different diameter portions each having substantially the same thread height and pitch. A plate having a threaded aperture, or an adapter having a threaded aperture, is sized such that the threads of the smaller diameter shank portion engage and cooperate with the internal threads of the aperture to correctly align the screw fastener and the implant as the screw fastener is threaded through the implant.

Abstract: A cannulated screw which maintains compression at the interface between two or more materials in a medical or other setting to effectively secure bone to bone while minimizing separation between the bones and the securement interface. The cannulated screw has a flattened tip, which enables the cannulated screw to more readily bore or self-tap into bone or other material. The flattened tip of the cannulated screw comprises a plurality of cutting teeth which facilitate boring of the flattened tip of the cannulated screw into the material into which the screw is being inserted. In one embodiment, three progressive cutting teeth are provided on the flattened tip of the cannulated screw.

Abstract: A self drilling bone screw (10) comprises a shank (16) provided with a thread (14), a pitch of the thread (14) being in the region of approximately 0.7 to 1.0 mm. A tip angle is selected such that a thread flank (20) of a first flight (22) adjacent to a tip (18) of the bone screw (10) is arranged at a distance of approximately 0.2 to 0.5 mm from the tip (18) of the bone screw (10).

Abstract: An assembly for the fixation of a spinal facet joint, including an outer shank, an inner shank and a tip, such that rotation of the inner shank with respect to the outer shank causes the tip to move into the outer shank. Movement of the tip causes deformation of the distal end of the outer shank such that the distal end of the outer shank is larger in diameter than the hole through which it was inserted, said deformation causing increased compression and reduced chance of device loosening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for joining members together using a self-drilling screw apparatus or stapling apparatus are disclosed. The screw apparatus includes a shell and first and second first screw members having tapered ends and threaded bodies that are disposed within the shell. A drive mechanism rotatably drives the first and second screw members from the shell in opposite directions and causes the screw members to embed themselves in the members to be joined. The screw apparatus can be used to join members such as bones, portions of the spinal column, vertebral bodies, wood, building materials, metals, masonry, or plastics. The stapling apparatus includes first and second lever arms rotatably joined together at a fulcrum, and the lever arms rotate in opposite directions. First and second cartridges are disposed at the ends of the lever arms. Each cartridge is capable of holding a staple including a bracket, a nail member and an alignment slot.

Abstract: An improved guide system and method permits a user to insert a fixation device, such as a pin, screw, wire and/or the like, into a bone portion. A guide system may comprise a handle portion and a body portion, wherein the body portion comprises one or more channels configured to facilitate placement and insertion of a fixation device.