Field of the invention

The invention relates to orthopedic devices used to reinforce bones in mammals. It specifically relates to cannulated bone screws.

Description of the related art

Bone screws are used to reinforce bones by connecting at least two sections of a bone and/or by holding bone plates or other parts to a bone. It is often desirable to deliver medication and/or reinforcing material into the bone. A reinforcing material may be any kind of bone cement or bone graft or any other similar material. Specifically, delivery of bone cement into a bone material in close proximity of a bone screw may increase the mechanical retention of the bone screw within the bone material. Cannulated bone screws are known from US 6,048,343. The screw has a bore forming a central channel connected to sideward channels for delivering of bone cement into the bone surrounding the screw. A sealed adaptor is provided for connecting the screw to a dispensing device.

A further bone screw having a central channel is disclosed in US 7,608,097 B2. A sleeve comprising a close distal end can be inserted into the screw for selective delivering of a fluid to individual side holes connected to the central channel.

A further bone screw is disclosed in EP 1 210 019 B2. The screw has an inner bore connected to at least one sideward channel. The bore has a closed end so that no bone cement can penetrate through the tip of the screw. A bone screw with a through hole and sideward openings for delivering a growth promoting agent is disclosed in US 2008/0269893. The screw is not intended to be removed from the bone. After the bone has grown into the structure of the screw a removal is impossible. US 8,197,517 discloses a bone screw with a blind hole and sideward openings. If cement has been introduced into the screw a removal is no more possible.

In the WO 2011/054122 a further bone screw having a blind hole and sideward openings is disclosed. The hole has inner structures or a slider to reduce the cross section and to improve distribution of material. Once, cement has been introduced into the screw a removal is no more possible.

Summary of the invention

The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a bone screw, which has a channel or lumen for the delivery of a material like medication, therapeutic fluid or any kind of bone cement or strengthening material. The bone screw should provide an increased retention force and a decreased removal torque, which allows a removal of the screw without further damaging the bone structure. Particularly, removal of the screw should be possible after the screw has been fixed to a bone by injecting cement or a similar material through the screw into the bone or after ingrowth of bone into the screw. Another object of the invention is to provide a bone screw, which allows a selective delivery of material at selected positions of the screw. For simplifying the selective application, a specific tool should be provided. Another problem to be solved is to improve a method for fastening a bone plate to a bone and/or to reinforce a bone by using a bone screw. Solutions of the problem are described in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to further improvements of the invention.

In a first embodiment, a bone screw has a proximal section, a center section, and an unthreaded distal section. The proximal section has an approximately cylin- drical shape with a first outer thread. An outer thread is considered as a thread at the outside of the screw, basically for interfacing with a bone. In an alternate embodiment, the proximal section may have a conical shape having a first outer thread. This proximal section is intended for interfacing with a bone plate, which can be attached by means of the screw to the surface of a bone. The screw has a channel from the proximal section to the distal section, the channel defining a center axis, the screw may go through the distal section and end in a distal opening. Preferably, the hollow channel is cylindrical and has a constant diameter at the center and the distal section. The diameter may be enlarged at the proximal section. The screw may also be used for fixing or holding bone parts together, without using a bone plate. Furthermore, the proximal section has at least one means for driving the screw.

Next to the proximal section is a center section. The center section preferably has a roughly cylindrical shape and it preferably has a second thread. The diameter of the center section preferably is smaller than the diameter of the proximal threaded section. Preferably, the pitch of the second outer thread of the center section is larger than the pitch of the first outer thread of the proximal threaded section. This difference in pitches allows for tightly fixing a bone plate to a bone or for tying at least two bone fragments together. Alternatively, both pitches may be similar. At the distal side of the second outer thread, there may be at least one cutout for simplifying cutting of the outer thread into the bone. The center section may bear at least one or a plurality of sideward holes, which allow the flow of material from the channel or lumen into the bone. Next to the center, section is a distal section. This distal section preferably is unthreaded, preferably has an approximately cylindrical shape, and preferably has a centered distal opening, connected to the channel of the screw, for delivering material into the bone at the distal side. It may have further sideward oriented holes for delivering material into the bone. The distal section preferably has the same diameter as the center section. Preferably, it is unthreaded. The distal section may have a closed end without a distal opening.

Within the proximal threaded section, the center section, and the distal section, a channel or lumen is provided. Preferably, this channel has a circular cross sec- tion. It preferably has a constant diameter. This channel is connected to the sideward openings and to the distal opening of the distal section. It is further connected to a proximal opening at the proximal end of the screw. The channel may be used to deliver any material, for example a bone cement (permanent or bio resorbable) or a medication into the surrounding bone material. Preferably, the side openings, which are provided in the center section and/or distal section, are provided by pairs resulting in through-holes through the screw. Therefore, preferably two side openings are oriented at a 180° angle with respect to each other in a plane perpendicular to the center axis of the screw. In an alternative embodiment, there may be three or more side openings in the same plane. Preferably, at least one opening has an elongated shape with respect to the center axis. It preferably has an elliptical shape. Due to the larger extension or size of the opening parallel to the center axis, a larger total cross section of the opening can be achieved, without significantly weakening the structure of the screw. It is further preferred if there is at least one cutting edge at at least one of the side openings. This cutting edge allows cutting of the material or bone cement when removing the screw by rotating preferably counter-clockwise. Most preferably, the angle of the cutting edge is less than 90 degrees. Most preferably, at least one of the side openings has a conical shape with increasing diameter towards the outside of the screw. This allows to form a cutting edge and to further increase the cross section for delivery of material into the bone. Here, the term cross section relates to the cross section available for delivery of material. The openings may be oriented into specific directions for directing the flow of material into the bone. Preferably, they are oriented orthogonally to the center axis or towards the distal end to direct the flow of material into a distal direction.

A further embodiment relates to a tool, preferably a sleeve, which allows selective delivery of material into the bone surrounding the screw. The tool preferably has a hollow shaft and most preferably a cylindrical shaft defining an inner channel for delivery of material. The outer diameter of the sleeve is adapted to fit into the channel of the bone screw. The sleeve may be inserted into different positions, which are in proximity to the distal opening or to any specific side opening to allow selective delivery of material into the surrounding bone. For precise adjustment of the insertion depth of the sleeve into the bone screw, there may be markers preferably at the outside of the sleeve. There may be any other measuring tool for indicating the depth and/or the position of the sleeve inserted into the bone screw. Preferably the markers indicate the positions of the sleeve close to specific openings for delivering material through these open- ings. As there are preferably two openings at opposite sides of the lumen of the bone screw, the cross-section pointing outwards into the bone through the side opening preferably is larger than the cross-section through the lumen of the bone screw. This will result in a significantly larger side flow, sideward through the side openings compared to the center flow through the remaining channel of the bone screw. This allows selective application of material to the bone. For example, material may be supplied through openings in the center section without filling the openings in the distal section. This allows the application of bone cement where needed. Such a selective application of bone cement simplifies later removal of the screw.

Another embodiment relates to a tool kit comprising at least one bone screw as described herein and at least one tool which may be a sleeve as described here- in. At least one sleeve is adapted to fit into the channel of at least one screw. Furthermore, it is preferred if the markers at the outside of the at least one sleeve are adapted to the at least one screw.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for fixing a bone screw as described herein to a bone. It comprises the steps of drilling a hole into the bone, screwing the screw by rotation of the screw into the hole, inserting a sleeve into the channel of the screw, positioning of the sleeve into close proximity to at least one desired opening and feeding a material through the sleeve via the screw into the bone. Another aspect of the invention relates to an improved method for selectively supplying material like bone cement through a bone screw. It com- prises the steps of inserting a sleeve into the channel of the screw, positioning of the sleeve into close proximity to at least one desired opening and feeding a material through the sleeve via the screw into the bone. Another aspect of the invention relates to improving a method for fixing bone fragments and/or fixing a bone plate to a bone, preferably a humerus by fixing a screw as disclosed herein to the bone and/or the bone fragments and/or the bone plate. The process of delivering material may comprise the steps of delivering contrast agent for X-ray imaging, delivering of a rinsing solution which may comprise NaCI and finally delivering a bone cement.

Description of Drawings In the following the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a bone screw. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the preferred embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the bone screw.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the distal section of a preferred embodiment.

Figure 6 shows a further sectional view of the preferred embodiment. Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the distal section of another embodiment.

Figure 8 shows the flow of material through the openings of the bone screw.

Figure 9 shows a top view of the bone penetration areas.

Figure 10 shows a material feeding sleeve.

Figure 11 shows a sleeve inserted into a bone screw. Figure 12 shows a further embodiment with a plurality of side openings.

Figure 13 shows a sectional view of the previous embodiment.

Figure 14 shows another preferred embodiment with a plurality of side openings.

Figure 15 shows a sectional view of the previous preferred embodiment.

Figure 16 shows a humerus head with a bone plate attached by means of the bone screws. In Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of a bone screw 10 is shown. The bone screw 10 has a preferably threaded proximal section 11, a center section 12, and a distal section 13. The bone screw further has a hollow channel 30 from the proximal section through the distal section, defining a a center axis 19. The proximal section 11 is preferably approximately cylindrically shaped. It may also have a conical shape to simplify insertion. The proximal section 11 has a first outer thread 40, which is preferably designed to interface with a bone plate 150 as shown in a later figure. The center section 12 preferably has a cylindrical shape and is at least partially threaded with a second outer thread 41. The second outer thread may have at least one cutout 44 to improve cutting of the outer thread into the bone material when inserting the screw. Preferably, the pitch of the first outer thread 40 is less than the pitch of the second outer thread 41 to allow pressing of a bone 150 plate interfacing with the first outer thread 40 to a bone interfacing with the second outer thread 41. The distal section 13 is preferably unthreaded and has at least one side opening 33, 34, 35. The side openings preferably have a conical shape with increasing diameter towards the outside of the screw.

In Figure 2, a sectional view of the preferred embodiment is shown. The bone screw 10 has a channel or lumen 30, which proximately is centered to the center axis 19. The channel 30 passes through the proximal section 11, the center section 12, and the distal section 13. It ends with a distal opening 31 at the distal section 13. Furthermore, it is connected to at least one side opening 32, 33, 35, which may be provided in the distal section or the center section. For rotating the screw, a means 42 for attaching a driving tool is provided for interfacing with a screwdriver, a wrench or any other tool. In Figure 3, a further embodiment of the bone screw 20 is shown. This screw 20 has differently shaped side openings 36, 37, 39 compared to the embodiment of Figure 1. Here, the openings are oriented towards the distal end to direct the flow of material into a distal direction. Furthermore, the length of the second outer thread 41 is shorter than the outer thread shown in figure 1. Although there are preferred embodiments, any of the parts like threads or side openings shown in this document can be combined without any limitation.

In Figure 4, a sectional view of a further embodiment of the bone screw 20 is shown. Here, the different structure of the side openings 35, 36 can be seen compared to the side openings 32, 33 of Figure 2. The side openings shown in this figure provide a flow of material in a slightly more distal direction compared to the previous embodiment. Here a further side opening 38, which is opposing side opening 37 is shown.

In Figure 5, a sectional view of the distal section 13 of a preferred embodiment is shown. The first side opening 32 is located opposite to a second side opening 33. Above the side openings 32, 33, there is a further side opening 34, which basically has the same size as the other side openings, although it may have any different size.

The side openings 32, 33 have heights 61, 62. Reference sign 63 denotes the width of the channel 30, which is identical to the diameter of the distal opening 31 in this embodiment. It is obvious that the cross-section of two opposing side openings 32, 33 given by the heights 61, 62 and the width 63 is significantly larger than the cross-section of the channel in a distal direction given by its diameter 64. This allows controlled sideward flow through the side openings and a mini- mal flow of material through the lumen 30, as will be shown later in detail.

In figure 6, a further detail of section A-A of figure 6 is shown. The outer sides of the side openings 32, 33 form cutting edges 71, 72 which cut off the bone ce- ment when rotating the bone screw for example for removal. These cutting edges significantly reduce the removal torque of the screw and help to avoid severe damage of the bone material. Preferably, the angles 73, 74 of the cutting edges are less than 90° to achieve maximum cutting efficiency. In this embodiment, the cutting edges 71 and 72 are most important, as these have the first contact with the material inside the opening when rotating the screw counterclockwise for removal. Preferably, angles of less than 90 degrees may be obtained by offsetting the center axis 75, 76 of the openings 32, 33 to the center axis of the screw, so that the axis do not cross. The angles 73, 74 can be defined between the tan- gents 77, 78 to the inner wall of the channel 30 and the leading edges of the body of the screw intersecting at the points 71, 72. This embodiment applies to a screw which has to be turned counterclockwise for removal.

In Figure 7, a sectional view of the distal section of further embodiment is shown. Here, the side openings 35, 36, 38 have a slightly different direction. As shown before, here again, the cross-sections determined by the dimensions 61, 62, 63 of the side openings are larger than the cross-section 64 of the channel 30.

In Figure 8, an example of the flow of material like bone cement into the bone 100 is shown. Due to the shape of the side openings 32, 33 of bone screw 10, certain areas of the bone are penetrated by a material like bone cement. There is a first penetration area, which is supplied by the distal opening 31. A second and third penetration area 82 and 83 is supplied by the side openings 32 and 33. Preferably, the penetration areas overlap to achieve an additional solidification. Due to the distal opening 31, for achieving a first central penetration area, an additional retention force of the bone screw can be obtained. This is significantly enlarged by connecting the penetration areas 82 and 83. It is essential, that there is no outer threaded area or even a single outer thread between the side openings close to the distal opening and the distal opening itself, as this prevents a smooth flow of the material over the surface of the screw, specifically in a high density the bone material. Therefore, by avoiding any outer thread, a complete enclosure of the end of the distal section and therefore a better connection to be bone can be achieved. Four optimized filling with material, first material is in- jected through the distal opening 31 by placing a sleeve 50 as shown later in close proximity to the distal opening. In the next step, the sleeve is slightly retracted for delivery of material through the side openings close to the distal opening.

In Figure 9, a top view of the bone penetration areas is shown. Here, the en- hanced bone penetration and the connection of the penetration areas 82 and 83 by the central penetration area 81 can clearly be seen.

In Figure 10, a material feeding tool like a sleeve 50 is shown. This sleeve may be inserted into bone screw 10 or 20. It may bear at least one marker 52 for indicating the position of the sleeve relative to the screw when inserted into the screw and therefore positioning the sleeve into the channel 30 of the bone screw.

In Figure 11, a sleeve 50 inserted into a bone screw 10 is shown. The sleeve may be moved into the direction indicated by arrow 51 and pushed into the lumen or pulled outside to place the end of the sleeve at any desired position, preferably close to any desired opening. By this, the flow of material may be directed through the distal opening or any side openings. The indication of the height may be given by the markers 52. Any material, preferably a bone cement may be supplied through the sleeve into the bone screw. The flow is indicated by arrows 53,054, 55. There are side flows 53, 54 through the side openings and a further center flow 55 into the direction of the channel 30. Due to the larger cross- section of the side openings, side flows 53 and 54 are significantly larger than the center flow 54. This allows a selective supply of material through individual side holes, where needed. A preferred method may be first supplying bone cement through the distal section holes, and later supplying materials to remote holes in the center section. Here, other holes lying between the holes being used for supplying material to the bone may be unused. This may be the case, if there are solid bone segments and no fractured segments around the screw. In figure 12, an embodiment with a plurality of side openings is shown. The proximal section and the distal section are similar to the embodiment of figure 3. The center section has further side openings 90, 91 and 92. There is a further outer threaded section 93 between the side openings 92 and the side openings 90, 91. Below the latter side openings is another outer threaded section 94. There may be any combination of any one of the side openings shown in here with or without outer threaded sections in between. In general, there are only openings in unthreaded sections.

In figure 13, the above embodiment is shown in a sectional view. Here a further side opening 94, which is opposing side opening 92, is shown. In figure 14, another preferred embodiment with a plurality of side openings in the distal section is shown. The side openings (101 - 106) are oriented into varying directions to allow for complete surrounding penetration of the material into the bone.

In figure 15, the above embodiment is shown in a sectional view. Here some pairs of opposing side openings (35, 46; 105, 104) are shown

In Figure 16, a humerus head 100 is shown with a bone plate 150 attached by the means of bone screws 10 and standard bone screws 110 is shown.

In this example, there is a fracture of the humerus head, which requires the use of bone screws 10, having a lumen and delivering cement through the lumen of the bone screws to further stabilize the fractured humerus head. The bone shaft is not fractured, therefore regular screws 110 may be used to further hold the bone plate to the bone.

List of reference numerals

10 bone screw

11 proximal section

12 center section

13 distal section

19 center axis

20 bone screw

30 channel

31 distal opening

32 - 39 side openings

40 first outer thread

41 second outer thread

42 means for attaching the driving tool

44 cutout

50 tool

51 movement of tool

52 markers

53, 54 side flows

55 center flow

58 distal end of sleeve

61, 62 side opening height

63 side opening width

64 channel diameter

71, 72 cutting edges

73, 74 cutting edge angles

75, 76 opening axis

77, 78 tangent to channel -82 bone penetration areas,91 further side openings, 94 further threaded sections0 bone

0 bone plate