Self-Countersinking Bone Screw With Cutting Flutes for Flush Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic implants, such as intramedullary nails, face issues with screw protrusion post-implantation, leading to tissue irritation and the need for additional surgeries to remove screws, as pre-drilling countersink holes in the patient's cortex is often overlooked due to the additional instrumentation required.
Innovation Solution
A self-countersinking bone screw with cutting flutes and a tapered neck portion that allows the screw head to be flush with the bone surface without pre-drilling, using a screwdriver with markings to ensure proper seating, eliminating the need for separate countersinking tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If pre-drilling countersink holes in the patient's cortex is performed to eliminate screw promulgation, then screw protrusion is reduced, but additional instrumentation and steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the countersinking function with the bone screw itself by integrating cutting flutes and a tapered neck portion directly into the screw structure. This eliminates the need for separate countersinking instrumentation while achieving the same beneficial effect of preventing screw promulgation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone screw is designed to perform its own countersinking function through self-contained cutting flutes and tapered geometry. As the screw is inserted and tightened, it automatically creates the countersink cavity in the bone, eliminating the need for external countersinking tools or additional surgical steps.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pre-drilling countersink holes is performed to prevent tissue irritation, then patient comfort is improved, but surgical time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting flutes and tapered neck portion are pre-configured into the bone screw structure during manufacturing. This preliminary design allows the screw to perform countersinking automatically during insertion, eliminating the need for time-consuming pre-drilling operations while still preventing tissue irritation.
3Extent of automation
If cutting flutes are positioned to contact bone before the neck portion, then self-countersinking is achieved, but screw structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric properties to different portions of the screw: cutting flutes are positioned at the distal end to engage bone first, while the neck portion has a tapered geometry that follows. This localized differentiation enables automatic countersinking without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire screw structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The self-countersinking bone screw minimizes screw protrusion and reduces the risk of bone cracking, providing secure implantation without additional instrumentation or steps, ensuring the screw head is flush with the bone surface.
Implementation Method 1
one or more cutting flutes extending from the enlarged head portion towards the distal end portion
Implementation Method 2
the neck portion including a minor outer diameter that tapers from a minor outer diameter of the shaft portion towards the enlarged head portion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a self-countersinking bone screw and a system and a method for countersinking a bone screw or fastener used in connection with an orthopedic implant such as, for example, an intramedullary nail. The bone screw includes one or more cutting features configured to self-countersink the head of the screw. The system and method utilize instrumentation including a plurality of markings or indicia configured to indicate a position of the head of the screw relative to an outer surface of the patient's bone. In use, the method enables a surgeon to quickly and easily countersink one or more bone screws used to couple an IM nail to a patient's bone without requiring additional instrumentation to form a countersunk hole in the patient's bone.