Self-filling Bone Screw with Cutting Teeth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone screw technologies require preparation of a core hole before insertion, which is time-consuming and may damage the bone structure, and they often need pre-filling with bone material for fusion.

Innovation Solution

A self-filling bone screw design with cutting teeth that engage the bone to create a hole and a bone thread to advance into it, eliminating the need for a pre-drilled hole and pre-filled material, allowing for minimal structural damage and integration with surrounding bone material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a core hole is prepared before insertion, then the bone screw can be inserted with proper alignment, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and causes additional structural damage to the bone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion alignmentVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting teeth are pre-configured on the bone screw to perform the hole creation function during insertion itself, eliminating the need for a separate preliminary core hole preparation step. The cutting teeth automatically engage and cut the bone as the screw is inserted, combining alignment and hole creation into one action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a core hole is prepared before insertion, then the bone screw can be inserted with proper alignment, but the bone structure suffers additional damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion alignmentVSAvoidstructural damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The functions of alignment and hole creation are merged into a single insertion operation. The cutting teeth on the bone screw perform both the alignment guidance and the bone cutting simultaneously, eliminating the separate core hole preparation step that causes additional structural damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the tubular body is pre-filled with bone material, then fusion can be promoted, but the procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefusion promotionVSAvoidprocedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bone screw automatically collects and fills its own tubular body with bone material during the insertion process. The cutting teeth generate bone material in-situ that is directly captured and stored in the tubular body, eliminating the need for manual pre-filling operations and reducing procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the tubular body is pre-filled with bone material, then fusion can be promoted, but the procedure becomes more time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefusion promotionVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bone material collection and filling action is performed preliminarily during the insertion process itself. The cutting teeth generate and deposit bone material into the tubular body as the screw is being inserted, so that by the time insertion is complete, the tubular body is already filled and ready for fusion, eliminating separate pre-filling time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables quicker and less invasive bone screw implantation with minimal structural damage, promoting a more intact bone healing process and suitable for both strong and osteoporotic bones, while allowing for use in minimally invasive surgery.

Implementation Method 1

the cutting teeth engage the bone and create a hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical cutting: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 2

the bone thread is configured to cut into the bone when the bone screw is screwed-in into the bone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical threading: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP2329781B1Bone screw
Publication Date: 2015.03.04 BIEDERMANN TECH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2329781B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2329781B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP2329781B1 patent drawingFigure 9~10

AI summary

A bone screw including a tubular body (1) with a bone thread (5) in at least a portion of its outer wall, the tubular body having an open first end (2) and an open second end (3); wherein at the open first end (2) a plurality of cutting teeth (4) is provided and wherein at the second end (3) a structure (31, 310) for engagement with a screwing-in tool (100) is provided.