Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc.

Depuy Motech Acromed, Inc.

Henry John Brown

Marcus Maria Sanders

John Mark Kapitan

Gerald Kotnik

An improved fastener is provided for use in retaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship. The fastener has a mounting section with a first external thread to engage a vertebra. The fastener has a retaining section with a second external thread to engage an internal thread on a retaining element, such as a nut. A circular intermediate section interconnects the mounting and retaining sections of the fastener. A plurality of spaced apart recesses are formed in the intermediate section. Each of these recesses has a surface for receiving force to rotate the fastener relative to a vertebra. The circular intermediate section may include an annular end surface which faces toward a retaining section and a cylindrical outer side surface. Each of the recesses has an opening which extends from the annular end surface into the cylindrical side surface.

Fastener

An improved fastener is provided for use in retaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship. The fastener has a mounting section with a first external thread to engage a vertebra. The fastener has a retaining section with a second external thread to engage an internal thread on a retaining element, such as a nut. A pair of parallel flats are formed on opposite sides of the retaining section. The flats are spaced apart by a distance which is substantially the same as or greater than a root diameter of the external thread on the retaining section. A driving recess in an axially outer end of the retaining section has arcuate corner portions which receive force to effect rotation of the fastener relative to a vertebra engaged by the mounting section. The arcuate corner portions of the driving recess are offset from a plane containing the longitudinal central axis of the retaining section and extending perpendicular to the flats.

Growing community of inventors

Solon, OH, United States of America

Henry John Brown