The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 04, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 03, 1997
Henry John Brown, Solon, OH (US);
John Mark Kapitan, Shaker Hts., OH (US);
Gerald Kotnik, Perry, OH (US);
Marcus Maria Sanders, Cleveland, OH (US);
DePuy Motech AcroMed Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
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.