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:
Aug. 27, 2002
Filed:
May. 24, 2000
Michael A. Gambale, Hingham, MA (US);
James M. Kuras, Macedonia, OH (US);
Charles Fredrick Birchall, Jr., Mentor, OH (US);
Medtronic PS Medical, Inc., Goleta, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) for attaching to bone comprises a one-piece, homogeneous screw ( ) engageable by a driver for driving the screw into bone. The screw ( ) has a shaft portion ( ) and a head portion ( ) extending from the shaft portion. The shaft portion ( ) has an outer surface ( ) with a thread convolution ( ). The head portion ( ) includes oppositely disposed first and second axial ends ( and ) and a peripheral surface ( ) extending between the ends. The first axial end ( ) adjoins the shaft portion ( ). The second axial end ( ) includes an end surface ( ). The head portion ( ) has a plurality of slots ( ) extending axially from the end surface ( ) to the first axial end ( ). The slots ( ) further extend through the peripheral surface ( ) of the head portion ( ) and radially inward from the peripheral surface of the head portion. In accordance with another feature, the apparatus ( ) further comprises a screwdriver ( ) for driving the screw ( ) into bone ( ).