Anti-unscrewing and multi-angular fastening apparatuses and methods for surgical bone screw/plate systems

摘要

A fastening apparatus includes a fastener and a fastener receiving member. The apparatus enables the fastener to be affixed to the fastener receiving member at a variable insertion angle selected by the user and further provides an anti-unscrewing feature. The fastener includes an elongate section and an adjoining head section having at least one slot therein. The fastener receiving member includes one or more apertures having a contact region through which one or more corresponding fasteners can be inserted. The contact region includes a matrix of protrusions having a density and strength sufficient to render contact region tappable by the thread of the head section of the fastener. The thread on the head section is driven into the contact region at the selected insertion angle. As a result, the protrusions project into the at least one slot to prevent the fastener from backing out of the fastener receiving member. A fastener driver is also disclosed.

主权项

1. A surgical fastening apparatus adapted to provide anti-unscrewing features, comprising:
(a) a fastener comprising an elongate section and an adjoining head section disposed along a fastener axis, the head section comprising a thread and an at least one slot defined in an outer periphery of the head section that extends therewithin; and (b) a fastener receiving member comprising first and second opposing major surfaces, an inside surface extending between the first and second major surfaces and defining an aperture generally coaxially disposed about an aperture axis, and a tappable contact region disposed on the inside surface, wherein the tappable contact region is extendable into the slot of the fastener to prevent backing out of the fastener and the tappable contact region is deflectable from the slot of the fastener to permit removal of the fastener; (c) wherein the tappable contact region comprises a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly from the inside surface of the fastener receiving member with the plurality of protrusions being angled to enter the slot of the fastener such that the protrusions permit the fastener to rotate in one direction, but resist rotation in the opposite direction to prevent backing out of the fastener.