Compression screw system

Abstract

A compression screw comprising a threaded shaft and a head associated with the proximal end of the shaft. The head has a plurality of outwardly extending projections spaced from one another so as to define a plurality of recesses there between for receiving a screw drive in such a way that rotational force may be transferred from the screw drive to the screw. The projections of the head may be provided with suture fixation holes or a suture coupling may be positioned over the shaft so as to extend between the projections of the head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compression screw, comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, at least the distal end being threaded to engage bone; and   a head associated with the proximal end of the shaft, the head having a plurality of outwardly extending projections spaced from one another so as to define a plurality of recesses there between.   
     
     
         2 . The compression screw of  claim 1 , wherein the projections of the head extend radially outwardly. 
     
     
         3 . The compression screw of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the projections of the head has at least one suture fixation hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The compression screw of  claim 1 , wherein each of the projections of the head has at least one suture fixation hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The compression screw of  claim 3 , wherein each of the shaft and the head has a cannula extending therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The compression screw of  claim 1 , further comprising a suture coupling having an opening for receiving the shaft and the suture coupling configured such that the suture coupling is compressed between the head of the screw and the bone when the screw is implanted into the bone and such that the suture coupling extends between adjacent projections of the head. 
     
     
         7 . The compression screw of  claim 6 , wherein the suture coupling is constructed of a bio-inert textile material. 
     
     
         8 . The compression screw of  claim 1 , further comprising a suture coupling having an opening for receiving the shaft of the screw and the suture coupling configured such that the suture coupling is compressed between the head of the screw and the bone when the screw is implanted into the bone and such that the suture coupling extends between adjacent projections of the head. 
     
     
         9 . The compression screw of  claim 8 , wherein the head has a bone engaging surface, and wherein the bone engaging surface has a plurality of teeth configured to engage the suture coupling. 
     
     
         10 . The compression screw of  claim 8 , wherein each of the projections of the head has a bone engaging surface, and wherein each of the bone engaging surfaces has a groove configured such that the grooves cooperate to form an annular groove to receive the suture coupling. 
     
     
         11 . The compression screw of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a central opening with a plurality of thread columns formed therein, and wherein the proximal end of the shaft has a plurality of threads configured to engage the thread columns of the central opening to connect the head to the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The compression screw of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal end of the shaft has a threaded concave collar, wherein the shaft further has a neck portion positioned adjacent to the threaded concave collar, and wherein the head is positioned on the neck portion and configured to threadingly engage the concave collar. 
     
     
         13 . The compression screw of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal end of the shaft an inner wall and an outer wall defining an annular space between the inner and outer wall, the inner wall comprising a neck portion and a concave collar, wherein the head is positioned on the neck portion and configured to threadingly engage the concave collar. 
     
     
         14 . A compression screw system, comprising:
 a screw, comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, at least the distal end being threaded to engage bone; and 
 a head associated with the proximal end of the shaft, the head having a plurality of outwardly extending projections spaced from one another so as to define a plurality of recesses there between; and 
   a screw drive having a distal end with a plurality of projections configured to be received in the recesses of the head of the shaft in such a way that rotational force may be transferred from the screw drive to the screw.   
     
     
         15 . The compression screw system of  claim 14 , wherein the projections of the head extend radially outwardly. 
     
     
         16 . The compression screw system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the projections of the head has at least one suture fixation hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The compression screw system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the projections of the head has at least one suture fixation hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The compression screw system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the shaft and the head has a cannula extending therethrough, and wherein the screw drive has a cannula extending therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The compression screw system of  claim 14 , further comprising a suture coupling having an opening for receiving the shaft and the suture coupling configured such that the suture coupling is compressed between the head of the screw and the bone when the screw is implanted into the bone and such that the suture coupling extends between adjacent projections of the head. 
     
     
         20 . The compression screw system of  claim 19 , wherein the suture coupling is constructed of a bio-inert textile material. 
     
     
         21 . The compression screw system of  claim 14 , further comprising a suture coupling having an opening for receiving the shaft of the screw and the suture coupling configured such that the suture coupling is compressed between the head of the screw and the bone when the screw is implanted into the bone and such that the suture coupling extends between adjacent projections of the head. 
     
     
         22 . The compression screw system of  claim 21 , wherein the head has a bone engaging surface, and wherein the bone engaging surface has a plurality of teeth configured to engage the suture coupling. 
     
     
         23 . The compression screw system of  claim 21 , wherein each of the projections of the head has a bone engaging surface, and wherein each of the bone engaging surfaces has a groove configured such that the grooves cooperate to form an annular groove to receive the suture coupling. 
     
     
         24 . The compression screw system of  claim 14 , wherein the head has a central opening with a plurality of thread columns formed therein, and wherein the proximal end of the shaft has a plurality of threads configured to engage the thread columns of the central opening to connect the head to the shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The compression screw system of  claim 24 , wherein the proximal end of the shaft has a threaded concave collar, wherein the shaft further has a neck portion positioned adjacent to the threaded concave collar, and wherein the head is positioned on the neck portion and configured to threadingly engage the concave collar. 
     
     
         26 . The compression screw system of  claim 25 , wherein the proximal end of the shaft an inner wall and an outer wall defining an annular space between the inner and outer wall, the inner wall comprising a neck portion and a concave collar, wherein the head is positioned on the neck portion and configured to threadingly engage the concave collar. 
     
     
         27 . A suture coupling, comprising:
 a pliable, bio-inert material configured to define a thin, flat body, the body being conformable to the contour of a surface of a bone when the body is positioned against the surface of the bone.   
     
     
         28 . The suture coupling of  claim 27 , wherein the body has an opening configured to receive a shaft of a compression screw such that the suture body is positionable between a head of the screw and the surface of the bone. 
     
     
         29 . The suture coupling of  claim 28 , wherein the body has a shape in the form of at least one of a ring, a disc, a cloverleaf, a cross, and a wedge. 
     
     
         30 . The suture coupling of  claim 27 , wherein the pliable, bio-inert material is selected from the group consisting of: a textile material, a foam material, polyethylene, polyurethane, poly-lactic acid, poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The suture coupling of  claim 27 , wherein the pliable, bio-inert material is a textile material selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, poly-ether-ether-ketone, poly-ether-ketone-ketone, poly-lactic acid, poly-L-lactide, poly-L/D-lactide, poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid, poly-glucolide, poly-capro-lactone, nitinol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The suture coupling of  claim 30 , wherein the textile material is a wool-like textile material. 
     
     
         33 . The suture coupling of  claim 28 , wherein the body has a reinforced inner edge defining the opening and a reinforced outer edge. 
     
     
         34 . The suture coupling of  claim 33 , further comprising at least one suture integrated with the body. 
     
     
         35 . The suture coupling of  claim 34 , wherein the suture forms at least one loop. 
     
     
         36 . The suture coupling of  claim 33 , wherein suture is threaded through the body. 
     
     
         37 . The suture coupling of  claim 36 , further comprising a needle attached to the suture. 
     
     
         38 . The suture coupling of  claim 33  wherein the reinforced inner edge further includes a first rigid reinforcing ring, and wherein the reinforced outer edge further includes a second rigid reinforcing ring. 
     
     
         39 . The suture coupling of  claim 28 , wherein the body has at least one suture eyelet configured to receive at least one suture therein. 
     
     
         40 . The suture coupling of  claim 39 , wherein the suture eyelet has a reinforced edge. 
     
     
         41 . The suture coupling of  claim 40 , wherein the body has a plurality of suture eyelets, and wherein the suture eyelets are arranged in a substantially circular configuration around the opening. 
     
     
         42 . The suture coupling of  claim 28 , wherein the opening for receiving the shaft of the screw is a first opening, and wherein the body has a second opening configured to be inserted over a shaft of a second compression screw, the second opening being offset a distance from the first opening. 
     
     
         43 . The suture coupling of  claim 28 , wherein the body is cross-shaped so to be provided with a plurality of protrusion, at least a portion of the protrusions having a length so as to be foldable over at least a portion of the head of the screw. 
     
     
         44 . The suture coupling of  claim 28 , wherein the body has an outer edge and an inner edge defining the opening and a slit extending from the outer edge to the inner edge. 
     
     
         45 . The suture coupling of  claim 44 , wherein the outer edge has at least two closure loops positioned adjacent to the slit and configured to receive a suture therethrough. 
     
     
         46 . The suture coupling of  claim 27 , further comprising a reinforcement mesh positioned on at least one side of the body. 
     
     
         47 . The suture coupling of  claim 28 , wherein the body has a narrow end and a wide end. 
     
     
         48 . The suture coupling of  claim 47 , wherein the opening is provided adjacent the narrow end. 
     
     
         49 . The suture coupling of  claim 48 , wherein the body is provided with at least one suture eyelet adjacent the wide end.