Bone Screw

Abstract

A bone screw and method of inserting a bone screw into a bone is disclosed. In one example, the bone screw includes a tip segment for creating a starter hole in the bone. A pilot segment is located proximally of the tip segment for creating a pilot hole in the bone after creation of the starter hole. A threaded segment is located proximally of the pilot segment for fixedly securing the bone screw in the bone. A head is located proximally of the threaded segment for allowing a surgical rod to be fixedly secured to the bone screw.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone screw, comprising:
 a pilot segment for creating a pilot hole in said bone after creation of said starter hole;   a threaded segment proximate said pilot segment for fixedly securing said bone screw in said bone; and   a fixation segment proximate said threaded segment.   
     
     
         2 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , further comprising a tip segment at a distal end of said fixation point and proximate said pilot segment for creating a starter hole in a bone. 
     
     
         3 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein said pilot segment may comprise a probe. 
     
     
         4 . The bone screw of  claim 3 , wherein said pedicle probe may be selected from the group consisting of a Lenke style probe, a curved paddle probe, a paddle style probe, an acorn style probe, and a curette style probe. 
     
     
         5 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein said tip segment comprises an awl. 
     
     
         6 . The bone screw of  claim 2 , wherein said tip segment comprises an awl that transitions into a probe portion. 
     
     
         7 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein said pilot segment comprises a drill bit having a cutting edge. 
     
     
         8 . The bone screw of  claim 7 , wherein said drill bit includes at least one spiral flute. 
     
     
         9 . The bone screw of  claim 7 , wherein said drill bit includes at least one straight flute. 
     
     
         10 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein said threaded segment includes a self-tapping feature. 
     
     
         11 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein said fixation segment comprises a head that associated with said threaded segment in a polyaxial arrangement such that said head may be disposed at an angle relative to said threaded segment, said pilot segment and said tip segment. 
     
     
         12 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein said fixation segment comprises a U-shaped head that includes a spherical base integral with said threaded segment and a pair of opposed upstanding arms. 
     
     
         13 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein said fixation segment comprises an elongate shaft. 
     
     
         14 . A bone screw, comprising:
 a drill bit segment located at a distal end of said bone screw;   a threaded segment proximate said drill bit segment; and   a fixation point proximate said threaded segment.   
     
     
         15 . The bone screw of  claim 14 , wherein said drill bit segment includes an elongate cylindrical shaft having a flute defining a cutting edge. 
     
     
         16 . The bone screw of  claim 15 , wherein said flute comprises a straight flute. 
     
     
         17 . The bone screw of  claim 15 , wherein said flute comprises a spiral flute. 
     
     
         18 . The bone screw of  claim 14 , wherein said threaded segment includes a self-tapping feature. 
     
     
         19 . The bone screw of  claim 14 , further comprising a tip segment located at a distal end of said fixation point proximate said drill bit segment. 
     
     
         20 . A bone screw, comprising:
 a probe segment located at a distal end of said bone screw;   a threaded segment proximate said probe segment; and   a head proximate said threaded segment.   
     
     
         21 . The bone screw of  claim 20 , wherein said threaded segment includes a self-tapping feature. 
     
     
         22 . The bone screw of  claim 20 , wherein said probe segment comprises a pedicle probe. 
     
     
         23 . The bone screw of  claim 22 , wherein said pedicle probe may be selected from the group consisting of a Lenke style pedicle probe, a curved paddle probe, a paddle style pedicle probe, an acorn style pedicle probe, and a curette style pedicle probe. 
     
     
         24 . The bone screw of  claim 20 , wherein said head is pivotally coupled to said threaded segment. 
     
     
         25 . A method of inserting a bone screw in a bone, comprising:
 forming a pilot hole with a pilot segment of said bone screw proximate said tip segment; and   forming a threaded connection in said bone with a threaded segment of said bone screw proximate said pilot segment such that said bone screw is fixedly secured in said bone.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of forming a starter hole with a tip segment of said bone screw. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said tip segment comprises an awl. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said tip segment comprises a conical shaped portion having a cutout forming a cutting edge. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said pilot segment comprises a probe. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said probe may be selected from the group consisting of a Lenke style probe, a curved paddle probe, a paddle style probe, an acorn style probe, and a curette style probe. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said pilot segment comprises a drill bit having a cutting edge. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said cutting edge is located on a spiral flute. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said cutting edge is located on a straight flute. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said threaded segment includes a self-tapping feature. 
     
     
         34 . A method of inserting a bone screw in a bone, comprising:
 (a) forming a starter hole in said bone with a tip segment of said bone screw;   (b) forming a pilot hole with a drill bit segment of said bone screw;   (c) forming a threaded connection in said bone with a threaded segment of said bone screw proximate said drill bit segment such that said bone screw is fixedly secured in said bone; and   wherein steps (a), (b), and (c) above are performed by said bone screw in one fluid surgical step.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said drill bit segment includes an elongate cylindrical shaft having a flute defining a cutting edge. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said flute comprises a straight flute. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said flute comprises a spiral flute. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said threaded segment includes a self-tapping feature proximate said drill bit segment. 
     
     
         39 . A method of inserting a bone screw in a bone, comprising the steps of forming a pilot hole with a probe segment of said bone screw; and
 forming a threaded connection in said bone with a threaded segment of said bone screw proximate said probe segment such that said bone screw is fixedly secured in said bone.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said threaded segment includes a self-tapping feature. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said probe segment comprises a pedicle probe. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said pedicle probe may be selected from the group consisting of a Lenke style pedicle probe, a curved paddle probe, a paddle style pedicle probe, an acorn style pedicle probe, and a curette style pedicle probe. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said threaded segment includes a self-tapping feature. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said probe segment comprises an awl.