초록 ▼

A screw for use in stimulating bone growth, tissue healing and/or pain control. The screw includes an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the lengt

A screw for use in stimulating bone growth, tissue healing and/or pain control. The screw includes an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length. The shaft has an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion. The screw also includes a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone. The screw includes an electrical conductor electrically connectable to the shaft for conveying current through the shaft to the bone through the conducting portion of the shaft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A screw for use in stimulating at least one of bone growth, tissue healing and pain control comprising: an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of t

1. A screw for use in stimulating at least one of bone growth, tissue healing and pain control comprising: an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length, said screw thread having an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion, the electrically conducting portion being located for deposition in a first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue and the electrically insulating portion being located for deposition in a second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue;a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone; andan electrical conductor electrically connected to the shaft for conveying current through the electrically conducting portion of the screw thread to the first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue, the electrically insulating portion inhibiting current from being conveyed to the second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue. 2. A screw as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises an electrically insulating coating. 3. A screw as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the shaft comprises an electrically conductive material; andthe electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises an insulating material. 4. A screw as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the shaft comprises a titanium alloy; andthe electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises titanium dioxide. 5. A screw as set forth in claim 4 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends from the head of the screw to a position less than about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. 6. A screw as set forth in claim 5 wherein the position to which the insulating portion extends is between about three millimeters and about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. 7. A screw as set forth in claim 6 wherein the position to which the insulating portion of the screw thread extends is between about one centimeter and about two centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. 8. A screw as set forth in claim 4 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends at least forty percent of the length of the screw. 9. A screw as set forth in claim 8 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends between about fifty percent of the length of the screw and about ninety five percent of the length of the screw. 10. A screw for use in stimulating at least one of bone growth, tissue healing and pain control comprising: an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length, said screw thread having an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion, the electrically conducting portion being located for deposition in a first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue and the electrically insulating portion being located for deposition in a second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue;a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone; andan electrical conductor connected to the shaft for conveying direct current through the electrically conducting portion of the screw thread to the first pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue, the electrically insulating portion inhibiting current from being conveyed to the second pre-specified portion of the bone and bone related tissue. 11. A screw as set forth in claim 10 wherein the electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises an electrically insulating coating. 12. A screw as set forth in claim 10 wherein: the shaft comprises an electrically conductive material; andthe electrically insulating portion of the shaft screw thread comprises an insulating material. 13. A screw as set forth in claim 12 wherein: the shaft comprises a titanium alloy; andthe electrically insulating portion of the screw thread comprises titanium dioxide. 14. A screw as set forth in claim 13 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends from the head of the screw to a position less than about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. 15. A screw as set forth in claim 14 wherein the position to which the insulating portion extends is between about three millimeters and about three centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. 16. A screw as set forth in claim 15 wherein the position to which the insulating portion of the screw thread extends is between about one centimeter and about two centimeters from the end of the screw opposite the head. 17. A screw as set forth in claim 13 wherein the insulating portion of the screw thread extends at least forty percent of the length of the screw. 18. A screw for insertion into a spine of a patient for stimulating at least one of bone growth, tissue healing and pain control comprising: an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends, an exterior surface and a screw thread formed on the exterior surface of the shaft and extending along at least a portion of the length, said screw thread having an electrically conducting portion and an electrically insulating portion, the electrically conducting portion being located for deposition in a first pre-specified portion of the spine and the electrically insulating portion being located for deposition in a second pre-specified portion of the spine;a head adjacent one end of the shaft for engaging the screw to rotate the screw and thereby drive it into bone; andan electrical conductor for conveying direct current through the conducting portion of the screw thread to the first pre-specified portion of the spine, the electrically insulating portion inhibiting current from being conveyed to the second pre-specified portion of the spine. 19. A screw as set forth in claim 18 wherein the insulating portion is located on the screw thread adjacent the head. 20. A screw as set forth in claim 18 wherein the electrically insulating portion covers at least fifty percent of the screw thread.