Bone screw with apertures

Abstract

A bone screw includes a main body having a proximal end and a distal end. The main body extends along a longitudinal axis. The main body has an externally threaded surface that includes at least one helically extending thread having a minor diameter and a major diameter, which major diameter is greater than the minor diameter. The thread includes at least two flank surfaces extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter. The minor diameter of the thread defines a central portion of the main body. The thread may include at least one aperture that extends along an aperture axis through the thread between the flank surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone screw, comprising:
 a main body having a proximal end and a distal end, which main body extends along a longitudinal axis;   the main body having an externally threaded surface that includes at least one helically extending thread having a minor diameter and a major diameter, which major diameter is greater than the minor diameter, and which thread includes at least two flank surfaces extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter;   wherein the minor diameter of the thread defines a central portion of the main body; and   wherein the thread includes at least one aperture that extends along an aperture axis through the thread between the flank surfaces; and   an insert disposed within the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises at least one of an osteoconductive material, an osteoinductive material, or an osteogenic material. 
     
     
         3 . The bone screw of  claim 2 , wherein the insert comprises at least one of tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, bone morphogenic proteins, absorbable polymers, autograft, allograft, xenograft, or demineralized bone matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises at least one of an antimicrobial material or an antibacterial material. 
     
     
         5 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises an adhesive material. 
     
     
         6 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two flank surfaces extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter include a first flank surface extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter and a second flank surface extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter, the first flank surface being disposed on the opposite side of the thread from the second flank surface. 
     
     
         7 . The bone screw of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one aperture extends through the thread from the first flank surface to the second flank surface, and the at least one aperture is defined by an outer radial surface, an inner radial surface, a first lateral surface, and a second lateral surface, and the inner radial surface of the at least one aperture is coincident with the minor diameter of the at least one helically extending thread. 
     
     
         8 . The bone screw of  claim 7 , wherein the outer radial surface of the at least one aperture is disposed radially inside of the major diameter, and the at least one aperture has a closed perimeter. 
     
     
         9 . The bone screw of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one aperture is configured to have a substantially trapezoidal shaped cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         10 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein the externally threaded surface of the main body extends a length, and the at least one aperture includes a plurality of the apertures disposed in the thread at positions located throughout substantially all of the externally threaded surface length, and each of the at least one apertures includes an insert. 
     
     
         11 . The bone screw of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is defined by an outer radial surface, an inner radial surface, a first lateral surface, and a second lateral surface, and the inner radial surface of the at least one aperture is coincident with the minor diameter of the at least one helically extending thread; and
 wherein the outer radial surface extends a first circumferential distance between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface, and the inner radial surface extends a second circumferential distance between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface, and the first circumferential distance is greater than the second circumferential distance; and   wherein the at least one aperture includes a height extending between the outer radial surface and the inner radial surface, the height is less than second circumferential distance.   
     
     
         12 . A bone screw system, comprising:
 a bone screw comprising:
 a main body having a proximal end and a distal end, which main body extends along a longitudinal axis; 
 the main body having an externally threaded surface that includes at least one helically extending thread having a minor diameter and a major diameter, which major diameter is greater than the minor diameter, and which thread includes at least two flank surfaces extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter; 
 wherein the minor diameter of the thread defines a central portion of the main body; and 
 wherein the thread includes at least one aperture disposed in at least one of the flank surfaces, the at least one aperture configured to receive an insert; and 
   at least one insert configured to be disposed within the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         13 . The bone screw system of  claim 12 , wherein the insert comprises at least one of an osteoconductive material, an osteoinductive material, or an osteogenic material. 
     
     
         14 . The bone screw system of  claim 12 , wherein the insert comprises at least one of an antimicrobial material or an antibacterial material. 
     
     
         15 . The bone screw of  claim 12 , wherein the insert comprises an adhesive material. 
     
     
         16 . The bone screw system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least two flank surfaces include a first flank surface extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter and a second flank surface extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter, the first flank surface being disposed on the opposite side of the thread from the second flank surface; and
 wherein the at least one aperture extends through the thread from the first flank surface to the second flank surface.   
     
     
         17 . The bone screw system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one apertures is a recess disposed in at least one of the flank surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . A bone screw, comprising:
 a main body having a proximal end and a distal end, which main body extends along a longitudinal axis;   the main body having an externally threaded surface that includes at least one helically extending thread having a minor diameter and a major diameter, which major diameter is greater than the minor diameter, and which thread includes at least two flank surfaces extending between the minor diameter and the major diameter;   wherein the minor diameter of the thread defines a central portion of the main body; and   wherein the thread includes at least one recess disposed in one of the flank surfaces; and   an insert disposed within the at least one recess.   
     
     
         19 . The bone screw of  claim 18 , wherein the insert comprises at least one of an osteoconductive material, an osteoinductive material, or an osteogenic material. 
     
     
         20 . The bone screw of  claim 18 , wherein the insert comprises at least one of an antimicrobial material or an antibacterial material. 
     
     
         21 . The bone screw of  claim 18 , wherein the insert comprises an adhesive material.