Bone screw comprising a device for electrostimulation

US6778861B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Geot Gesellschaft fur Elektro-Osteo-Therapie G.m.b.H. · DE

Inventors

• Felix Liebrecht · Hersbruck, DE
• Werner Kraus · Teublitz, DE
• Heribert Stephan · Hersbruck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2002
• Grant date: Aug 17, 2004
• Expiry date: Aug 2, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S606/907
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Bone screw (10a) having a hollow, tubular shaft (12a) consisting of metal, such as titanium, the shaft having a head (14a) at one end and a self-tapping external thread (18a) at the other end. The head (14a) has a hexagonal recess (16a) for inserting a turning tool. An electrically insulated metallic end-piece (20a) which tapers in the direction of the end in the form of a cone or pointed arch, is inserted the other end of the shaft (12a). A receiving coil (30a) is located in the hollow shaft (12a), the terminals (36a, 38a) of the coil being electrically coupled to the shaft (12a) and to the end-piece (20a). The space between the end-piece (20a) and the end of the shaft (12a) as well as the interior of the shaft (12a) are filled with a biocompatible insulating compound (26a), such as an epoxy resin. A low-frequency electric voltage can be induced in the receiving coil by an external primary coil which is coupled to an oscillation generator. The electric voltage generates a growth-promoting current in the surrounding tissue, the shaft and the end-piece acting as tissue electrodes (stimulation method according to Kraus and Lechner).