Abstract:
The present invention provides a surgical screw container including: at least one recess which is adapted to receive therein a screw having a head and a threaded shank, said recess having an opening at one end to allow said screw to pass into or out of said recess, said recess being such that said screw lies within said recess with said head of said screw facing said opening; and retaining means for retaining said screw within said container, said retaining means being disposed within said recess and being releasable by insertion of a screwdriver shaft into said recess through said opening to allow withdrawal of said screw through said opening after said screw engages said screwdriver.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/AU2003/001718 filed Dec. 23, 2003 and titled “Surgical Screw Dispenser” which in turn claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2002953567 filed Dec. 24, 2002 and titled “Surgical Screw Dispenser,” the disclosure of each of the foregoing being herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a container for screws. It relates, more particularly, to a device for the storage and dispensing of surgical screws.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Surgical screws are widely used in the field of surgery; the most common uses include plastic and reconstructive surgery, dentistry, and orthopaedic surgery.  
         [0004]     The diameter of the heads of surgical screws vary but can be in the range of 0.8 mm to 3 mm and possibly upto 10 mm. Problems relating to storage and dispensing of surgical screws can arise due to this relatively small diameter.  
         [0005]     A conventional container for the storage of surgical screws has a shell of plastic containing a series of elongated recesses into which screws may be placed. A lid can be hinged to the shell for covering the shell in a closed position. The lid is movable to an open position to allow access to the screw. While such a container provides for individual storage locations for each screw, once the lid is open screws can fall out of the container. As a consequence, the screws become contaminated and can no longer be used unless re-sterilised.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention resides in a surgical screw container including  
         [0007]     at least one recess which is adapted to receive therein a screw having a head and a threaded shank, said recess having an opening at one end to allow said screw to pass into and out of said recess, said recess being such that said screw lies within said recess with said head of said screw facing said opening,  
         [0008]     retaining means for retaining said screw within said container, said retaining means being disposed within said recess and being releasable by insertion of a screwdriver shaft into said recess through said opening to allow withdrawal of said screw through said opening after said screwdriver engages said screw.  
         [0009]     Preferably said recess includes means to receive said shank of said screw.  
         [0010]     Preferably said recess includes a sleeve portion for imposing a radial constraint on said screw.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment the sleeve portion has an opening which is smaller than the diameter of the head of the screw but larger than the diameter of the shank of the screw, the longitudinal axis of said opening being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the recess; and an abutting surface upon which the head of the screw rests.  
         [0012]     Preferably said retaining means includes at least one elastically flexible finger extending longitudinally within said recess.  
         [0013]     Preferably said finger has a free end provided with a lip and a contacting portion for contacting a screwdriver shaft, said lip being oriented so as to engage a portion of said screw.  
         [0014]     In one preferred embodiment, the lip is adapted to engage the head of said screw to impose axial constraint on said screw.  
         [0015]     In another preferred embodiment, the lip is adapted to engage a thread on said threaded shank.  
         [0016]     Preferably the finger is movable away from the longitudinal axis of said recess upon said screwdriver being urged toward said screw.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the container further includes means for locking said finger in spaced relation away from said screw.  
         [0018]     In a preferred embodiment the finger is moveable between a locked position in which a screw is retained within said recess and an open position in which the screw may be removed from said recess.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the means for locking includes a detent arrangement including at least one projection formed on the finger to interact with a complementary retaining recess formed on the wall of said screw-receiving recess, said complementary recess being spaced from said projection a distance such that said screw is free from interference with the finger when said finger is in its locked position.  
         [0020]     The finger may be biased. Preferably the finger is biased to move into the locked position.  
         [0021]     The finger may be frangible or breakable.  
         [0022]     Preferably, said finger is formed in one piece with said recess.  
         [0023]     Preferably, said sleeve is formed in one piece with said recess.  
         [0024]     Preferably the container includes a plurality of fingers, said fingers being substantially equi-spaced around the screw-receiving recess.  
         [0025]     Preferably said surgical screw container includes a body shell having an open box configuration for providing access for a sterilising medium.  
         [0026]     Preferably said body shell includes an upper surface, two opposite side surfaces, a front surface, a back surface, and an open bottom, and said screw-receiving recess terminates at said upper surface.  
         [0027]     Preferably an outer periphery of said screw-receiving recess is provided with a frusto-conical region terminating to said upper surface of said surgical screw container.  
         [0028]     In a preferred embodiment said finger includes a front surface, a back surface, and two side surfaces, a longitudinal portion of each said side surface of said finger being separated from a surface of said container at which said finger terminates.  
         [0029]     In one preferred embodiment said screw-receiving recess and said retaining means are manufactured separately from said body shell as a stand alone screw-holding unit and then subsequently attached to said body shell in a succeeding manufacturing step.  
         [0030]     Preferably said surgical screw container includes a plurality of said screw-holding units, said screw-holding units being arranged such as to reduce the size of said container.  
         [0031]     The present invention also provides a surgical screw container including 
        a screw receiving recess for receiving a screw, and     orientation means for orientation of said screw relative to said recess.        
 
         [0034]     In a further form, the present invention provides a surgical screw container including a screw receiving recess, said recess being adapted to receive a shank of a screwdriver, said screwdriver having a screw engaging tip, and orientation means for orientation of said screw engaging tip relative to said recess.  
         [0035]     The present invention also provides a surgical screw container including a screw receiving recess for receiving a screw, said recess being adapted to receive a shank of a screwdriver, said screwdriver having a screw engaging tip, and means for relatively aligning said screw engaging tip with respect to the head of said screw.  
         [0036]     Preferably said orientation means for orientation of said screw engaging tip of said screwdriver relative to said recess includes at least one axially extending groove formed on a wall of said screw receiving recess and matched with a guiding projection formed on the outer periphery of the shank of the screwdriver.  
         [0037]     Preferably said orientation means for orientation of said screw relative to said recess includes means for engagement of the screw-driver receiving portion of said screw. 
        Preferably said container includes at least one label identifying the screws in the container.        
 
         [0039]     Preferably said container includes means for marking the position of said label on said container.  
         [0040]     Preferably said means for marking the position of said label includes a notch provided on said container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0041]     Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0042]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a surgical screw container according to a first embodiment of the present invention,  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows the container of  FIG. 1  in a dispensing position,  
         [0044]      FIG. 3 a  schematic view of a surgical screw container according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  
         [0045]      FIG. 4  shows the container of  FIG. 3  in a dispensing position,  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  shows a modified form of the finger of FIGS.  1  to  4 ,  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  shows a detail front view of the lip of the finger of FIGS.  1  to  5 ,  
         [0048]      FIG. 7  shows a detail side view of the lip of  FIG. 6 ,  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  shows guiding grooves provided on the wall of the container of FIGS.  1  to  5  for orientation of the screwdriver relative to the screw-receiving recess,  
         [0050]      FIG. 9  shows a device for loading the container of  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0051]      FIG. 10  shows a marking notch for positioning an identifying label on the container of  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0052]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a screw driver shank and tip,  
         [0053]      FIG. 12  illustrates a label for use with the container of  FIG. 10 ,  
         [0054]      FIG. 13  illustrates a container similar to that of  FIG. 1 , with means to hold the fingers in the open condition,  
         [0055]      FIG. 14  is a top view of a surgical screw container according to a third embodiment of the present invention,  
         [0056]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of  FIG. 14 ,  
         [0057]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 15 ,  
         [0058]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 15 ,  
         [0059]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of  FIG. 15 ,  
         [0060]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of  FIG. 15 ,  
         [0061]      FIG. 20  is a close-up top view of an opening of a screw-receiving recess of a container of  FIG. 14 ,  
         [0062]      FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the container of  FIG. 14 ,  
         [0063]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a body shell of a surgical screw container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and  
         [0064]      FIG. 23  is a partial cross-sectional view taken of the surgical screw container of  FIG. 22 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0065]      FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a schematic view of a container  10  suitable for the storage of surgical screws  16 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the container  10  in a locked condition. The container  10  has a one-piece body shell  12  with a screw-receiving recess  14  adapted to receive a surgical screw  16 , which has a threaded shank  18  and a head  20 . The recess  14  includes an opening  22  through which the screw  16  passes into and out of the recess  14 .  
         [0066]     The screw  16  is received within a sleeve  24  having a substantially cylindrical opening  26  which is smaller than the diameter of the head  20  of the screw  16  but larger than the diameter of the shank  18 . The central longitudinal axis  25  of the opening  26  is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the recess  14 . The sleeve  24  has an abutting surface  28  upon which the head  20  of the screw  16  rests.  
         [0067]     The sleeve  24  and the opening  22  are arranged such that the screw  16  lies within the recess  14  with the head  20  of the screw facing the opening  22 .  
         [0068]     Extending longitudinally within the recess  14  are elastically flexible fingers  30   a  and  30   b.  Although two fingers are illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  4 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of fingers can be employed in the present invention.  
         [0069]     In a preferred embodiment the container includes at least two fingers, and the fingers are substantially equi-spaced around the recess.  
         [0070]     Each finger has a free end  32  provided with a lip  34  oriented towards the longitudinal axis of the recess  14  to engage the head  20  of the screw  16  to impose an axial constraint on the screw and thus maintain the screw  16  in the sleeve  24 , until it is desired to remove the screw  16 .  
         [0071]     As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the free end of the finger  30  is movable away from the central longitudinal axis  25  of the recess  14  when a screwdriver  40  is urged towards the screw  16  through the opening  22 . To this end, the finger  30  is provided with a contacting portion  36  adapted to guide a screwdriver shaft  42  towards the screw  16 , and a tapered or converging surface  37  which will allow the finger  30  to be pushed radially away from the central longitudinal axis  25  of the recess  14 .  
         [0072]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the container  10  includes a pair of axially extending guiding grooves  80   a,    80   b  formed on a wall  54  of the screw-receiving recess  14  and matched with a pair of guiding projections  82   a,    82   b,  see  FIG. 11 , which protrude from the outer periphery of the screwdriver shaft  42 . The grooves  80  are adapted to slidably receive the projections  82  formed on the screwdriver shaft  42  so that the screwdriver is capable of sliding within the recess by travelling the projections  82   a,    82   b  along the grooves  80   a,    80   b  respectively. As a result, the screw-engaging tip  44  of the screwdriver  40  is orientated relative to the screw-receiving recess  14  such that the screwdriver  40  can engage the head  20  of the screw  16 .  
         [0073]     As can be seen from  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the lip  34  of the finger  30  is provided with a recess  90  adapted to engage the screwdriver receiving portion of the head  20  of the screw  16  thereby providing means for orientation of the head  20  of the screw  16  relative to the screw-receiving recess  14 .  
         [0074]      FIG. 9  shows a jig  99  for loading the container  10  with surgical screws  16 . The jig  99  includes a plurality of screw-carrying projections  100 . In a preferred embodiment the number and position of the screw-carrying projections  100  correspond to the number and position of the screw-receiving recesses  14 . If the recesses are in an in-line relationship the tool of  FIG. 9  can be used. If another relationship, such as for example that four recesses are provided at the four apexes of a square, then the four prongs on the jig  99  can also be located in the same spaced relationship.  
         [0075]     The jig  99  is adapted to allow the projection  100  to be inserted into the screw-receiving recess  14  through the opening  22  while preventing said projection from interfering with the fingers  30 .  
         [0076]     Each projection  100  includes a screw engaging tip  102  onto which a screw can be loaded. The screw-engaging tip  102  is orientated relative to the screw-receiving recess  14  such that the head  20  of the screw  16  can pass through the opening formed by recess  90  provided on the lip of the finger  30 . As a result, the head  20  ofthe screw  16  is orientated relative to the guiding grooves  80  such that the screw engaging tip  44  of the screwdriver  40  is aligned with respect to the head  20  of the screw  16 .  
         [0077]     In use, a plurality of screws  16  are loaded onto the screw-engaging tips  102  of the projections  100 . The projections  100 , with the screws  16  protruding therefrom, are then inserted into the screw-receiving recesses  14  through the openings  22  of the container  10 . Once the screw  16  has been loaded into the screw-receiving recess  14 , the screw-engaging tip  102  is released, and the projections  100  are lifted from the container  10 .  
         [0078]     When it is desired to use a surgical screw, a screwdriver  40  is inserted into the opening  22  with projections fitting into the grooves  80  of the screw-receiving recess  14  and urged towards the head  20  of the screw  16 . As a result of the pressure exerted by the shaft  42  of the screwdriver  40  against the converging surface  37  of the finger  30 , the finger  30  flexes outward, and the lip  34  moves away from the longitudinal axis of the recess  14  thereby releasing the screw  16 .  
         [0079]     If desired, as is illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the fingers  30   a  and  30   b  can be locked in their open condition away from the screw  16  by means of a detent arrangement  51  which includes a projection  50  formed on the finger  30  and a complementary recess  52  formed on a wall  54  of the recess  14 . The recess  52  is spaced from the projection  50  a distance such that the screw  16  is free from interference from the finger  30  when the finger is in its open condition. For ease of illustration in  FIG. 13 , only the left side finger  30   a  is depicted as having moved. Finger  30   b  would also move simultaneously with finger  30   a.    
         [0080]     As can be seen from  FIG. 5 , alternative arrangements for preventing the finger from moving back into the locked position can include providing the fingers  30  with a frangible portion  70 , above the converging surface  37 , whereby the fingers  30  partially or wholly fracture so that the fingers  30  will lose their elasticity once a screw driver shaft  42  has been inserted. If it is important to ensure the fingers  30  remain attached to the container, then only partial fracture would be required. If remaining connected is unimportant, then a complete dismemberment can be utilised. By partial or whole fracturing of the fingers  30 , there will result a single use cartridge, dispenser or container which will ensure that re-use will be minimised.  
         [0081]     The screwdriver  40  is inserted into the opening  22  until a tip  44  of the screwdriver  40  engages the head  20  of the screw  16 . The screwdriver  40  is then lifted out of the recess  14  through the opening  22  with the screw  16  affixed to the tip  44  of the screwdriver. The screwdriver is then ready for use to insert the screw into a desired location.  
         [0082]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a surgical screw container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  is similar to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and like part have been like numbered.  
         [0083]     In common with the first embodiment, the container of  FIGS. 3 and 4  also has a screw-receiving recess  14 , a sleeve  24 , and a pair of fingers  30   a  and  30   b.  Each finger is provided with a tooth  60  adapted to engage the threaded shank of the screw  16 . The fingers  30   a  and  30   b  can engage the threaded shank either by a frictional contact, or by having a soft tip protrude between adjacent threads, or a thin formation to protrude between adjacent threads.  
         [0084]     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the insertion of the shaft  42  of the screwdriver  40  into the opening  22  causes the tooth  60  to move away from the threaded shank of the screw  16  thereby releasing the screw  16 . The released screw  16  is then received within the sleeve  24  with the head  20  of the screw  16  finally resting on the abutting surface  28  of the sleeve  24 . For ease of illustration in  FIG. 4 , only the left side finger  30   a  is depicted as having moved. Finger  30   b  would also move simultaneously with finger  30   a.    
         [0085]     Similarly to the first embodiment, the downward movement of the screwdriver  40  is continued until the tip  44  of the screwdriver engages the head  20  of the screw  16 . Once the screw  16  is loaded onto the tip  44  of the screwdriver, the screw  16  can be removed from the container  10  through the opening  22 .  
         [0086]     The container  10  preferably includes a plurality of screw-receiving recesses to accommodate a plurality of screws respectively therein. Alternatively the container can have only a single recess to hold only a single screw.  
         [0087]     The recesses may be marked with identifying labels such as the label  400  illustrated in  FIG. 12 , describing the size of the screws, etc. In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  the upper surface  110  of the container  10  is provided with a pair of marking triangular shoulders  112   a,    112   b  for positioning label  400  which has corresponding notches  401  to match the shape of the shoulders  112   a  and  112   b.  The label  400  can be colour coded to correspond to predetermined sizes of screws and have a coloured region  402  which will overlie the recesses  14 , so that a nurse or surgeon knows exactly where the recess  14  is located.  
         [0088]     As can be seen in  FIG. 8  the top rim of the recess  14  has a larger diameter portion  81 , which is sized so that when a label overlies the top opening  22 , and is then pierced when a screw driver  40  is inserted into the recess  14  so as to retrieve a screw, then the fragments of the label formed when the screw driver is inserted will be located within the larger diameter portion  81  so that the fragments will not obstruct the path of a screw being withdrawn from the recess  14 .  
         [0089]      FIGS. 14-21  illustrate a surgical screw container  500  according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0090]     As best seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the container  510  has a body shell  512  with five screw-receiving recesses  514   a,    514   b,    514   c,    514   d,  and  514   e,  the details of which are illustrated in  FIGS. 16-19 . In common with the first and second embodiments, each screw-receiving recess is provided with a sleeve  511 , and a pair of fingers  600   a  and  600   b.    
         [0091]     The body shell  512  has an open box configuration and includes an upper surface  513 , two side surfaces  515   a  and  515   b,  a front surface  517   a  and a back surface  518   a.  The front and back surfaces  517   a  and  517   b  are provided with two pairs of opposite ribs  516   a,    516   b  and  518   a,    518   b  (not shown). The bottom portion  520  of the container  510  is left open to provide access for a sterilising medium.  
         [0092]     As best seen in  FIG. 15 , to prevent breakage of the fingers  600   a,    600   b,  the outer surfaces of the screw-receiving recesses  514   a ,  514   b,    514   c,    514   d,  and  514   e  are provided with frusto-conical portions  530   a,    530   b,    530   c,    530   d,  and  530   e  terminating to the top surface  513 .  
         [0093]     Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 21 , to facilitate the release of the screws from the screw-receiving recesses, longitudinal portions of side surfaces  610   a,    612   a  and  610   b,    612   b  of each of the fingers  600   a,    600   b  are separated from the top surface  513  by two pairs of cuts  614   a,    614   b,  and  614   c,    614   d  provided on the upper surface  513  of the body shell  512 .  
         [0094]     As shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 , a screw-receiving recess  514   a,  sleeve  511   a,  and fingers  600   a  and  600   b  can be manufactured as a stand-alone screw-holding unit  700   a,    700   b,  separate from the body shell  712 , and then attached to the body shell  712  during a succeeding manufacturing step. Although the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 23  shows the screw-holding units arranged in-line, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the orientation of the fingers in adjacent screw-holding units can be varied to achieve a more compact construction of the surgical screw container.  
         [0095]     The container can be made of any appropriate polymeric material such as Polycarbonate, although other materials can be used.  
         [0096]     It will be understood that the invention disclosed herein extends to alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.  
         [0097]     While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.  
         [0098]     It will further be understood that any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.