Patent ID: 8414628

Claim:
A bone screw, comprising: a tip segment having a conical portion and a cutout in said conical portion defining a first cutting edge, wherein said tip segment is used to create a starter hole in a bone; a pilot segment proximate said tip segment for creating a pilot hole in said bone after creation of said starter hole, wherein said pilot segment includes a cylindrical portion and a straight flute defined in said cylindrical portion having a second cutting edge, wherein said straight flute lies along a same vertical axis as said cutout in said tip segment and said first cutting edge transitions into said second cutting edge; a threaded segment defining a longitudinal axis and disposed proximate said pilot segment for fixedly securing said bone screw in said bone; a fixation segment proximate said threaded segment, the fixation segment comprising a U-shaped head configured to receive a rod of an implant, the U-shaped head including a spherical base integral with said threaded segment and a pair of opposed upstanding arms, each arm extending upwardly from the spherical base to a top surface, each arm further including an inner threaded member located distally of the top surface and extending substantially half the distance of the arm; and a locking member for securing the rod in the U-shaped head by screwing into the inner threaded member to apply pressure to the rod thereby fixing the rod in place, wherein the straight flute extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the threaded segment, and said tip segment has an outer surface behind said cutout and said first cutting edge that is continuous with an outer surface of said pilot segment and is free of gaps or recesses.