Patent ID: 7824434

Claim:
A fastener adapted for implanting in bone, the fastener comprising a head portion and a body portion extending from said head portion, said body portion being configured to be driven into and mounted to the bone, said head portion and said body portion collectively having a first length that changes to a second length shorter than said first length and at least one of said head portion and said body portion have a first width that changes to a second width greater than said first width upon said head portion and said body portion being exposed to a moist environment having a temperature below a glass transition temperature of a polymeric material forming said head portion and said body portion following driving said body portion into the bone to mount the fastener to the bone, said change in length and said change in width occurring in response to being placed at a physiological temperature within the bone, the physiological temperature being below the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material used to form said head portion and said body portion.