Kevin D Carter

US Patent:

60960817, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Jul 13, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/101903

Inventors:

Nicholas E. Grivas - Charlotte NC
Jamie M. Grooms - Alachua FL
Kevin Carter - Alachua FL
David Dulebohn - Naples FL

Assignee:

University of Florida Tissue Bank, Inc. - Alachua FL

International Classification:

A61F 244

US Classification:

623 1711

Abstract:

A dowel (300) is provided by obtaining a plug from the shaft (diaphysis) of various long bones. The dowel (300) has an intra-medullary canal (30) which can be packed with any of a variety of osteogenic materials. The dowel (300) has a cortical surface (10) into which an instrument attachment hole (15) may be machined and onto which an alignment mark (16) may be inscribed for proper orientation of the intra-medullary canal (30) or a driver slot (56) which may be used to assist in further machining of the bone dowel (300). The dowel (300) ha a chamfered insertion end and has improved biomechanical and vertebral fusion induction properties as compared to standard dowels known in the art. A threaded (31) or grooved (32) dowel (300) and an apparatus (400) for efficient production thereof are also provided.