1. A bone screw comprising:
a thread section of elongated tubular construction with an outer wall and having a first end and a second end;
a tip at the first end; and
an elongated holding element connected to the thread section at the second end, the holding element comprising a first section for connection to the second end of the thread section and an elongated rod-like second section having a longitudinal length and a free end opposite the first section;
wherein the tubular thread section further comprises a bone thread on the outer wall and the outer wall of the thread section contains a plurality of recesses forming a mesh-like open network; and wherein the bone screw is dimensioned such, that the bone screw can be fully immersed in the opening created when screwing in.
2. A bone screw according to claim 1, further comprising a stop for limiting a distance of insertion of the holding element into the thread section.
3. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the thread section further comprises a first internal thread section at its second end and the first section of the holding element comprises an external thread for cooperation with the first internal thread section.
4. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the thread section and the first section of the holding element are structured and arranged to cooperate for connection in the form of an interference fit.
5. A bone screw according claim 1, further comprising an engagement element at the free end of the holding element for cooperation with a screw-in tool.
6. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the holding element further comprises a stop located between the first section and the second section to prevent further penetration of the holding element into the thread section.
7. A bone screw according to claim 5, wherein the stop comprises a shoulder.
8. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the thread section further comprises a stop located on the inside of the outer wall to prevent further penetration of the holding element into the thread section.
9. A bone screw according to claim 1, further comprising a nut, and wherein the rod-like section of the holding element further comprises a second external thread at the free end for cooperation with the nut.
10. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the thread section further comprises a second internal thread section at the first end.
11. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the first internal thread section extends over the whole length of the thread section and the tip is structured and arranged to cooperate with the first internal thread section.
12. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the first internal thread section comprises a metric or an inch thread.
13. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the tip is structured and arranged as a self-tapping tip.
14. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the tip comprises a cannula.
15. A bone screw according to claim 14, wherein the holding element comprises a cannula.
16. A bone screw according to claim 1, wherein the holding element comprises a cannula.
17. A bone screw comprising:
a thread section of elongated tubular construction with an outer wall and having a first end and a second end, the outer wall containing a plurality of recesses forming a mesh-like open network;
a tip at the first end; and
an engagement element at the second end capable of cooperating with a screw-in tool;
wherein the thread section further comprises:
a bone thread on the outer wall and having a first length;
an adjoining section free of bone thread and having a second length, the adjoining section comprising the second end of the thread section; wherein the diameter of said section free of bone thread is dimensioned such that the bone screw can be fully immersed in the opening created when screwing in.
18. A bone screw according to claim 17, wherein the engagement element comprises an internal thread section at the second end that cooperates with a screw-in tool.
19. A bone screw according to claim 17, wherein the engagement element comprises an internal thread section at the second end, and the bone screw further comprises a driving element that cooperates with the engagement element and further cooperates with a screw-in tool.
20. A bone screw according to claim 17, wherein the engagement element comprises an internal thread section at the second end, and the bone screw further comprises a fixation element that cooperates with the engagement element for fixing the bone screw.
21. A bone screw according to claim 17, wherein the second length of the adjoining section is the same as or greater than the first length of the bone thread section.
22. A bone fixation device comprising a bone screw according to claim 1, a plate for fixation of a bone, the plate comprising a recess through which the free end of the rod-like section of the holding element can be passed, and a nut for cooperating with the holding element to fix the plate.
23. A bone fixation device comprising a bone screw according to claim 1 and a marrow nail for fixing a bone, the marrow nail comprising a recess through which the free end of the rod-like section of the holding element can be passed.
24. A holding element for cooperation with a bone screw, wherein the bone screw comprises an elongated tubular construction having a first end, a second end, a tip at the first end and a connecting element at the second end for connection to the holding element, the holding element comprising a first section for connection to the bone screw and an elongated rod-like second section having a length; and wherein the holding element is dimensioned such that it can be at least partly introduced in the opening created by the bone screw when screwing in.
25. A holding element according to claim 24, further comprising a stop for limiting a distance of insertion of the holding element into the bone screw.
26. A holding element according to claim 24, wherein the bone screw comprises an internal thread section at its second end and the first section of the holding element comprises an external thread for cooperation with the internal thread section.
27. A holding element according to claim 24, wherein the connecting element and the first section both are structured and arranged to cooperate to provide and interference fit between the bone screw and the holding element.
28. A method for repairing a bone having a fracture, the method comprising:
providing a bone screw in accord with claim 1;
fully introducing the bone screw into the bone and positioning the bone screw at the place of fracture; and
attaching a fixation device to the holding element.
29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising shortening the holding element to avoid unnecessary protrusion beyond the fixation plate.
30. A method according to claim 28, wherein before attaching the fixation device, the method further comprises:
removing the holding element from the bone screw;
applying a filler material into the interior of the thread section of the bone screw; and
reconnecting the holding element to the thread section.
31. A method according to claim 28, wherein the fixation device comprises a plate or a marrow nail.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for monitoring a patient and graphically representing ST-segment deviations, the method comprising:
acquiring electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from a plurality of leads, each ECG signal including a sequence of ST-segments between a QRS complex and a T wave;
determining a baseline ST-segment deviation from an isoelectric value for each of the plurality of leads;
determining a current ST-segment deviation from the isoelectric value for each of the plurality of leads;
displaying a graph comprising:
a first linear axis representing ST-segment deviation values; and
a second linear axis representing the plurality of leads, wherein each of the plurality of leads is associated with a respective location along the second linear axis;
displaying a first set of graphic indicia representing the baseline ST-segment deviations, wherein each graphic indicia in the first set is displayed with respect to one of the locations corresponding to a respective lead and is aligned relative to the first linear axis based on the baseline ST-segment deviation for the respective lead; and
displaying a second set of graphic indicia representing the current ST-segment deviations, wherein each graphic indicia in the second set is displayed with respect to one of the locations corresponding to a respective lead and is aligned relative to the first linear axis based on the current ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first set of graphic indicia and the second set of graphic indicia comprises:
for the first set of graphic indicia, displaying a first bar graph at each of the locations along the second linear axis corresponding to a respective lead, wherein each first bar graph graphically represents the baseline ST-segment deviation for the respective lead; and
for the second set of graphic indicia, displaying a second bar graph at each of the locations along the second linear axis corresponding to a respective lead, wherein each first bar graph graphically represents the current ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying each first bar graph comprises:
displaying the first bar graph between a first value relative to the first linear axis and a second value relative to the first linear axis, wherein the first value corresponds to the isoelectric value, and wherein the second value corresponds to the baseline ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying each second bar graph comprises:
displaying the second bar graph between the second value relative to the first linear axis and a third value relative to the first linear axis, wherein the third value corresponds to the current ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein a width of the second bar graph in the direction of the second linear axis for a particular lead is narrower than the width of the first bar graph in the direction of the second linear axis for the particular lead.
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
highlighting, at each of the locations along the second linear axis, at least one of the first bar graph and the second bar graph to visually distinguish the first bar graphs from the second bar graphs.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the highlighting comprises one or more graphical elements selected from the group comprising shading and coloring.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
displaying one or more threshold lines substantially parallel to the second linear axis, each threshold line representing a threshold ST-segment deviation value;
determining that at least one of the second bar graphs intersects one of the threshold lines; and
in response to the determination, changing the highlighting of the at least one second bar graphs that intersects one of the threshold lines.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the graph comprises:
displaying a first portion of the graph in a first window, the first portion corresponding to a first subset of leads; and
displaying a second portion of the graph in a second window, the second portion corresponding to a second subset of leads.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first subset of leads includes limb leads and the second subset of leads includes precordial leads.
11. A patient monitoring system for graphically representing ST-segment deviation, the system comprising:
a receiver to acquire electrocardiogram (ECG) signals through a plurality of leads, the ECG signals including an ST-segment between a QRS complex and a T wave;
a processor to process the ECG signals to determine, for each of the plurality of leads, baseline ST-segment deviations from an isoelectric value and current ST-segment deviations from the isoelectric value;
a display device for displaying a user interface; and
a display module for displaying a graph in the user interface, the graph comprising:
a first linear axis representing ST-segment deviation values; and
a second linear axis representing the plurality of leads, wherein each of the plurality of leads is associated with a respective location along the second linear axis;
wherein the display module displays a first set of graphic indicia representing the baseline ST-segment deviations, each graphic indicia in the first set being displayed with respect to one of the locations corresponding to a respective lead and being aligned relative to the first linear axis based on the baseline ST-segment deviation for the respective lead; and
wherein the display module displays a second set of graphic indicia representing the current ST-segment deviations, each graphic indicia in the second set being displayed with respect to one of the locations corresponding to a respective lead and being aligned relative to the first linear axis based on the current ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the display module is further configured to:
for the first set of graphic indicia, display a first bar graph at each of the locations along the second linear axis corresponding to a respective lead, wherein each first bar graph graphically represents the baseline ST-segment deviation for the respective lead; and
for the second set of graphic indicia, display a second bar graph at each of the locations along the second linear axis corresponding to a respective lead, wherein each first bar graph graphically represents the current ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the display module is further configured to:
display the first bar graph between a first value relative to the first linear axis and a second value relative to the first linear axis, wherein the first value corresponds to the isoelectric value, and wherein the second value corresponds to the baseline ST-segment deviation for the respective lead; and
display the second bar graph between the second value relative to the first linear axis and a third value relative to the first linear axis, wherein the third value corresponds to the current ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein a width of the second bar graph in the direction of the second linear axis for a particular lead is narrower than the width of the first bar graph in the direction of the second linear axis for the particular lead.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the display module is further configured to:
highlight, at each of the locations along the second linear axis, at least one of the first bar graph and the second bar graph to visually distinguish the first bar graphs from the second bar graphs.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the highlighting comprises one or more graphical elements selected from the group comprising shading and coloring.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the display module is further configured to:
display one or more threshold lines substantially parallel to the second linear axis, each threshold line representing a threshold ST-segment deviation value;
determine that at least one of the second bar graphs intersects one of the threshold lines; and
in response to the determination, change the highlighting of the at least one second bar graphs that intersects one of the threshold lines.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the display module is further configured to:
display a first portion of the graph in a first window, the first portion corresponding to a first subset of leads; and
display a second portion of the graph in a second window, the second portion corresponding to a second subset of leads.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first subset of leads includes limb leads and the second subset of leads includes precordial leads.
20. A patient monitoring system for graphically representing ST-segment deviation, the system comprising:
means for acquiring electrocardiogram (ECG) signals through a plurality of leads, the ECG signals including an ST-segment between a QRS complex and a T wave;
means for processing the ECG signals to determine, for each of the plurality of leads, baseline ST-segment deviations from an isoelectric value and current ST-segment deviations from the isoelectric value;
means for displaying a user interface; and
means for displaying a graph in the user interface, the graph comprising:
a first linear axis representing ST-segment deviation values; and
a second linear axis representing the plurality of leads, wherein each of the plurality of leads is associated with a respective location along the second linear axis;
wherein the means for displaying displays a first set of graphic indicia representing the baseline ST-segment deviations, each graphic indicia in the first set being displayed with respect to one of the locations corresponding to a respective lead and being aligned relative to the first linear axis based on the baseline ST-segment deviation for the respective lead; and
wherein the means for displaying displays a second set of graphic indicia representing the current ST-segment deviations, each graphic indicia in the second set being displayed with respect to one of the locations corresponding to a respective lead and being aligned relative to the first linear axis based on the current ST-segment deviation for the respective lead.