BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described with respect to the following drawing figures, in which like numerals represent like features throughout the figures, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an orthopedic screw system, showing the outer member and the inner screw of the screw system in engagement;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the orthopedic screw system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the orthopedic screw system of FIG. 1 in engagement taken through Line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an exemplary vertebra, illustrating the anatomy relevant to a vertebral augmentation procedure;
FIGS. 5-10 are horizontal cross-sectional views of the vertebra of FIG. 4, illustrating the steps of a vertebral augmentation procedure and screw implantation procedure using the orthopedic screw system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an orthopedic screw system according to another embodiment of the invention, illustrating an inner screw with a finer thread pitch on an upper portion thereof and a coarser thread pitch on a lower portion thereof;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of an orthopedic screw system according to another embodiment of the invention, illustrating an inner screw with a variable angle head;
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of an inner screw of an orthopedic screw system with a generic ball head, according to another embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an orthopedic screw system according to another embodiment of the invention, illustrating an outer screw with engaging head structure.