The European Patent Office (EPO) granted a patent to two Saudis for their invention of a nail ‘screw’ made of natural minerals, including date stones.
The screw is similar in its formation to the structure and composition of bones because it contains carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and minerals.
It is used in surgical procedures to install fractured bone segments, where it settles into the bones and begins to decompose naturally in the body after a period of 30-45 days, from the date of the surgery. Full decomposition requires a period of six to nine months.
“This new screw is a scientific leap. It differs from other metal screws made of chrome or other metals in many ways; the most significant modification is the fact that it is made of natural and biodegradable elements that decompose in the body without any complications or adverse effects,” said a joint statement by the two inventors Mohammed Assa’edi and Nagwan Abu Khair.
This screw requires no further surgery to remove it from the body, after the fractured bone has healed. It is also easy to use and cheaper in price.
Khaled Saleh, director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing Program at King Saud University, said the program received the patent application and submitted it to the EPO.
The scientific team at the university will commence clinical trials on the screw, in preparation for its use, locally and globally.
The EPO consists of 146 international entities. Countries with important scientific and commercial discoveries have been selected for this purpose, including the European Office for Patents, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
Two Saudis invent bone screw from date stones
