Bone positioning guide

What is this patent about?

’359 is related to the field of orthopedic surgery and mechanical bone realignment. Specifically, it addresses the technical challenges of correcting complex, multi-planar deformities in the foot, such as bunions (hallux valgus), where a metatarsal must be precisely repositioned and stabilized relative to adjacent bones to ensure successful long-term fusion.

The underlying idea behind ’359 is that a single-point mechanical compression force, applied between the medial side of a misaligned first metatarsal and the lateral side of a stable neighboring metatarsal, can simultaneously correct deformities in the transverse, sagittal, and frontal planes. By utilizing a C-shaped main body to bridge the foot's anatomy, the device allows a surgeon to translate and rotate the bone into an anatomically correct orientation using a controlled mechanical actuator rather than manual manipulation.

The claims of ’359 focus on a method for correcting the position of a first metatarsal using a specialized positioning guide. The process involves placing a bone engagement member on the medial side of the first metatarsal and inserting a tapered tip through a percutaneous incision into the intermetatarsal space between the second and third metatarsals. By reducing the distance between these two points, the guide forces the first metatarsal to move in the transverse plane, effectively reducing the intermetatarsal angle before permanent fixation is applied.

In practice, the invention functions as a temporary external jig that maintains the corrected bone orientation while the surgeon prepares the joint surfaces. A cannulated shaft allows for the insertion of a K-wire to provisionally lock the bone's position, while a separate bone preparation guide can be indexed to the joint to ensure that bone cuts are perfectly parallel. This systematic approach ensures that the final fusion surfaces are optimized for contact and stability, reducing the risk of the deformity recurring.

This method differs from prior approaches by moving away from manual, freehand realignment which often fails to address the axial rotation of the metatarsal in the frontal plane. Unlike traditional clamps that may only compress bones together, this system uses the second and third metatarsals as a stable mechanical anchor. By incorporating a fulcrum at the base of the metatarsals, the device prevents unwanted lateral shifting (base shift) during the correction, ensuring the bone pivots precisely into its natural anatomical position.