Bone Positioning Guide
Patent No. US11602386 (titled "Bone Positioning Guide") was filed by Midcap Funding Iv Trust on Nov 29, 2021.
What is this patent about?
’386 is related to the field of bone positioning , specifically devices and techniques used during surgical procedures to correct bone misalignments. The background of the invention lies in the challenges associated with manually realigning bones, particularly in the foot, during procedures like bunion correction. Traditional methods often lead to inconsistent results due to the difficulty of simultaneously realigning and fixating the bones.
The underlying idea behind ’386 is to provide a mechanical guide that allows for controlled and precise realignment of bones, specifically the first metatarsal in relation to the second metatarsal, during bunion correction. The key inventive insight is the use of a device with a bone engagement member and a tip that can be brought closer together, thereby applying a corrective force to the first metatarsal.
The claims of ’386 focus on a bone positioning guide designed for bunion correction. The guide includes a bone engagement member that sits on the medial side of the first metatarsal, a tip positioned on the lateral side of the second metatarsal (between the second and third metatarsals), and a mechanism to reduce the distance between these two points. This action causes the first metatarsal to move, specifically in the transverse plane, reducing the intermetatarsal angle .
In practice, the surgeon positions the tip of the guide on the second metatarsal and the bone engagement member on the first metatarsal. By actuating the mechanism, such as a threaded shaft, the bone engagement member is advanced towards the tip. This controlled movement realigns the first metatarsal, correcting the bunion deformity. The device can also correct misalignments in multiple planes, including frontal and sagittal, by applying force at a single location.
This approach differs from prior manual techniques by providing a more controlled and predictable realignment. The guide allows for precise adjustments and maintains the corrected position while the surgeon performs fixation, such as inserting screws or plates. Furthermore, the device can be used in conjunction with a bone preparation guide to ensure proper bone surface preparation for fusion, contributing to a more stable and lasting correction of the bunion deformity. The use of a fulcrum can further refine the realignment process.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2010s when ’386 was filed, bone realignment procedures were typically implemented using manual surgical techniques. At a time when surgeons commonly relied on their skill to realign bones and then fixate them, holding the bones in the realigned position while fixating them was non-trivial. The complexity of these manual procedures could lead to inconsistent treatment results.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art does not teach or disclose a bone positioning guide where the tip is separated from the bone engagement member by a distance effective to position the tip on a lateral side of a second metatarsal and in an intermetatarsal space between the second metatarsal and a third metatarsal.
Claims
This patent contains 30 claims, with independent claims 1 and 19 directed to a bone positioning guide for a bunion correction procedure. The independent claims focus on the structural components and their arrangement for reducing the intermetatarsal angle. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, configurations, and materials of the bone positioning guide described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11602386
- Application Number
- US17537183
- Filing Date
- Nov 29, 2021
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Dec 28, 2035
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents