IP Library › Granted Patent US 12702457

Granted Patent B2

US 12702457 · App. 19/266,024 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Orthopaedic implant system for compression-distraction of joints

Inventors: Roy C. Wiley (North Webster, IN); Lew C. Schon (Baltimore, MD); Malik S. Siddique (Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB)

Assignee: Pace Surgical, Inc.

A61B17/8004 A61B17/025 A61B17/66 A61B17/68 A61B2017/681 A61B17/686 A61B17/7216 A61B17/7225 A61B17/8014 A61B17/8061 A61F2002/30622 A61F2/4225 A61F2002/4228 A61F2002/4233 A61F2002/4238 A61F2/4241 A61F2002/4243 A61F2002/4251 A61F2/4261

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12702457
App. No.: 19/266,024
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

An orthopaedic implant system includes an orthopaedic implant having a plurality of fixation openings and a plug opening defining a plug opening diameter that is greater than a diameter of any of the fixation openings. The plurality of fixation openings include at least one first fixation opening configured to accept a fixation element inserted in a first bone and at least one second fixation opening configured to accept a fixation element inserted in a second bone. The plug opening is configured to accept a plug inserted in a joint space between the first bone and the second bone to cause compression distraction of the first bone and the second bone.

Claims (49)

1 . A method of implanting an orthopaedic implant and a graft, the method comprising:

positioning the orthopaedic implant so that a first fixation opening of the orthopaedic implant is positioned over a first bone, so that a second fixation opening of the orthopaedic implant is positioned over a second bone, and so that a plug opening of the orthopaedic implant is positioned over a joint space between the first bone and the second bone:

inserting a first fixation element into the first bone through the first fixation opening;

inserting a second fixation element into the second bone through the second fixation opening;

removing tissue from the joint space through the plug opening so as to create a recess at the joint space;

causing distraction of the first bone and the second bone and compression of the graft by inserting the graft into the recess at the joint space; and

inserting a plug into the plug opening.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the orthopaedic implant so that the first fixation opening of the orthopaedic implant is positioned over the first bone and so that the second fixation opening of the orthopaedic implant is positioned over the second bone comprises positioning the orthopaedic implant so that the first fixation opening of the orthopaedic implant is positioned over the first bone of a hand or a foot of a patient and so that the second fixation opening of the orthopaedic implant is positioned over the second bone of a hand or a foot of a patient.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a head defining a head diameter that is greater than a diameter of the plug opening.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a plug into the plug opening comprises inserting the plug into the plug opening so that a portion of the plug extends out of the plug opening when the plug is fully inserted in the plug opening and so that the head of the plug abuts against the orthopaedic implant, wherein the portion of the plug that extends out of the plug opening defines a protruding length of 2-4 mm to cause compression distraction of the first bone and the second bone.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a plug into the plug opening comprises inserting the plug into the plug opening so that a portion of the plug extends out of the plug opening when the plug is fully inserted in the plug opening and so that the head of the plug abuts against the orthopaedic implant, wherein the portion of the plug that extends out of the plug opening defines a protruding length of 1-7 mm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the graft is larger than the recess so that inserting the graft into the recess at the joint space causes the distraction of the first and second bones and compression of the graft.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first fixation opening is in a first portion of the orthopaedic implant;

the second fixation opening is in a second portion of the orthopaedic implant that is different than the first portion of the orthopaedic implant;

the plug opening is positioned in a portion of the orthopaedic implant that is between the first portion and the second portion.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the orthopaedic implant comprises a first portion that includes the first fixation opening and a second portion that includes the second fixation opening and wherein the first portion is connected to the second portion by an offsetting portion having an offset so the first portion is lower than the second portion by the amount of the offset of the offsetting portion.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second fixation elements are bone screws.

10 . The method of claim 1 , comprising inserting the first fixation element into the first bone through the first opening of the orthopaedic implant and inserting the second fixation element into the second bone through the second opening of the orthopaedic implant before removing tissue from the joint space through the plug opening.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the graft has a diameter that is 1-2 mm greater than a diameter of the tissue removed from the joint space through the plug opening.

12 . A method of implanting an orthopaedic implant and a graft, the method comprising:

positioning the orthopaedic implant so that a first opening is aligned with a joint between a first bone and a second bone;

fastening the orthopaedic implant to the first bone and the second bone;

removing tissue from the joint through the first opening so as to create a space at the joint between the first bone and the second bone;

inserting the graft into the space at the joint between the first bone and the second bone;

inserting a plug into the first opening in the orthopaedic implant.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a size of the graft is greater than a size of the space at the joint space such that inserting the graft into the space causes distraction of the first bone and the second bone and compression of the graft.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein fastening the orthopaedic implant to the first bone comprises passing a first fastener through a first fixation opening in the orthopaedic implant and into the first bone and passing a second fastener through a second fixation opening in the orthopaedic implant and into the second bone.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:

the first fixation opening is in a first portion of the orthopaedic implant;

the second fixation opening is in a second portion of the orthopaedic implant that is different than the first portion of the orthopaedic implant;

the first opening is positioned in a portion of the orthopaedic implant that is between the first portion and the second portion.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein fastening the orthopaedic implant to the first bone further comprises passing a third fastener through a third fixation opening in the orthopaedic implant and into the first bone and passing a fourth fastener through a fourth fixation opening in the orthopaedic implant and into the second bone.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the orthopaedic implant comprises a first portion that includes a first fixation opening and a second portion that includes a second fixation opening and wherein the first portion is connected to the second portion by an offsetting portion having an offset so the first portion is lower than the second portion by the amount of the offset of the offsetting portion.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising inserting the plug into the first opening so that a portion of the plug extends out of the first opening when the plug is fully inserted in the first opening so that the head of the plug abuts against the orthopaedic implant, wherein the portion of the plug that extends out of the first opening defines a protruding length of 2-4 mm to cause compression distraction of the first bone and the second bone.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising inserting the plug into the first opening so that a portion of the plug extends out of the first opening when the plug is fully inserted in the first opening so that the head of the plug abuts against the orthopaedic implant, wherein the portion of the plug that extends out of the first opening defines a protruding length of 1-7 mm to cause compression distraction of the first bone and the second bone.

20 . The method of claim 12 , comprising fastening the orthopaedic implant to the first bone and the second bone before removing tissue from the joint through the first opening.

21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the graft has a diameter that is 1-2 mm greater than a diameter of the tissue removed from the joint space through the first opening.

22 . A method of implanting an orthopaedic implant and a graft, comprising:

inserting a first fixation element into a first bone through a first opening of the orthopaedic implant;

inserting a second fixation element into a second bone through a second opening of the orthopaedic implant;

creating a recess in a joint space between the first bone and the second bone by removing tissue from the joint space;

advancing the graft through a third opening in the orthopaedic implant and into the recess in the joint space; and

inserting a plug into the third opening.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein advancing the graft into the recess in the joint space causes a distraction force to be applied to the first and second bones.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein advancing the graft into the recess in the joint space causes a compression force to be applied to the graft by the first and second bones.

25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the plug opening is in a portion of the orthopaedic implant that is between the first opening and the second opening and wherein the third opening has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the first opening and greater than a diameter of the second opening.

26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein inserting the plug into the third opening comprises inserting the plug into the third opening so that a portion of the plug extends out of the third opening a length of 1-7 mm.

27 . The method of claim 22 , comprising inserting the first fixation element into the first bone through the first opening of the orthopaedic implant and inserting the second fixation element into the second bone through the second opening of the orthopaedic implant before creating the recess in the joint space between the first bone and the second bone.