Granted Patent B2

US 12,370,054 · App. 18/588,893 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Inventors: Thomas R. Williams (Bon Aqua, TN); Eric Lintula (Parker, CO); Naser Rahman (Dover, DE); Kyle James Hartson (Denver, CO); Albert Dacosta (Lone Tree, CO); Dimitri Protopsaltis (Memphis, TN); Francis D. Barmes (Parker, CO)

A61F2/42A61F2/30A61F2002/30014A61F2002/30153A61F2002/30403A61F2002/30604A61F2002/3085A61F2002/4228

Abstract

Claims (63)

1. An implant, comprising:

a first member, wherein the first member comprises:

a body portion with at least one thread positioned on an exterior surface of the body portion of the first member, and a through hole extending from a first end to a second end of the first member, through the body portion;

a second member; and

a coupling member with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end engages the first member and the second end engages the second member, wherein the coupling member comprises:

a body extending between the first end and the second end of the coupling member, wherein the body includes a helical channel recessed into the body, wherein the body portion comprises:

an engagement end positioned at a second end of the body portion, and a second interior portion positioned at a second end of the through hole for receiving at least a portion of the coupling member, and wherein the second interior portion comprises:

a bore extending from the second end of the first member into the body portion, a recessed hole extending from a second end of the bore toward a fist end of the first member, and a tapered region extending from a second end of the recessed hole to a first portion of the through hole.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the bore is larger than the recessed hole.

3. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the engagement end comprises:

at least one protrusion extending away from the body portion of the first member; and

at least one recess extending into the at least one protrusion.

4. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises:

a body;

at least one through hole extending through the body from a first end to a second end of the second member;

at least one thread positioned on an exterior surface of the body; and

an engagement end positioned at the first end of the second member, wherein the engagement end of the second member comprises:

at least one protrusion extending away from the body; and

at least one recess extending into the at least one protrusion.

5. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the coupling member further comprises:

a proximal member positioned at the first end of the coupling member; and

a distal member positioned at the second end of the coupling member.

6. The implant of claim 5 , wherein the proximal member comprises:

at least one deflecting member extending away from the helical channel of the body of the coupling member; and

at least one groove extending into the proximal member of the coupling member and positioned between every two deflecting members of the at least one deflecting member.

7. The implant of claim 5 , wherein the distal member comprises:

four resilient members extending away from the second end of the coupling member;

at least one groove positioned between the four resilient members; and

a channel extending into the second end of the coupling member between two of the resilient members from the at least one groove.

8. The implant of claim 5 , wherein the coupling member further comprises:

a through hole extending through the body between the proximal member and the distal member.

9. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the coupling member further comprises:

a pin portion near the second end of the coupling member.

10. The implant of claim 9 , wherein the pin portion comprises:

at least one alignment channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the body of the coupling member; and

at least one alignment groove extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body of the coupling member.

11. The implant of claim 10 , wherein the at least one alignment channel is two alignment channels positioned on opposite sides of the body.

12. The implant of claim 10 , wherein the at least one alignment groove is two alignment grooves positioned on opposite sides of the body.

13. An implant system, comprising:

a fist member, wherein the first member comprises:

a body portion with at least one thread positioned on an exterior surface of the body portion of the first member, and a through hole extending from a first end to a second end of the first member, through the body portion;

a second member;

a coupling member with a first end and a second, wherein the first end engages the first member and the second end engages the second member, wherein the coupling member comprises:

a body extending between the first end and the second end of the coupling member, wherein the body incudes a helical channel recessed into the body, wherein the body portion comprises:

an engagement end positioned at a second end of the body portion, and a second interior portion positioned at a second end of the through hole for receiving at least a portion of the coupling member, and wherein the second interior portion comprises:

a bore extending from the second end of the first member into the body portion, a recessed hole extending from a second end of the bore toward a fist end of the first member, and a tapered region extending from a second end of the recessed hole to a first portion of the through hole; and

a biasing member for engaging the coupling member between the first member and the second member to position the helical channel in a first position.

14. A method for using an implant, comprising:

obtaining the implant, wherein the implant comprises:

a first member, wherein the first member comprises:

a body portion with at least one thread positioned on an exterior surface of the body portion of the first member, and a through hole extending from a first end to a second end of the first member, through the body portion;

a second member; and

a coupling member with a first end and a second end, wherein the coupling member comprises:

a body extending between the first end and the second end of the coupling member, wherein the body includes a helical channel recessed into the body, wherein the body portion comprises:

an engagement end positioned at a second end of the body portion, and a second interior portion positioned at a second end of the through hole for receiving at least a portion of the coupling member, and wherein the second interior portion comprises:

a bore extending from the second end of the first member into the body portion, a recessed hole extending from a second end of the bore toward a fist end of the first member, and a tapered region extending from a second end of the recessed hole to a first portion of the through hole;

making an incision to expose a joint with a first bone and a second bone;

preparing the bones for receiving the implant;

inserting the first member into the first bone;

inserting the second member into the second bone;

inserting the first end of the coupling member into the first member to secure the coupling member to the first member;

engaging the second end of the coupling member with the second member; and

closing the incision.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (30)