IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,629,193
Granted Patent B2
US 12,629,193 · App. 18/782,076 · Granted May 19, 2026

Systems and methods for metatarsal phalangeal joint fusion

Inventor: Zachary Korman (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
A61B17/8872A61F2/4606A61B2017/564A61B2090/3966A61F2002/30622
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,629,193
App. No.
18/782,076
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for metatarsal phalangeal joint fusion includes a hinged guide; a trajectory guide attachable to the hinged guide; and an anchoring wire to attach the hinged guide to a bone.

Claims (45)

1 . A system for metatarsal phalangeal joint fusion comprising:

a hinged guide including a connecting body coupled to a hinge body by a hinge so that the hinge body articulates with respect to the connecting body;

a metatarsal guide attached to the hinge body; and

a phalanx guide attached to the connecting body via a dowel and a lead screw;

a trajectory guide attachable to the hinged guide; and

an anchoring wire to attach the hinged guide to a bone.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinged guide further includes:

a first set screw to adjust articulation between the connecting body and the hinge body; and

a second set screw to adjust articulation between the hinge body and the metatarsal guide.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinged guide includes radiopaque indicators.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a distance between the connecting body and the phalanx guide is adjustable via the lead screw.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the trajectory guide includes:

an upright portion that is insertable into the hinged guide; and

an indicator portion that extends from the upright portion.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the indicator portion includes a radiopaque indicator that extends from the upright portion.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a single-chamfer wire sleeve configured to be inserted through a hole in the trajectory guide along a trajectory for a fixation fastener.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinged guide includes:

a connecting body;

a metatarsal guide attached by a hinge to the connecting body; and

a phalanx guide attached to the connecting body via a dowel and a lead screw.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a first knob to lock articulation between the connecting body and the metatarsal guide.

10 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

two first converging anchoring wires insertable through the phalanx guide and into a phalanx; and

two second converging anchoring wires insertable through the metatarsal guide and into a metatarsal.

11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an outrigger to attach the trajectory guide to the phalanx guide.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a second knob to lock articulation between the connecting body and the outrigger.

13 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising an adjustment screw to adjust elevation between the connecting body and the outrigger.

14 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising an outer single-chamfer wire sleeve configured to be inserted through a hole in the outrigger and anchored into a bone via a spike protruding from one end of the outer single-chamfer wire sleeve.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising an inner single-chamfer wire sleeve configured to be inserted through a bore of the outer single-chamfer wire sleeve and guide a fastener guide wire into a bone.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein a bore through the outer single-chamfer wire sleeve is offset from a center of the outer single-chamfer wire sleeve.

17 . A method of fusing a metatarsal phalangeal joint comprising:

aligning a hinged guide with a phalanx or a metatarsal;

anchoring the hinged guide to the phalanx or the metatarsal of the metatarsal phalangeal joint;

distracting the phalanx and the metatarsal;

preparing the metatarsal phalangeal joint;

adjusting dorsiflexion of the metatarsal phalangeal joint;

locking the hinged guide to set the dorsiflexion;

compressing the phalanx and the metatarsal;

selecting a trajectory of a fixation fastener; and

inserting the fixation fastener into one of the phalanx and the metatarsal along a selected trajectory.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the aligning includes placing a guide wire into about a center of a metatarsal head and placing the hinged guide over the guide wire.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the anchoring includes placing a first wire through the hinged guide and into the phalanx and a second wire through the hinged guide and into the metatarsal.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein aligning the hinged guide includes visualizing radiopaque indicators in the hinged guide.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the selecting a trajectory of a fixation fastener includes adjusting a trajectory guide with respect to the metatarsal phalangeal joint.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the selecting a trajectory of a fixation fastener includes selecting a diameter of the fixation fastener.

Assignments (1)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2024
From: KORMAN, ZACHARY
To: WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 068065/0150 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63518594 · Aug 10, 2023
Related Publication 20250049489A1 · Feb 13, 2025
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