Prior art

To search the USPTO database for patent 12268397, one can use the Patent Public Search tool, which allows searching by patent number.

Here is an analysis of the prior art cited in US patent 12268397, based on the provided patent text. The "Cited by examiner" and "Cited by third party" sections on Google Patents indicate prior art that was considered during the examination of this patent and its family. The patent text itself lists "Citations (439)". I will focus on a selection of these to provide a representative overview, prioritizing those that appear to be most relevant based on their titles and descriptions.

Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 12268397:

Given the extensive list of citations (439), a comprehensive analysis of each one is beyond the scope of this response. However, I will select some illustrative examples of prior art directly cited in the patent and discuss their potential relevance to the claims of US12268397. I will focus on documents that appear to share common themes with the independent claims, such as bone cutting guides, osteotomy procedures, and fixation methods, particularly in the context of foot or hand surgery.

The independent claims (1, 20, 29) of US12268397 describe a bunion correction method involving a two-stage cutting and fusion procedure with specific fixation pin placements and guide manipulations. Therefore, prior art that details similar surgical methods, bone cutting guides for small bones, and multi-stage bone realignment procedures would be highly relevant.

Here are examples of potentially relevant prior art from the provided "Citations" section:

1. US4409973A - Method and apparatus for corrective osteotomy

   • Full Citation: US4409973A [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Publication Date: 1983-10-18 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a method and apparatus for corrective osteotomy. Given the title, it likely involves techniques for reshaping or cutting bone to correct deformities, which is a core aspect of bunion correction. [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Potential Anticipation: This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 20, and 29 related to the general concept of performing an osteotomy using a guide. However, the specific two-stage cutting, pin placement (distal to the guide slots), guide removal and re-positioning, and metatarsal-cuneiform fusion with compression, as detailed in US12268397's claims, would need to be compared against the specific disclosures of US4409973A. It is unlikely to anticipate the specific two-guide system and sequential cutting and repositioning steps.

2. US4565191A - Apparatus and method for performing cuneiform osteotomy

   • Full Citation: US4565191A [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Publication Date: 1986-01-21 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent specifically mentions "cuneiform osteotomy," directly relating to one of the bones targeted in US12268397's bunion correction method. This suggests a focus on foot surgery and bone cutting in that region. [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference could be highly relevant to claims 1, 20, and 29, particularly regarding the cutting of the cuneiform. The specific details of the apparatus and method, especially how it guides the cut and fixes the bone, would determine the extent of anticipation. The multi-bone fixation and sequential guide use might still differentiate US12268397.

3. US5042983A - Precision bone cutting guide

   • Full Citation: US5042983A [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Publication Date: 1991-08-27 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Brief Description: The title suggests a focus on accurate bone cutting guides, which is a fundamental element of US12268397. [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Potential Anticipation: This could anticipate the general concept of a bone cutting guide with precision features. However, for claims 1, 20, and 29, the distinctions would likely lie in the specific configuration of the guide system for multi-bone cutting, the two-stage process, and the fixation pin methodology (e.g., pins distal to the guide slots, removal and re-positioning of guides).

4. US6030391A - Alignment gauge for metatarsophalangeal fusion surgery

   • Full Citation: US6030391A [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Publication Date: 2000-02-29 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent's title directly mentions "metatarsophalangeal fusion surgery" and an "alignment gauge," which are highly relevant to bunion correction and the goal of fusing bones in a corrected position as described in US12268397. [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Potential Anticipation: This is a strong candidate for anticipating aspects of claims 1, 20, and 29 related to bone alignment and fusion in the foot. A detailed comparison would be needed to see if it discloses the specific two-guide, two-cut methodology with the distinct fixation pin arrangements and guide manipulation steps. The claims of US12268397 emphasize the cutting guide slots and their attachment, removal, and re-positioning, as well as the compression step in claim 29, which might be differentiating features.

5. US20040039394A1 - Ankle fusion guide and method

   • Full Citation: US20040039394A1 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Publication Date: 2004-02-26 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Brief Description: This application describes an "ankle fusion guide and method," indicating a surgical guide for fusing bones in the foot/ankle region. [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Potential Anticipation: While focusing on the ankle, the principles of a fusion guide and method could be relevant to the fusion aspect of US12268397's claims (e.g., "causing the metatarsal to fuse to the cuneiform"). The novelty of US12268397 would likely reside in the specific two-bone cutting and realignment method for bunion correction, especially the details of the guide design and pin usage across two distinct bones with sequential cuts and guide manipulation.

6. US6755838B2 - Arthrodesis guide for angularly positioning joint bones

   • Full Citation: US6755838B2 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Publication Date: 2004-06-29 [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an "arthrodesis guide for angularly positioning joint bones," which is highly pertinent to the "adjusting an alignment" and "causing the metatarsal to fuse to the cuneiform in the moved position" steps of US12268397's claims, particularly the ability to create angular cuts as mentioned in claim 11. [cite: US12268397B2]
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference could be very relevant to the functionality of achieving specific angular alignments and subsequent fusion. The differentiation for US12268397 would likely come from its specific two-guide system, the detailed sequence of cuts on different bones, the method of fixation with pins distal to the guide slots, and the sequential removal and re-positioning of the guides to achieve the overall bunion correction.

In summary, the most relevant prior art would likely be those patents and applications that describe surgical guides, osteotomy methods, and fusion procedures, particularly for the foot (metatarsal and cuneiform). While some cited prior art might cover individual elements, the novelty of US12268397's independent claims appears to lie in the combination of specific steps: the two-stage cutting using distinct guides (or a main guide that is manipulated), the precise fixation pin placements distal to the guide slots, the sequential removal and re-positioning of guides (as in Claim 20), the adjustment of bone alignment between cuts, and the final compression and fusion in the corrected position.