US 12268428

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 12,268,428 B2:

Title: Tarsal-metatarsal joint procedure utilizing fulcrum

Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts Inc.

Inventors: F. Barry Bays, Robert D. Santrock, Paul Dayton, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe William Ferguson, John T. Treace.

Filing Date: April 25, 2024.

Issue Date: April 8, 2025.

Abstract: A technique for correcting a bone deformity, such as a bunion, may be performed using an instrument. In some examples, the technique involves inserting the instrument between a first metatarsal and a second metatarsal. The technique further includes preparing an end of the first metatarsal and preparing an end of a medial cuneiform opposing the end of the first metatarsal.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1:
This claim describes a method for correcting a bunion deformity. It involves these key steps:

1. Inserting a fulcrum: A fulcrum is placed between the first and second metatarsal bones, where the first metatarsal is incorrectly aligned with the second metatarsal.
2. Preparing bone ends: The end of the first metatarsal and the end of the medial cuneiform bone (which faces the first metatarsal) are prepared.
3. Moving the first metatarsal: A part of the first metatarsal further from the body (distal portion) is moved towards the second metatarsal in a horizontal plane (transverse plane). This action causes the part of the first metatarsal closer to the body (proximal portion) to pivot around the fulcrum. This pivoting reduces the angle between the first and second metatarsal bones.

Independent Claim 12:
This claim describes a fulcrum device designed for use in a bone realignment procedure. The fulcrum includes:

1. A body: This part of the fulcrum is shaped to be inserted into the space between two adjacent metatarsal bones.
2. A handle: This handle is connected to the body and extends from it at an angle greater than zero degrees. This angled design creates a space between the handle and the body, which can be used to retract (pull back) soft tissue during surgery.

Independent Claim 15:
This claim describes a multidimensional fulcrum, detailing its physical characteristics:

1. A fulcrum body: This body has a specific length, width, and thickness.
2. Two distinct ends:
   • A first end with a first thickness, designed to be inserted into an intermetatarsal space of a particular size.
   • A second end with a second thickness, designed for an intermetatarsal space of a different size.
3. Thickness difference: The second thickness is explicitly greater than the first thickness. This allows the same instrument to be used in intermetatarsal spaces of different sizes by simply flipping it.

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Uncertainty Note Regarding CAFC 2026 Dockets:
While the patent document itself indicates that there is "Family has litigation," including a "PTAB case PGR2026-00020 filed (Pending)" and a "US case filed in Delaware District Court", direct access to the CAFC dockets for a specific patent number without a case name or number is generally not provided by a simple search of the public portal. The provided search results confirmed the existence of the USPTO's search tools but did not yield specific CAFC docket entries for patent 12268428 directly. Therefore, while litigation is noted in the patent's metadata, detailed information from CAFC dockets would require more specific search parameters than just the patent number.