US 12274481

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 12274481:

US Patent Number: 12274481B2

• Title: Bone positioning and preparing guide systems and methods
• Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts Inc [cite: Original Assignee]
• Inventors: Robert D. Santrock, Paul Dayton, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe W. Ferguson, John T. Treace [cite: Inventor]
• Filing Date: 2024-02-26 [cite: Filing date]
• Issue Date: 2025-04-15 [cite: Publication date]
• Abstract: The patent describes methods for temporarily fixing the orientation of one or more bones, particularly for correcting bunion deformities. It also covers bone positioning devices, methods for using these devices, bone preparation guides, and methods for using these guides. [cite: Abstract]

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim outlines an instrumented surgical technique for preparing a tarsal-metatarsal joint for fusion and correcting a bunion deformity by repositioning the first metatarsal. The technique involves making an incision, engaging the first metatarsal with a bone engagement member of a bone positioning guide, and engaging the guide with the second metatarsal. It then specifies cutting the end of the first metatarsal, rotating a knob on the guide's threaded shaft to push the first metatarsal laterally (reducing the intermetatarsal angle), and applying force to a pin in the first metatarsal to adjust its alignment in the frontal plane. The technique further includes cutting the end of the medial cuneiform, compressing the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform, and then fixating their new position with at least one bone fixation device for fusion.

• Claim 14: This claim details another instrumented surgical technique for tarsal-metatarsal joint fusion and bunion deformity correction, building upon Claim 1 with more specific sequencing and additional steps. After making an incision and engaging the first and second metatarsals with the bone positioning guide, it mandates cutting and removing a portion of the first metatarsal before rotating the knob to reduce the intermetatarsal angle and imparting force to a pin for frontal plane alignment. Subsequently, after these alignment steps, the medial cuneiform end is cut, and its cut portion is removed. The technique then includes fenestrating (perforating) the cut ends of both the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform, compressing them, fixating their moved position with at least one bone fixation device, and finally removing the bone positioning guide.

• Claim 27: This claim describes an instrumented surgical technique specifically for correcting a bunion deformity. It includes making an incision, engaging the first metatarsal with a bone engagement member and the bone positioning guide with the second metatarsal, and preparing the end of the first metatarsal for fusion. Similar to previous claims, it involves rotating a knob on a threaded shaft to push the first metatarsal laterally, reducing the intermetatarsal angle, and imparting force to a pin to adjust frontal plane alignment. The technique also requires preparing an end of the medial cuneiform for fusion and installing at least one fixation device through the incision to fixate the repositioned first metatarsal relative to the medial cuneiform.

• Claim 30: This claim provides a further instrumented surgical technique for tarsal-metatarsal joint fusion and bunion correction, emphasizing the timing of cutting steps relative to alignment. It includes making two incisions (one for the tarsal-metatarsal joint, one for the second metatarsal), engaging the first metatarsal with the bone engagement member, and positioning a bone contact surface of the guide on the second metatarsal. The end of the first metatarsal is cut. The key distinction is that the knob is rotated to reduce the intermetatarsal angle, and force is imparted to a pin to adjust frontal plane alignment, before or during which one or both of the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform are cut. Finally, the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform are compressed, fixated, and the bone positioning guide is removed.

Litigation/Docket Information (as of April 26, 2026):

The patent family of US12274481 has active litigation. Specifically, there is a PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, PGR2026-00022, that was filed in 2026 and is currently pending. [cite: PTAB case PGR2026-00022 filed (Pending)] Additionally, a US case was filed in the Delaware District Court (1:25-cv-00592) in 2025. [cite: US case filed in Delaware District Court]