A61B 17/56
Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints
Official title: Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor
A61B17/56 (Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints) appears on 26,979 US grants and 31,949 published applications in this corpus.
Search patents in A61B- Granted patents
- 26,979
- Published applications
- 31,949
- Assignees
- 4,664
- Inventors
- 24,057
- Latest grant
- 6 Oct 2026
Filings by year
| Year | Granted patents | Published applications |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 26 | 0 |
| 1977 | 28 | 0 |
| 1978 | 22 | 0 |
| 1979 | 16 | 0 |
| 1980 | 26 | 0 |
| 1981 | 33 | 0 |
| 1982 | 30 | 0 |
| 1983 | 34 | 0 |
| 1984 | 58 | 0 |
| 1985 | 49 | 0 |
| 1986 | 68 | 0 |
| 1987 | 52 | 0 |
| 1988 | 67 | 0 |
| 1989 | 77 | 0 |
| 1990 | 104 | 0 |
| 1991 | 131 | 0 |
| 1992 | 146 | 0 |
| 1993 | 128 | 0 |
| 1994 | 195 | 0 |
| 1995 | 201 | 0 |
| 1996 | 261 | 0 |
| 1997 | 282 | 0 |
| 1998 | 297 | 0 |
| 1999 | 336 | 0 |
| 2000 | 328 | 0 |
| 2001 | 363 | 123 |
| 2002 | 311 | 470 |
| 2003 | 416 | 529 |
| 2004 | 323 | 752 |
| 2005 | 214 | 950 |
| 2006 | 296 | 1040 |
| 2007 | 287 | 1139 |
| 2008 | 185 | 1414 |
| 2009 | 403 | 1215 |
| 2010 | 732 | 1361 |
| 2011 | 902 | 1342 |
| 2012 | 1160 | 1434 |
| 2013 | 1259 | 1505 |
| 2014 | 1352 | 1738 |
| 2015 | 1457 | 1489 |
| 2016 | 1470 | 1603 |
| 2017 | 1470 | 1594 |
| 2018 | 1407 | 1559 |
| 2019 | 1477 | 1513 |
| 2020 | 1362 | 1495 |
| 2021 | 1296 | 1508 |
| 2022 | 1271 | 1420 |
| 2023 | 1168 | 1327 |
| 2024 | 1222 | 1235 |
| 2025 | 1287 | 1227 |
| 2026 | 894 | 967 |
By publication year. Applications have been published since 2001. 2026 runs to 8 Oct.
Subgroups
Granted patents
- A61B 17/58For osteosynthesis25,903
- A61B 2017/564Methods for bone or joint treatmentIndexing code2,198
- A61B 2017/568Produced with shape and dimensions specific for an individual patientIndexing code879
- A61B 2017/567Joint mechanisms or joint supports in addition to the natural joints andIndexing code250
- A61B 17/562Implants for placement in joint gaps without restricting joint motion216
- A61B 2017/561Implants with special means for releasing a drugIndexing code135
Recent patents
- Surgical devices for bone6 Oct 2026US 12,751,715 B2Expand Medical Ltd.
- MIS osteotomy guide6 Oct 2026US 12,751,721 B2Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
- Ankle replacement system and method6 Oct 2026US 12,751,726 B2Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
- Fusion systems, instruments, bone plates and methods of use6 Oct 2026US 12,751,727 B2Paragon 28, Inc.
- Surgical instrument with orientation sensor having different modes and a user identified heading6 Oct 2026US 12,751,740 B2Prichard Medical, Inc.
- Medical cutting devices with static components having temperature sensors and related methods8 Oct 2026US 2026/0306109 A1Innovations 4 Surgery, LLC
- Guidewire-capturing surgical instrument8 Oct 2026US 2026/0306115 A1Globus Medical, Inc.
- Systems, Apparatus and Methods for Stabilizing Sacroiliac Joints8 Oct 2026US 2026/0306116 A1Tenon Medical, Inc.
- Spinal tethering devices, systems, and methods8 Oct 2026US 2026/0306138 A1Highridge Medical, LLC
- Orthopedic extendable rods8 Oct 2026US 2026/0306139 A1Globus Medical, Inc.
Most cited
By later US patents
- Medical devices incorporating sim alloy elements2,338US 4,665,906 ARaychem Corporation · 1987
- Clip and osteosynthesis plate with dynamic compression and self-retention1,992US 5,246,443 A1993
- Absorbable surgical fastener with bone penetrating elements1,956US 5,522,817 AUnited States Surgical Corporation · 1996
- Bone fixation screw system1,955US 6,022,352 ABiomet, Inc. · 2000
- Absorbable surgical repair devices1,935US 5,342,395 AAmerican Cyanamid Company · 1994