# US 11,896,244 B2 · Method of repairing plantar plate tears through graft augmentation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,244 B2 - Document ID: US11896244B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/397,624 - Filed: 2021-08-09 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-17 - Assignees: Warren Windram - Applicants: Warren W. Windram - Inventors: Warren W. Windram - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896244B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/1775: {for the foot or ankle} - A61B 17/025: {Joint distractors} - A61B 17/1682: {for the foot or ankle} - A61B 17/1714: {for applying tendons or ligaments (implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805)} - A61B 17/848: {Kirschner wires, i.e. thin, long nails} - A61F 2/08: Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments - A61F 2/0805: {Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments} - A61F 2/0811: {Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments} - A61F 2/4225: {for feet, e.g. toes} - A61B 17/0206: {with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements} - A61B 17/8645: {Headless screws, e.g. ligament interference screws} - A61B 17/8875: {Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches} - A61B 50/20: Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02) - A61B 50/30: Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) - A61B 90/11: with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints - A61B 2017/00358: {Snares for grasping} - A61B 2017/681: {Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms} - A61B 2050/3008: {having multiple compartments} - A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length} - A61B 2090/067: {for measuring angles} - A61F 2002/0858: {Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A method of repairing plantar plate tears of an individual through augmentation that includes cutting an incision above a damaged area of a plantar plate on an individual, spreading the tissue with a plantar plate joint distractor, inserting a drill insertion member into the plantar drill guide and at a drilling angle over tissue at or near the damaged area of the plantar plate, drilling, with a drill bit and at the drilling angle, into the tissue at or near the damaged area of the plantar plate, attaching a K-wire to a graft, pulling, with the K-wire, the graft across a damaged area of the plantar plate augmenting the damaged area of the plantar plate, and manipulating an interference-type screw through the plantar plate and either or both the K-wire and the graft to engage and compress the graft for fixation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of repairing plantar plate tears of an individual through augmentation comprising the steps of: cutting an incision above a damaged area of a plantar plate on an individual; spreading the tissue at or near the plantar plate with a plantar plate joint distractor to generate an open configuration along a spreader opening path; positioning a plantar drill guide over the plantar plate; inserting a drill insertion member into the plantar drill guide and at a drilling angle over tissue at or near the damaged area of the plantar plate; drilling, with a drill bit and at the drilling angle, into the tissue at or near the damaged area of the plantar plate; attaching at least one K-wire to a graft; pulling, with the at least one K-wire, the graft across a damaged area of the plantar plate augmenting the damaged area of the plantar plate; and manipulating, with a screw driver, at least one interference-type screw through the plantar plate and at least one of the at least one of the K-wire and the graft to engage and compress the graft for fixation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing the plantar drill guide with a main body defining a plurality of channels sloped at multiple different angles, a support member, and a drill receiving platform. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising: inserting the drill insertion member into one of the plurality of channels dependent on the drilling angle over the tissue at or near the damaged area of the plantar plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising: positioning a distal opening of the drill insertion member for receiving the drill bit to be aligned with the drill receiving platform and for drilling at the drilling angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: removing the plantar drill guide from over the plantar plate before pulling, with the at least one K-wire, the graft across a damaged area of the plantar plate augmenting the damaged area of the plantar plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: attaching at least two K-wires to the graft; pulling, with at least one of the at least one two K-wires, the graft across a damaged area of the plantar plate augmenting the damaged area of the plantar plate; and manipulating, with the screw driver, at least two interference-type screws through the plantar plate and the at least two K-wires and the graft to engage and compress the graft for fixation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, further comprising: removing, after a duration, the at least two K-wires from the graft, whereby the damaged area of the plantar plate is healed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: removing, after a duration, the at least one K-wire from the graft, whereby the damaged area of the plantar plate is healed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: utilizing a graft passer with a loop to manipulate the graft across the damaged area of the plantar plate augmenting the damaged area of the plantar plate, the loop retaining the graft during manipulation.