# US 11,998,257 B2 · Techniques and instruments for placement of orthopedic implants relative to bone features

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- Number: US 11,998,257 B2
- Document ID: US11998257B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/838,020
- Filed: 2022-06-10
- Published: 2022-09-29
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-27
- Assignees: McGinley Engineered Solutions, LLC
- Applicants: McGinley Engineered Solutions, LLC
- Inventors: Joseph C. McGinley; Matthew V. Russell; Vincent Palazzolo; Ben Warren; Adam M. Johnson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998257B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/8872: {Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone (A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/56: Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor
- A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
- A61B 90/00: Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
- A61B 90/06: {Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for}
- A61B 17/72: Intramedullary devices, e.g. pins or nails
- A61B 17/846: {Nails or pins, i.e. anchors without movable parts, holding by friction only, with or without structured surface (A61B17/72, A61B17/86 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment}
- A61B 2034/2059: {Mechanical position encoders}
- A61B 2090/062: {penetration depth}
- A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Methods and instruments for placement of orthopedic implants in bones of a patient. The placement may include selective placement of the implant relative to structure of the bone using a measurement system that may detect interfaces between layers of the bone. The orthopedic implants may be engaged by various embodiments of chucks. The chucks may include structure for engaging indexing features of a corresponding orthopedic implant to restrict movement of the implant relative to the chuck along a working axis. The chucks may allow for use of an instrument having a measurement system for accurate and repeatable placement of the implants using the instrument.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of advancing an orthopedic implant into a bone of a patient, comprising:
engaging the orthopedic implant with a chuck of an instrument to restrict axial movement of the orthopedic implant relative to the chuck along a working axis of the chuck;
first advancing the orthopedic implant distally into the bone of the patient a first distance by imparting rotational motion to the chuck when engaged with the orthopedic implant;
first measuring the first distance using a displacement sensor of a measurement system associated with the instrument;
releasing the orthopedic implant from the chuck;
retracting the instrument relative to the orthopedic implant in a proximal direction opposite of the direction of the advancing;
reengaging the orthopedic implant with the chuck of the instrument to restrict axial movement of the orthopedic implant relative to the chuck along a working axis of the chuck; and
second advancing the orthopedic implant distally into the bone of the patient a second distance by imparting rotational motion to the chuck; and
second measuring the second distance using the displacement sensor of the measurement system associated with the instrument.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
summing the first distance and the second distance at the measurement system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
determining that the orthopedic implant is released from the chuck; and
disregarding any change in displacement of the displacement sensor when the orthopedic implant is released from the chuck.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein a sensor is provided relative to the chuck to determine the orthopedic implant is released from the chuck.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the determining is based on a user input provided to the measurement system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the engaging comprises the chuck engaging the orthopedic implant at a first indexing feature of a plurality of indexing features and the reengaging comprises the chuck engaging the orthopedic implant at a second indexing feature of the plurality of indexing features that is proximal to the first indexing feature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the engaging occurs in response to the first advancing, the reengaging occurs in response to the second advancing, and the releasing occurs in response to the retracting.