# US 12,370,049 B2 · Method and apparatus for orthopedic implant

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- Number: US 12,370,049 B2
- Document ID: US12370049B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/188,693
- Filed: 2021-03-01
- Published: 2021-06-17
- Granted: 2025-07-29
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-13
- Applicants: Uwe R. Pontius
- Inventors: Uwe R. Pontius
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12370049B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/8095: {Wedge osteotomy devices}
- A61F 2/30734: {Modular inserts, sleeves or augments, e.g. placed on proximal part of stem for fixation purposes or wedges for bridging a bone defect}
- A61F 2/30749: {Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body}
- A61F 2/4603: {for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof}
- A61F 2002/2892: {Tibia}
- A61F 2002/30131: {horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped}
- A61F 2002/302: {toroidal, e.g. rings}
- A61F 2002/3023: {wedge-shaped cylinders}
- A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30736: {Augments or augmentation pieces, e.g. wedges or blocks for bridging a bone defect}
- A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- A61F 2310/00131: Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00161: Carbon; Graphite
- A61F 2310/00179: Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
- 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 tibial implant may include a plurality of implant subunits. The implant subunits may be configured for individual insertion within a wedge-shaped-void of the tibia. The implant subunits may further be configured for assembly in order to provide an implant substantially covering an exposed portion of cortical bone formed when performing a surgical osteotomy. Methods and kits for insertion and assembly of implants are further described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of installing an orthopedic implant comprising:
creating an opening in a patient's tissue in order to expose a portion of the patient's tibia;
cutting the portion of the patient's tibia to create a wedge-shaped void in the patient's tibia;
individually inserting each of a plurality of implant subunits through the opening in the patient's tissue;
positioning the plurality of implant subunits within said wedge-shaped void to form an implant; and
securing one or more cables to at least some of said plurality of implant subunits;
wherein said plurality of implant subunits include one or more secondary implant subunits and a plurality of other implant subunits, said positioning comprising:
generally positioning said plurality of implant subunits on an exposed surface of the patient's tibia adjacent said wedge-shaped void;
wherein said one or more secondary implant subunits are generally positioned over a trabecular portion of said exposed surface;
wherein said plurality of other implant subunits are generally positioned along a periphery of said one or more secondary implant subunits;
securing said one or more cables to said plurality of other implant subunits; and
tightening said one or more cables to automatically direct said plurality of other implant subunits to abut against at least one of said one or more secondary implant subunits to form a generally U-shaped portion of said implant, the generally U-shaped portion substantially overlapping an exposed rim of cortical bone of said exposed surface of the patient's tibia.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said generally U-shaped portion overlaps an area that is greater than about 75% of an area of said exposed rim of cortical bone.

### Claim 3

A method of installing an orthopedic implant comprising:
creating an opening in a patient's tissue in order to expose a portion of the patient's tibia;
cutting the portion of the patient's tibia to create a wedge-shaped void in the patient's tibia;
individually inserting each of a plurality of implant subunits through the opening in the patient's tissue;
positioning the plurality of implant subunits within said wedge-shaped void to form an implant; and
securing one or more cables to at least some of said plurality of implant subunits;
wherein said positioning comprises positioning at least some of the plurality of implant subunits to form a generally U-shaped portion of the implant, and
positioning said generally U-shaped portion about one or more of the plurality of implant subunits.