# US 2023/0056984 A1 · Circular fixator system and method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2023/0056984 A1
- Document ID: US20230056984A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/822,824
- Filed: 2022-08-29
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-04
- Assignees: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Kian-Ming WONG; Jason EDIE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056984A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/62: Ring frames, i.e. devices extending around the bones to be positioned ({A61B17/6433} , A61B17/66 take precedence)
- A61B 17/171: {for external fixation}
- A61B 17/6425: {specially adapted to be fitted across a bone joint}
- A61B 17/645: {comprising a framework (A61B17/6425, A61B17/6441 take precedence)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A device includes a plurality of rings. Each ring has a first face, a second face, and at least one slot defined by first and second interior edges of the ring on opposing sides of the slot. The at least one slot penetrates from the first face to the second face. The first face of each ring has a first recess adjacent the slot on the first edge and a second recess adjacent the slot on the second edge. A plurality of posts join each one of the plurality of rings to an adjacent one of the plurality of rings.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-53. (canceled)

### Claim 54

A wire drill guide, comprising:
a barrel extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end of the barrel comprising a proximal guide portion and defining an inlet opening having a first diameter, the distal end of the barrel defining an outlet passage having a second diameter;
a tip defining a central longitudinal passage having a third diameter and a slot, the slot extending in a radial direction from the central longitudinal passage to an exterior surface of the tip; and
a socket for coupling together the barrel and the tip.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The wire drill guide of claim 54, wherein the proximal end of the barrel includes a rearward extending finger sized and configured to wrap around an inner edge of a ring of a circular fixator.

### Claim 56 (depends on 54)

The wire drill guide of claim 54, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is greater than the third diameter.

### Claim 57 (depends on 54)

The wire drill guide of claim 54, wherein the socket defines a first slot on a proximal end of the socket and a second slot on a distal end of the socket, the first slot sized and configured to receive the distal end of the barrel and the second slot sized and configured to receive a rear end of the tip.

### Claim 58 (depends on 54)

The wire drill guide of claim 54, wherein the barrel and the socket are integrally combined in one unitary piece.

### Claim 59 (depends on 54)

The wire drill guide of claim 54, wherein the tip and the socket are integrally combined in one unitary piece.

### Claim 60 (depends on 54)

The wire drill guide of claim 54, wherein a length of the proximal end of the barrel and a length of the socket are selected to allow the socket to slide a part of the length of the socket forward to extend a length of the wire drill guide.

### Claim 61 (depends on 54)

A kit, comprising:
the wire drill guide of claim 54; and
a wire sized and configured to be received in the barrel.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The kit of claim 61, further comprising a plurality of sockets, each socket of the plurality of sockets having a different length.

### Claim 63 (depends on 62)

The kit of claim 62, wherein a portion of the barrel is shaped as a partial cylinder having a pair of spaced apart flat sides that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the barrel.

### Claim 64 (depends on 61)

The kit of claim 61, wherein the wire is a smooth wire.

### Claim 65 (depends on 61)

The kit of claim 61, wherein the wire is an olive wire including an olive structure.

### Claim 66 (depends on 65)

The kit of claim 65, wherein the first diameter of the inlet opening is larger in diameter than the olive structure.

### Claim 67 (depends on 65)

The kit of claim 65, wherein the second diameter of the outlet passage is larger in diameter than the olive structure.

### Claim 68 (depends on 65)

The kit of claim 65, wherein the third diameter of the central longitudinal passage is larger in diameter than the olive wire but smaller in diameter than the olive structure.

### Claim 69 (depends on 54)

A method, comprising:
placing the wire drill guide of claim 54 on a ring of a circular fixator;
inserting a wire through the inlet opening at the proximal end of the barrel to the distal end of the barrel; and
driving the wire into the bone.

### Claim 70 (depends on 69)

The method of claim 69, wherein:
the wire has an olive structure larger than the inlet opening;
driving the wire includes driving the wire until the olive structure is located in a position that is at least one of adjacent to or within the tip; and
the method includes removing the tip of the wire drill guide by passing the slot of the tip over the wire.

### Claim 71 (depends on 69)

The method of claim 69, wherein the wire drill guide has a flat surface and a finger that extends from the distal end of the barrel to the proximal end of the barrel, and wherein placing the wire drill guide on the ring of the circular fixator includes positioning the wire drill guide so that the finger wraps around the ring such that the flat surface engages the ring.

### Claim 72 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, wherein the flat surface engages a top surface of the ring.

### Claim 73 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, wherein the flat surface engages a bottom face of the ring.