# US 9,750,551 B1 · Bunion repair method and tool assembly

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- Number: US 9,750,551 B1
- Document ID: US9750551B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/632,901
- Filed: 2015-02-26
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-26
- Assignees: Donald Nichols
- Applicants: Donald Nichols
- Inventors: Donald Nichols
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750551B1

## CPC

- A61B 17/8061: {specially adapted for particular bones (A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/1682: {for the foot or ankle}
- A61B 17/683: {comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut}
- A61B 17/8004: {with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones}
- A61B 17/1637: {Hollow drills or saws producing a curved cut, e.g. cylindrical (A61B10/025, A61B17/1695 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A system and method for the surgical correction of a bunion deformity allows for correction of a bunion deformity. The method includes: drilling a hole across a first metatarsal and through a second metatarsal; placing a tube from outside the first metatarsal through the hole across the first and second metatarsals; pushing a first button through the tube until the first button exits the tube through a medial side of the second metatarsal; flipping the first button to engage the first button against the second metatarsal and applying a lateral tension on the suture strand; manually pushing the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal together to correct intermetatarsal angular deformity; pulling free ends of the suture strand of the suture-button construct to advance a second button of the suture-button construct and to engage the second button against the first metatarsal; and securing the second button against the first metatarsal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bunion repair tool assembly, comprising:
a drill bit having an axial through bore for guiding the drill bit over a wire to drill through first and second metatarsals, forming a drilled bore;
a tube sized to be inserted into the drilled bore spanning between the first and second metatarsals;
a first plate connected to a length of suture or FIBER WIRE, the first plate having a profile to fit through the tube in one orientation and to be larger than the drilled bore in another orientation at the second metatarsal;
a pusher sized to push the first plate from a base end of the tube, through the tube to exit out of the distal end of the tube; and
a second plate for being connected to the length of suture or FIBER WIRE and being sized to be larger than the drilled bore at the first metatarsal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the drill bit has a drill portion and a base portion, the drill portion has a diameter of about 4 mm, and a drill length of about 80 mm and the axial through bore has a diameter of about 1.2 mm and extends from an open tip end to an open base end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pusher includes a handle, a pushing shank with a diameter of about 1.3 mm and a length of about 100 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first plate includes two holes for receiving a suture or FIBER WIRE, and a curved face which allows the plate to fit comformably against the second metatarsal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the second plate includes two holes for receiving a suture or FIBER WIRE.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tube has a length of about 90 mm and a diameter of about 3.9 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first plate is oblong-shaped having at least two apertures.