Overview
This patent protects an integrated surgical aiming system that mechanically couples extramedullary fixation plates with intramedullary alignment tools to provide repeatable, predetermined screw and nail trajectories. Filed on June 17, 2014 and granted on July 28, 2015, the prosecution reflects rigorous claim drafting that captures an assembly-level approach: a fixation plate, a channeling assembly (or integrated aiming assembly), an intramedullary entry locator, a triangular screw guide and compatible nail interfaces. Inventors based in San Diego, CA; Redding, CA; and Tulsa, OK developed embodiments that stack guided components to translate plate-based screw locations into safe intramedullary entry points and to locate threaded apertures on an implanted nail. The resulting system reduces intraoperative guesswork, supports minimally invasive portals with stacked drill sleeves, and fixes extramedullary and intramedullary elements in a defined spatial relationship while screws are placed. Our firm’s drafting emphasizes the structural cooperation of channels, apertures, and guides to protect both componentized and one-piece aiming assemblies, strengthening enforceability across multiple surgical workflows.
Key Features
- Mechanical stacking of channeling assembly, intramedullary entry locator, and fixation plate for precise alignment
- Triangular screw guide that locates nail threaded apertures from outside the bone
- Predefined screw trajectories to avoid nail intersection and simplify fixation
- Support for supplementary plates and minimally invasive stacked drilling
This invention advances trauma and orthopedic implant workflows by combining robust mechanical guidance with versatile implant interfaces, improving procedural accuracy and surgical efficiency in fixation and nailing procedures.
Granted: 2015-07-28
