US 12,185,996 B2
Implant positioning devices and methods
Scott Steffensmeier, Winona Lake, IN (US); Jason Detweiler, Warsaw, IN (US); and Justin James May, Leesburg, IN (US)
Assigned to Biomet Microfixation, LLC, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed by Biomet Microfixation, LLC, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/569,259.
Application 17/569,259 is a continuation of application No. 16/263,100, filed on Jan. 31, 2019, granted, now 11,234,744.
Application 16/263,100 is a continuation of application No. 14/831,422, filed on Aug. 20, 2015, granted, now 10,226,290, issued on Mar. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/039,672, filed on Aug. 20, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0125492 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/80 (2006.01); A61B 17/17 (2006.01); A61B 17/86 (2006.01); A61B 17/90 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/808 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1728 (2013.01); A61B 17/1789 (2016.11); A61B 17/865 (2013.01); A61B 17/8023 (2013.01); A61B 17/8076 (2013.01); A61B 17/90 (2021.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for positioning an orthopaedic fixation device, comprising:
a compression attachment mechanism biased toward a closed position and comprising a first gripping portion;
a fastener guide coupled to the compression attachment mechanism and configured to receive a fastener; and
a spring member disposed in the fastener guide and configured to touch and hold the fastener in the fastener guide,
wherein the first gripping portion is pressable by a user so as to move in a first direction relative to the fastener guide and thereby overcome a biasing force in the compression attachment mechanism to transition the compression attachment mechanism from the closed position toward an open position for loading a plate onto the compression attachment mechanism,
wherein additionally, when the compression attachment mechanism is engaging the plate and being held in said open position by the user, the first gripping portion is releasable by the user to allow the first gripping portion to move in a second direction opposite the first direction and thereby allow the biased compression attachment mechanism to transition back toward the closed position where the compression attachment mechanism will again be subject to the biasing force for removably coupling the plate to the compression attachment mechanism,
wherein additionally, when the compression attachment mechanism is in said closed position and removably coupled to the plate, the first gripping portion is again pressable by the user so as to move in the first direction to thereby again overcome the biasing force in the compression attachment mechanism to again transition the compression attachment mechanism back toward the open position for releasing the plate from the compression attachment mechanism.