US 12,446,937 B2
Fixation devices and surgical techniques such as for rib stabilization
Saddy Rodolfo Garcia, St. Augustine, FL (US); and James Fewell, Neptune Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic, LLC, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed by Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic, LLC, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/134,957.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/332,980, filed on Apr. 20, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0338071 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/80 (2006.01); A61B 17/86 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/8076 (2013.01) [A61B 17/8009 (2013.01); A61B 17/808 (2013.01); A61B 17/86 (2013.01); A61B 17/8894 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for surgically repairing a rib of a patient, the system comprising:
a first rib bracket configured to be fixedly attached to a first side of the rib that faces a thoracic cavity of the patient;
one or more fasteners configured to fixedly attach the first rib bracket to the rib;
a driver having an end effector configured to drive the one or more fasteners into the rib;
a caddy configured to retain the one or more fasteners and deliver the one or more fasteners to a position adjacent the rib whereby the end effector is configured to engage the one or more fasteners to drive the one or more fasteners from the caddy and into the rib to fixedly attach the first rib bracket to the first side of the rib; and
a delivery tool configured to couple with the first rib bracket and position the first rib bracket relative to the rib, wherein the first rib bracket is configured to pass through an incision in the patient in a first position and pass into the thoracic cavity, and wherein upon contacting the first side of the rib, the first rib bracket is configured to pivot relative to a shaft of the delivery tool within the thoracic cavity to a second position.