Patents by Inventor W. Bret Smith

W. Bret Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11116558
    Abstract: A bone positioning guide may include a main body member, a shaft, and a bone engagement member. The shaft can be movably connected to the main body member and have the bone engagement member rotatably coupled to its distal end. The bone engagement member can have a surface configured to engage a bone. The main body member can also include a tip opposite the bone engagement member for engaging a second bone. In use, the bone engagement member may be positioned in contact with a medial side of a first metatarsal while the tip is positioned in contact with a lateral side of a different metatarsal, such as a second metatarsal. The shaft can then be moved to advance the bone engagement member toward the tip, causing realignment of the first metatarsal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Paul Dayton, Sean F. Scanlan, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, John T. Treace, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, Joe W. Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20210236180
    Abstract: A method of preparing a metatarsophalangeal joint for fusion may involve surgically accessing the metatarsophalangeal joint and separating the metatarsal from the opposed proximal phalanx at the joint. The technique may involve preparing an end of the metatarsal and preparing an end of the opposed proximal phalanx for fusion. With or without the aid of a bone positioner, the metatarsal may be moved in one or more planes, such as the frontal and transverse planes. The proximal phalanx may also be moved in one or more planes, for example relative to the moved metatarsal. Subsequently, a bone fixation device can be applied across or through the metatarsophalangeal joint separating the metatarsal from the opposed proximal phalanx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: William T. DeCarbo, Paul Dayton, W. Bret Smith, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, Jody McAleer
  • Patent number: 11039873
    Abstract: Methods for temporarily fixing an orientation of a bone or bones. Methods of correcting a bunion deformity. Bone positioning devices. Methods of using a bone positioning device. Bone preparation guides. Methods of using a bone preparation guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Santrock, Paul Dayton, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe W. Ferguson, John T. Treace
  • Publication number: 20210093365
    Abstract: A bone cutting guide may include a support that contains a shaft movable relative to the support. The shaft may carry a guide member having one or more cut guides through which a clinician inserts a cutting member to cut bone positioned under the guide cut guides. In operation, a clinician may fixate the support of the bone cutting guide to a bone and translate the guide member until the one or more cut guides are positioned at a desired cut location. The clinician may then perform a cut through the cut guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Paul Dayton, Joe William Ferguson, F. Barry Bays, John T. Treace, W. Bret Smith
  • Publication number: 20210093328
    Abstract: A method of correcting an alignment between bones of a foot may involve positioning a first cutting slot of a bone cutting guide over a first metatarsal and inserting a first fixation pin through a first fixation aperture of the bone cutting guide and into the first metatarsal. The method may also involve inserting a cutting member through the first cutting slot to remove a portion of the first metatarsal and adjusting an alignment of the first metatarsal relative to a first cuneiform. In some examples, the method further includes positioning a second cutting slot of the bone cutting guide over the first cuneiform and inserting a second fixation pin through a second fixation aperture of bone cutting guide into the first cuneiform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Paul Dayton, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe William Ferguson, F. Barry Bays, John T. Treace
  • Publication number: 20210077120
    Abstract: Instruments and surgical techniques may be used to correct a bone deformity, such as a bunion in which a metatarsal is misaligned with respect to a medial cuneiform. In some examples, a bone cutting guide is utilized to cut an end of the metatarsal and/or an end of the medial cuneiform to facilitate realignment of the bones. The cutting guide can have a pivotable cut guide surface along which a cutting instrument is translated to provide a precise bone cut. In some applications, after suitably preparing and aligning the bones, the bones are compressed together using a fixation pin. The fixation pin can be driven through one of the bones, into the second bone, and then further driven to compress the bones together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel J. Hatch, Joe W. Ferguson, Paul Dayton, W. Bret Smith, Lowell Weil, JR., F. Barry Bays
  • Patent number: 10888335
    Abstract: A method of correcting an alignment between bones of a foot may involve positioning a first cutting slot of a bone cutting guide over a first metatarsal and inserting a first fixation pin through a first fixation aperture of the bone cutting guide and into the first metatarsal. The method may also involve inserting a cutting member through the first cutting slot to remove a portion of the first metatarsal and adjusting an alignment of the first metatarsal relative to a first cuneiform. In some examples, the method further includes positioning a second cutting slot of the bone cutting guide over the first cuneiform and inserting a second fixation pin through a second fixation aperture of bone cutting guide into the first cuneiform. The method can involve inserting a cutting member through the second cutting slot to remove a portion of the first cuneiform and causing the first metatarsal to fuse to the first cuneiform in the moved position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dayton, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe William Ferguson, F. Barry Bays, John T. Treace
  • Patent number: 10874446
    Abstract: A bone positioning guide may include a main body member, a shaft, and a bone engagement member. The shaft can be movably connected to the main body member and have the bone engagement member rotatably coupled to its distal end. The bone engagement member can have a surface configured to engage a bone. The main body member can also include a tip opposite the bone engagement member for engaging a second bone. In use, the bone engagement member may be positioned in contact with a medial side of a first metatarsal while the tip is positioned in contact with a lateral side of a different metatarsal, such as a second metatarsal. The shaft can then be moved to advance the bone engagement member toward the tip, causing realignment of the first metatarsal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Paul Dayton, Sean F. Scanlan, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, John T. Treace, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, Joe W. Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20200375645
    Abstract: Methods for temporarily fixing an orientation of a bone or bones. Methods of correcting a bunion deformity. Bone positioning devices. Methods of using a bone positioning device. Bone preparation guides. Methods of using a bone preparation guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Robert D. Santrock, Paul Dayton, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe W. Ferguson, John T. Treace
  • Publication number: 20200375644
    Abstract: A bone positioning guide may include a main body member, a shaft, and a bone engagement member. The shaft can be movably connected to the main body member and have the bone engagement member rotatably coupled to its distal end. The bone engagement member can have a surface configured to engage a bone. The main body member can also include a tip opposite the bone engagement member for engaging a second bone. In use, the bone engagement member may be positioned in contact with a medial side of a first metatarsal while the tip is positioned in contact with a lateral side of a different metatarsal, such as a second metatarsal. The shaft can then be moved to advance the bone engagement member toward the tip, causing realignment of the first metatarsal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Paul Dayton, Sean F. Scanlan, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, John T. Treace, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, Joe W. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10849670
    Abstract: Methods for temporarily fixing an orientation of a bone or bones. Methods of correcting a bunion deformity. Bone positioning devices. Methods of using a bone positioning device. Bone preparation guides. Methods of using a bone preparation guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Santrock, Paul Dayton, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe W. Ferguson, John T. Treace
  • Patent number: 10849631
    Abstract: Instruments and surgical techniques may be used to correct a bone deformity, such as a bunion in which a metatarsal is misaligned with respect to a medial cuneiform. In some examples, a bone cutting guide is utilized to cut an end of the metatarsal and/or an end of the medial cuneiform to facilitate realignment of the bones. The cutting guide can have a pivotable cut guide surface along which a cutting instrument is translated to provide a precise bone cut. In some applications, after suitably preparing and aligning the bones, the bones are compressed together using a fixation pin. The fixation pin can be driven through one of the bones, into the second bone, and then further driven to compress the bones together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Hatch, Joe W. Ferguson, Paul Dayton, W. Bret Smith, Lowell Weil, Jr., F. Barry Bays
  • Patent number: 10849663
    Abstract: A bone cutting guide may include a support that contains a shaft movable relative to the support. The shaft may carry a guide member having one or more cut guides through which a clinician inserts a cutting member to cut bone positioned under the guide cut guides. In operation, a clinician may fixate the support of the bone cutting guide to a bone and translate the guide member until the one or more cut guides are positioned at a desired cut location. The clinician may then perform a cut through the cut guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dayton, Joe William Ferguson, F. Barry Bays, John T. Treace, W. Bret Smith
  • Publication number: 20200197021
    Abstract: A method of correcting an alignment between bones of a foot may involve positioning a first cutting slot of a bone cutting guide over a first metatarsal and inserting a first fixation pin through a first fixation aperture of the bone cutting guide and into the first metatarsal. The method may also involve inserting a cutting member through the first cutting slot to remove a portion of the first metatarsal and adjusting an alignment of the first metatarsal relative to a first cuneiform. In some examples, the method further includes positioning a second cutting slot of the bone cutting guide over the first cuneiform and inserting a second fixation pin through a second fixation aperture of bone cutting guide into the first cuneiform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Dayton, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe William Ferguson, F. Barry Bays, John T. Treace
  • Publication number: 20200155176
    Abstract: In some examples, a method for preparing one or more bones involves inserting a spacer into a space defined between a first bone and a second bone, such as a joint space between a first metatarsal and medial cuneiform. A bone preparation guide can be aligned with opposed ends of the first bone and the second bone using the spacer as an alignment reference. For example, the bone preparation guide may include an opening such that the guide can be installed across the joint space with the spacer received in the opening. A clinician may use the bone preparation guide to guide a tissue removing instrument to cut or otherwise prepare the ends of the first bone portion and second bone portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: F. Barry Bays, Paul Dayton, Joe William Ferguson, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Robert D. Santrock, Sean F. Scanlan, W. Bret Smith, John T. Treace
  • Publication number: 20200146738
    Abstract: A bone positioning guide may include a main body member, a shaft, and a bone engagement member. The shaft can be movably connected to the main body member and have the bone engagement member rotatably coupled to its distal end. The bone engagement member can have a surface configured to engage a bone. The main body member can also include a tip opposite the bone engagement member for engaging a second bone. In use, the bone engagement member may be positioned in contact with a medial side of a first metatarsal while the tip is positioned in contact with a lateral side of a different metatarsal, such as a second metatarsal. The shaft can then be moved to advance the bone engagement member toward the tip, causing realignment of the first metatarsal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Paul Dayton, Sean F. Scanlan, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, John T. Treace
  • Patent number: 10575862
    Abstract: In some examples, a method for preparing one or more bones involves inserting a spacer into a space defined between a first bone and a second bone, such as a joint space between a first metatarsal and medial cuneiform. A bone preparation guide can be aligned with opposed ends of the first bone and the second bone using the spacer as an alignment reference. For example, the bone preparation guide may include an opening such that the guide can be installed across the joint space with the spacer received in the opening. A clinician may use the bone preparation guide to guide a tissue removing instrument to cut or otherwise prepare the ends of the first bone portion and second bone portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: F. Barry Bays, Paul Dayton, Joe William Ferguson, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Robert D. Santrock, Sean F. Scanlan, W. Bret Smith, John T. Treace
  • Patent number: 10561426
    Abstract: A bone cutting guide may include a support that contains a shaft movable relative to the support. The shaft may carry a guide member having one or more cut guides through which a clinician inserts a cutting member to cut bone positioned under the guide cut guides. In operation, a clinician may fixate the support of the bone cutting guide to a bone and translate the guide member until the one or more cut guides are positioned at a desired cut location. The clinician may then perform a cut through the cut guide. In some examples, the bone cutting guide includes additional components, such as bridging member or secondary cut guide, to provide additional functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dayton, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe William Ferguson, F. Barry Bays, John T. Treace
  • Publication number: 20200029977
    Abstract: A bone cutting guide may include a support that contains a shaft movable relative to the support. The shaft may carry a guide member having one or more cut guides through which a clinician inserts a cutting member to cut bone positioned under the guide cut guides. In operation, a clinician may fixate the support of the bone cutting guide to a bone and translate the guide member until the one or more cut guides are positioned at a desired cut location. The clinician may then perform a cut through the cut guide. In some examples, the bone cutting guide includes additional components, such as bridging member or secondary cut guide, to provide additional functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Dayton, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe William Ferguson, F. Barry Bays, John T. Treace
  • Publication number: 20190328436
    Abstract: A technique for correcting a bone deformity, such as a bunion, may be performed using a fulcrum. In some examples, the technique involves inserting a fulcrum between a first metatarsal that is anatomically misaligned with respect to a second metatarsal. The technique further includes preparing an end of the first metatarsal and preparing an end of a medial cuneiform opposing the end of the first metatarsal. In addition, a distal portion of the first metatarsal is moved toward the second metatarsal in a transverse plane, thereby pivoting a proximal portion of the first metatarsal about the fulcrum and reducing an intermetatarsal angle between the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: F. Barry Bays, Robert D. Santrock, Paul Dayton, Daniel J. Hatch, W. Bret Smith, Carlos Eduardo Gil, Sean F. Scanlan, Joe William Ferguson, John T. Treace