Implant device for surgical plantar plate repair
This invention is a two-part surgical implant designed to repair the plantar plate, a ligament in the foot that stabilizes the toe joints and commonly tears from overuse or injury. The device consists of a male and female component that fit together, with built-in anchor points (tiedown bars and finger structures) that allow surgeons to suture the torn ligament securely to the implant rather than relying solely on suture-to-bone fixation. The assembled implant is placed at the metatarsophalangeal joint and holds the repaired tissue in proper alignment while it heals. The design aims to simplify a procedure that currently requires technically demanding suture passing and offers a more consistent fixation point for the soft tissue repair.
What you could build
A single-use orthopedic implant kit sold to foot-and-ankle surgeons and hospitals for plantar plate reconstruction procedures; buyers would be orthopedic device distributors and ambulatory surgery centers specializing in foot surgery.
Who in Virginia should care
Orthopedic and podiatric surgery groups in Virginia, particularly around Northern Virginia and Richmond hospital systems, as well as military-adjacent foot care providers serving DoD personnel at installations like Fort Belvoir.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Demitria POULOS, Logan N. DICKINSON, Skye CARLSON, Zachary KOZAR, Jennifer S. WAYNE, Vincent WANG, John R. CLEMENTS
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed October 13, 2023
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240207041A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.