US2014309560A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus and method for measuring forces in a knee joint

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Assignee: BONUTTI SKELETAL INNOVATIONS LLCPriority: Aug 28, 2001Filed: Jun 26, 2014Published: Oct 16, 2014
Est. expiryAug 28, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Peter M. Bonutti
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Claims

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring forces in a knee joint. The apparatus includes a first transducer configured to be position in a medial compartment of the knee joint. The first transducer is configured to measure a first force in the medial compartment and transmit the first measured force to a display. The apparatus also includes a second transducer configured to be positioned in a lateral compartment of the knee joint. The second transducer is configured to measure a second force in the lateral compartment and transmit the second measured force to the display.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for measuring forces in a knee joint, the apparatus comprising:
 a first transducer configured to be positioned in a medial compartment of the knee joint, the first transducer being configured to measure a first force in the medial compartment of the knee and transmit the first force measurement to a display; and   a second transducer configured to be positioned in a lateral compartment of the knee joint, the second transducer being configured to measure a second force in the lateral compartment of the knee and transmit the second force measurement to the display.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the medial and lateral transducer are piezoelectric load cells. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be used in combination with a provisional implant component. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be placed between a femoral implant component and a tibial implant. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor connected to the first and second transducer. 
     
     
         6 . A method of measuring forces in a knee joint, the method comprising:
 attaching a femoral implant to a distal end of a femur;   attaching a tibial base plate to a proximal end of a tibia;   positioning a first transducer in a medial compartment of the knee between the femoral implant and the tibial base plate;   positioning a second transducer in a lateral compartment of the knee between the femoral implant and the tibial base plate;   flexing and extending the knee joint;   measuring the forces in the medial and lateral compartments of the knee joint; and   transmitting the measurements to a display.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , the method further comprising correlating the measured forces to tensions in ligaments of the knee joint. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising comparing the tensions of the ligaments of the knee joints. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , the method further comprising releasing a ligament if the measured force is too large. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , the method further comprising tightening a ligament if the measured force is too small. 
     
     
         11 . A method of measuring forces in a knee joint, the method comprising:
 positioning a first transducer in a medial compartment of the knee between a femur and a tibia;   positioning a second transducer in a lateral compartment of the knee between the femur and the tibia;   flexing and extending the knee joint;   measuring the forces in the medial and lateral compartments of the knee joint; and   transmitting the measurements to a display.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising correlating the measured forces to tensions in ligaments of the knee joint. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the method further comprising comparing the tensions of the ligaments of the knee joints. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising releasing a ligament if the measured force is too large. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising tightening a ligament if the measured force is too small. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising attaching a femoral implant to a distal end of the femur. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising attaching a tibial implant to a proximal end of the tibia. 
     
     
         18 . A method of measuring force in a knee joint, the method comprising:
 positioning a transducer in the knee between a femur and a tibia;   flexing and extending the knee joint;   measuring the force in the knee joint; and   transmitting the measurement to a display.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , the method further comprising correlating the measured force to tension in a ligament of the knee joint. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , the method further comprising releasing a ligament if the measured force is too large. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , the method further comprising tightening a ligament if the measured force is too small. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , the method further comprising attaching a femoral implant to a distal end of the femur. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , the method further comprising attaching a tibial implant to a proximal end of the tibia.

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