Patella protector

1 . A patella protector for protecting a patella of a knee during surgery, comprising:

a platform being sized and shaped to be slid under the patella, said platform including at least one surface; and

a web including a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end being connected to at least one said surface of said platform, said web terminating in a gripping element at said second end.

2 . The patella protector of claim 1 , wherein said first end is connected transversely to said platform.

3 . The patella protector of claim 1 , wherein said at least one surface comprises an edge of said platform.

4 . The patella protector of claim 1 , wherein said platform approximately has the form of a plate.

5 . The patella protector of claim 4 , wherein said plate is approximately flat.

6 . The patella protector of claim 1 , wherein said at least one surface includes a patella contacting surface including a first width, and a second width defining at least one truncated edge of said patella contacting surface.

7 . The patella protector of claim 1 , wherein said at least one surface includes a patella contacting surface, and said patella contacting surface has a non-slip surface.

8 . The patella protector of claim 7 , wherein said non-slip surface is a serrated surface.

9 . The patella protector of claim 8 , wherein said serrated surface includes a plurality of approximately triangular ridges.

10 . The patella protector of claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of approximately triangular ridges includes a vertex with a radius.

11 . The patella protector of claim 10 , wherein each said radius is at least 0.005 inches.

12 . The patella protector of claim 9 , further including a first side of a first triangular ridge intersecting a second side of a second triangular ridge, an angle between said first side and said second side subtending approximately 90°.

13 . The patella protector of claim 1 , wherein said gripping element is a curved handle.

14 . The patella protector of claim 1 , wherein said gripping element is a screw threadingly engaged with said second end for gripping the patella between said screw and said platform.

15 . A patella protector for protecting a patella of a knee during surgery, comprising:

a platform configured to be slid under the patella; and

a curved handle attached to said platform.

16 . The patella protector of claim 15 , further including a portion of said curved handle lying generally coplanar with said platform and defining a patella receiving slot therebetween.

17 . The patella protector of claim 15 , wherein said handle has a generally S-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

18 . A method of protecting a patella of a knee during surgery, comprising the steps of:

providing a patella protector;

sliding a surface of said patella protector between the patella and the knee; and

retracting the patella at least partially from a surgical field of the surgery using said patella protector.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said patella protector includes a platform sized and shaped to be slid under the patella, said platform including at least one surface, said patella protector further includes a web with a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end connected to at least one said surface of said platform, said web terminates in a gripping element at said second end.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further including the step of retaining the patella within said patella protector during an operation of the surgery.

21 . A patella protector for protecting a patella of a knee during surgery, comprising:

a platform being sized and shaped to be slid under the patella, said platform including a patella contacting surface having a non-slip surface.