IP Library › Patent Application 14315546
Patent Application
App. No. 14/315,546

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING FORCES IN A KNEE JOINT

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/315,546
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 (41)

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.