Robotic Knee Testing Apparatus and Patient and Apparatus Set-Up Methods

1 . A knee examination method comprising the steps of:

situating a patient on a patient support adjacent a robotic knee testing apparatus;

setting up the robotic knee testing apparatus;

further setting up the leg of the patient relative to the robotic knee testing apparatus; and

examining knee laxity of a knee of the leg after the steps of setting up and further setting up, whereby the step of examining includes operating the robotic knee testing apparatus to manipulate a tibia positioning assembly.

2 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of setting up the robotic knee testing apparatus includes the step of leveling portions of a drive system of the tibia positioning assembly.

3 . A knee examination method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of leveling includes leveling a first motor of a X-axis drive, a second motor of a Y-axis drive, and a third motor of a Z-axis drive of the drive system.

4 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of setting up the robotic knee testing apparatus includes the step of adjusting portions of a drive system of the tibia positioning assembly to a zero torque position or reading.

5 . A knee examination method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of adjusting includes adjusting a first motor of a X-axis drive to a zero torque position or reading, a second motor of a Y-axis drive to a zero torque position or reading, and a third motor of a Z-axis drive to a zero torque position or reading.

6 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of further setting up includes the step of positioning the knee of the patient on or in a knee stabilizer of the robotic knee testing apparatus such that a joint line of the knee is directly over a front plane of the knee stabilizer.

7 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of further setting up includes the step of adjusting thigh abduction of the patient to a desired angle.

8 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of further setting up includes the step of centering a knee stabilizer of the robotic knee testing apparatus relative to the knee of the patient.

9 . A knee examination method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of centering includes releasing a locking element on the knee stabilizer and sliding the knee stabilizer along a slide track under the knee of the patient.

10 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of further setting up includes the steps of positioning a thigh of the leg of the patient in a thigh stabilizer and clamping the thigh stabilizer onto the thigh of the patient.

11 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of further setting up includes the steps of centering a knee stabilizer of the robotic knee testing apparatus relative to the knee of the patient and clamping the knee stabilizer onto a patella of the knee of the patient.

12 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of setting up includes the steps of moving a contact surface of a foot plate of the tibia positioning assembly to a testing position so as to contact a sole of a foot of the leg and securing the foot to the foot plate and against the contact surface.

13 . A knee examination method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of moving further includes the steps of sliding the tibia positioning assembly and the foot plate along a track toward the sole of the foot and then locking the tibia positioning assembly in the testing position.

14 . A knee examination method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of setting up further includes the step of orienting the foot plate and the foot to a predetermined toes up orientation.

15 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of setting up further includes the step of locating a calf plate of the tibia positioning assembly beneath the leg of the patient and at a predetermined testing location.

16 . A knee examination method according to claim 15 , wherein the step of locating further includes the step of measuring a leg length of the leg between a heel and the knee of the leg and locating the calf plate at a point that is three-fourths the leg length from the heel.

17 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of setting up further includes the step of attaching at least one circular sensor to the leg of the patient.

18 . A knee examination method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the setting up, further setting up, and examining steps are conducted on both legs for both knees of the patient.

19 . A method of setting up a robotic knee testing apparatus to test a knee of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

leveling portions of a drive system of a tibia positioning assembly of the robotic knee testing apparatus;

adjusting portions of the drive system to a zero torque position or reading;

moving a foot plate of the tibia positioning assembly to a testing position so as to contact a sole of a foot of a patient;

securing the foot to the foot plate;

orienting the foot plate and the foot to a predetermined toes up orientation; and

locating a calf plate of the tibia positioning assembly beneath a leg of the patient and at a predetermined testing location.

20 . A method of setting up a robotic knee testing apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the step of locating further comprises the step of measuring a leg length of the leg between a heel and the knee of the leg and locating the calf plate at a distance from the heel that is three-fourths the leg length.

21 . A method of setting up a robotic knee testing apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the step of leveling further includes leveling a first motor of a X-axis drive, a second motor of a Y-axis drive, and a third motor of a Z-axis drive of the drive system.

22 . A method of setting up a robotic knee testing apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the step of adjusting further includes adjusting a first motor of a X-axis drive to a zero torque position or reading, a second motor of a Y-axis drive to a zero torque position or reading, and a third motor of a Z-axis drive to a zero torque position or reading.

23 . A method of setting up a robotic knee testing apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the step of moving further includes the step of sliding the tibia positioning assembly and the foot plate along a track toward the sole of the foot and then locking the tibia positioning assembly in the testing position.

24 . A method of setting up a patient relative to a robotic knee testing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

situating a patient on a patient support adjacent a robotic knee testing apparatus;

positioning a knee of the patient on or in a knee stabilizer of the robotic knee testing apparatus such that a posterior joint line of the knee is directly over a front plane of the knee stabilizer;

centering the knee stabilizer relative to the knee of the patient; and

positioning a thigh of the leg of the patient in a thigh stabilizer of the robotic knee testing apparatus and clamping the thigh stabilizer onto the thigh of the patient.

25 . A method of setting up a patient according to claim 24 , wherein the step of centering further includes the step of releasing a locking element on the knee stabilizer and sliding the knee stabilizer along a slide track under the knee of the patient.

26 . A method of setting up a patient according to claim 24 , wherein the step of centering further includes the step of clamping the knee stabilizer onto a patella of the knee of the patient.

27 . A method of setting up a patient according to claim 24 , wherein the steps of positioning a knee, centering a knee stabilizer, and positioning a thigh stabilizer are each conducted for both legs and both knees of the patient.

28 . A method of setting up a patient according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of adjusting thigh abduction of the patient to a desired angle.

29 . A method for setting up a patient according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of defining an X, Y, and Z axis for the femoral and tibial axis.

30 . A method for setting up a patient according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of defining a neutral position of the knee for one or more axes or tests.

31 . A method of setting up a patient and a robotic knee testing apparatus to examine the knees of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

situating a patient on a patient support adjacent a robotic knee testing apparatus;

leveling portions of a drive system of a tibia positioning assembly of the robotic knee testing apparatus;

adjusting portions of the drive system to a zero torque position or reading;

positioning a knee of the patient on or in a knee stabilizer of the robotic knee testing apparatus such that a posterior joint line of the knee is directly over a front plane of the knee stabilizer;

centering the knee stabilizer relative to the knee of the patient;

positioning a thigh of the leg of the patient in a thigh stabilizer of the robotic knee testing apparatus;

clamping the thigh stabilizer onto the thigh of the patient;

moving a foot plate of the tibia positioning assembly to a testing position so as to contact a foot of a patient;

securing the foot to the foot plate;

orienting the foot plate and the foot to a predetermined toes up orientation; and

locating a calf plate of the tibia positioning assembly beneath a leg of the patient and at a predetermined testing location.