Apparatus, system and method for intraoperative performance analysis during joint arthroplasty

A system for balancing soft tissue intraoperatively during knee joint arthroplasty comprising:

• a first joint trial having a curved convex articulating surface;
• a second joint trial having a curved concave articulating surface for receiving the convex articulating surface of the first joint trial;
• the second joint trial including:
• a polymer layer at the articulating surface;
• a sensor array below the polymer layer, the sensor array having a curved convex contour substantially following the curved concave contour of the articulating surface, the sensor array being capable of generating a signal in response to pressure;
• and
• a body below the sensor array, the body having a curved concave surface adjacent to the sensor array.

A method of making an instrumented prosthetic knee trial comprising:

• providing a curved contoured forming surface;
• providing a conformable sensor array;
• providing a polymer material;
• forming the polymer material over the curved contoured forming surface so that the polymer material has a curved contoured surface that substantially mates with the curved contoured forming surface;
• and
• assembling the formed polymer material and conformable sensor array so that the conformable sensor array is positioned against the curved contoured surface of the polymer material;
• wherein the conformable sensor array conforms substantially to the curved contoured surface of the polymer material.

A method of balancing soft tissue during knee joint arthroplasty comprising:

• providing a first joint trial having a curved convex articular surface;
• providing a second joint trial having a curved concave articular surface for receiving the convex articular surface of the first joint trial;
• the second joint trial including:
• a curved concave protective layer at the articulating surface;
• a sensor array below the protective layer, the sensor array having a curved contour substantially following the curved contour of the articulating surface, the sensor array being capable of generating a signal in response to pressure;
• and
• a body below the sensor array, the body having a curved concave surface adjacent to the sensor array;
• the method further comprising:
• resecting adjacent portions of two bones;
• placing the first joint trial on one of the resected bones and placing the second joint trial on the second resected bone;
• flexing the bones about the first and second joint trials so that portions of the first joint trial bear against portions of the protective layer of the second joint trial.

A method of instructing surgeons in the art of knee joint arthroplasty comprising:

• providing a first joint trial having a curved convex articular surface;
• providing an instrumented second joint trial having a curved concave articulating surface for receiving the convex articulating surface of the first joint trial;
• the second joint trial including:
• a curved concave protective layer at the articulating surface;
• a sensor array below the protective layer, the sensor array having a curved concave contour substantially following the curved concave contour of the articulating surface of the second joint trial, the sensor array being capable of generating a signal in response to pressure;
• and
• a body below the sensor array, the body having a curved concave surface adjacent to the sensor array;
• the method further comprising:
• resecting adjacent portions of two bones;
• placing the first joint trial on one of the resected bones and placing the second joint trial on the second resected bone;
• flexing the bones about the first and second joint trials so that portions of the first joint trial bear against contact portions of the protective layer.

A system for balancing soft tissue intraoperatively during knee joint arthroplasty comprising:

• a body having a curved concave surface;
• a conformable sensor array;
• and
• a preformed protective cover having a curved concave surface and an opposite curved convex surface.