Surgical instrument
AssigneeDepuy (Ireland)
InventorMichael Rock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable spacer instrument and method of use in a knee arthroplasty procedure are described. The instrument comprises a first member having a substantially planar upper surface and a second member having a substantially planar lower surface. An angular adjustment mechanism is interposed between the first and second members and is operable to adjust the degree of tilt between the upper surface and the lower surface and includes a releasable lock which can maintain the degree of tilt.
Claims28
An adjustable spacer instrument for use in a knee arthroplasty procedure, comprising:
- a first member having a substantially planar upper surface;
- a second member having a substantially planar lower surface;
- and
- an angular adjustment mechanism interposed between the first member and the second member, the angular adjustment mechanism being operable to adjust the degree of tilt between the upper surface and the lower surface and including a releasable lock which can maintain the degree of tilt.
A method for carrying out a knee arthroplasty procedure, comprising:
- resecting the proximal part of the tibia or the distal part of the femur to produce a substantially flat bone surface;
- placing an adjustable spacer instrument having an upper surface and a lower surface on the flat bone surface in a gap between the tibia and the femur;
- operating the adjustable spacer instrument to vary the degree of tilt between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- and
- assessing the balance of ligaments of the knee.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.