# US 2019/0167447 A1 · Devices and methods to prevent joint instability following arthroplasty > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167447 A1 - Document ID: US20190167447A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/324,015 - Filed: 2017-08-09 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-09 - Assignees: Exactech, Inc. - Applicants: Exactech, Inc. - Inventors: Laurent Angibaud - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167447A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/4657: {Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints (for surgical instruments A61B90/06)} - A61B 5/1036: {Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies} - A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/4585: {Evaluating the knee} - A61B 17/025: {Joint distractors} - A61F 2/3859: {Femoral components} - A61F 2/389: {Tibial components (A61F2/3868 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/461: {of knees} - A61F 2/4684: {Trial or dummy prostheses} - A61B 2017/00075: {Motion} - A61B 2017/0268: {for the knee} - A61B 2034/105: {Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones} - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension} - A61F 2002/30125: {elliptical or oval} - A61F 2002/30148: {lozenge- or diamond-shaped} - A61F 2002/30153: {rectangular} - A61F 2002/30154: {square} - A61F 2002/30616: {Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations} - A61F 2002/4632: {using computer-controlled surgery, e.g. robotic surgery} - A61F 2002/4658: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length} - A61F 2002/4666: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension} - A61F 2002/4668: {for measuring angles} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A kit includes a distractor, a plurality of trial elements, and at least one sensor. The distractor is configured to separate a first bone from a second bone by adjusting the distance between a first member and a second member, and is configured to receive at least one sensor in the first portion. Each of the trial elements corresponds to one of a plurality of surgical implants, is configured to be temporarily coupled to the second bone so as to evaluate suitability of the corresponding one of the plurality of surgical implants for implantation, and is configured to receive at least one sensor. The at least one sensor is configured to be received in the distractor or one of the trial elements, and is configured to record a magnitude of a force, a direction of application of a force, a pressure mapping, or a location of application of a force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A kit, comprising: a distractor configured to separate a first bone from a second bone adjacent to the first bone, the distractor having a first member and a second member configured to be positioned between the first bone and the second bone, the first member including a first side portion and a second side portion, the first member being movable with respect to the second member to thereby separate the first bone from the second bone, wherein the first member is selectively movable in: a first mode of operation, wherein said first side portion of said first member and said second side portion of said first member move together with one another in a manner such that a first distance between the first side portion of the first member and the second member and a second distance between the second side portion of the first member and the second member are equal to one another; a second mode of operation, wherein said first side portion of said first member and said second side portion of said first member move together with one another in a manner such that the first distance and the second distance are not equal to one another; and a third mode of operation, wherein said first side portion of said first member and said second side portion of said first member move independently of one another in a manner such that the first distance and the second distance are adjustable independently from one another, the distractor further configured to receive at least one sensor in the first member; a plurality of trial elements, each of the trial elements corresponding to a corresponding one of a plurality of surgical implants, each of the trial elements being configured to be temporarily coupled to the second bone so as to evaluate suitability of the corresponding one of the plurality of surgical implants for implantation, each of the trial elements further configured to receive at least one sensor; at least one sensor configured to be selectively received in the distractor or one of the plurality of trial elements, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to record at least one of a magnitude of a force, a direction of application of a force, a pressure mapping, and/or a location of application of a force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein the distractor is configured to receive a first one of the at least one sensor in the first side portion of the first member and to receive a second one of the at least one sensor in the second side portion of the first member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of trial elements is configured to receive two of the at least one sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein the first bone is a femur and the second bone is a tibia. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The kit of claim 4, wherein the distractor is configured to receive a first one of the at least one sensor at a location corresponding to a medial condyle of the femur and to receive a second one of the at least one sensor at a location corresponding to a lateral condyle of the femur. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The kit of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of trial elements is configured to receive a first one of the at least one sensor at a location corresponding to a medial condyle of the femur and to receive a second one of the at least one sensor at a location corresponding to a lateral condyle of the femur. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one sensor includes a variable sensor that is configured to provide a linear relationship between an applied force and a sensor output signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit data recorded by the each of the at least one sensor to a computing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The kit of claim 8, wherein the computing device is a computer-assisted orthopedic surgery system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein the distractor is configured to record the first distance between the first side portion of the first member and the second member and to record the second distance between the second side portion of the first member and the second member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The kit of claim 10, wherein each of the at least one sensor includes a Hall sensor and wherein the second portion of the distractor includes a magnet, the Hall sensor and the magnet configured to cooperate to record one of the first distance and the second distance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein the first distance between the first side portion of the first member and the second member is adjustable in a range of between 5 mm and 19 mm, and wherein the second distance between the second side portion of the first second side member is adjustable in a range of between 5 mm and 19 mm, adjustment of the first distance and adjustment of the second distance being independent of one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, further comprising a computer-assisted orthopedic surgery system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein the distractor includes a first recess within the first side portion of the first member configured to receive a first one of the at least one sensor and a second recess within the second side portion of the first member configured to receive a second one of the at least one sensor, each of the first and second recesses configured to receive the corresponding one of the first and second ones of the at least one sensor in a plurality of positions, whereby a distance between the first one of the at least one sensor and the second one of the at least one sensor can be adjusted. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one sensor has a proximal aspect that is contoured so as to resemble a native articular surface and a distal aspect that is configured to be selectively received in the distractor or one of the plurality of trial elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The kit of claim 15, wherein the distal aspect has a shape that is one of a diamond, a square, a rectangle, an oblong shape, an ellipse, or an elongated freeform shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, wherein a first one of the plurality of trial elements has a size that differs from a size of a second one of the plurality of trial elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The kit of claim 1, further comprising a baseplate that is configured to be attached to the second bone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of trial elements is configured to be removably received in the baseplate that is attached to the second bone.