Surgical Apparatus To Support Installation Of A Prosthetic Component With Reduced Alignment Error

A surgical apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a distraction mechanism;
• a fixed support structure coupled to the housing wherein the support structure includes a frame configured to contact a tibia;
• and
• a moving support structure coupled to the distraction mechanism, the moving support structure being configured to pivot medially or laterally, wherein the distraction mechanism is configured to raise or lower the moving support structure relative to the fixed support structure,
• a tilt mechanism configured to forcibly equalize a height of a second compartment of a knee joint to a height of a first compartment, the height of the first compartment of the knee joint corresponding to a predetermined load value, wherein the equalization of the first and second compartments or an M-L tilt angle corresponds to at least one bone cut for installation of a femoral prosthetic component to reduce alignment error of a leg or bring a knee joint in balance,
• a magnetic distance sensor including a magnet and a Hall effect sensor,
• wherein the magnet is coupled to a portion of the distraction mechanism and the Hall effect sensor is coupled to the housing, the magnetic distance sensor being configured to measure a distraction distance between the tibia and a femur by detecting changes in a magnetic field of the magnet as the distraction mechanism moves the moving support structure relative to the fixed support structure.

A surgical apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a distraction mechanism;
• a fixed support structure coupled to the housing wherein the support structure includes a frame configured to contact a tibia;
• a moving support structure coupled to the distraction mechanism, the moving support structure being configured to pivot medially or laterally, wherein the distraction mechanism is configured to raise or lower the moving support structure relative to the fixed support structure;
• a M-L tilt mechanism coupled between the moving support structure and the distraction mechanism, wherein the moving support structure is configured to be raised until a first compartment of a knee joint is at a predetermined load value, and
• a magnetic angle sensor including a magnet coupled to the moving support structure and a Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent to the magnet, the Hall effect sensor being configured to measure a medial-lateral tilt angle of the moving support structure by detecting rotational movement of the magnet as the moving support structure tilts relative to the fixed support structure.