Knee distraction device
AssigneeBiomet, Inc.
InventorJohn McDaniel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A knee distraction device is provided for facilitating knee arthroplasty. An adjustable force calibration mechanism is disposed in the device to accommodate controlled selection of the ligament-tensioning force to be applied at respective opposite sides of the knee. In preferred embodiments, the tensioning force is provided by a screw-threaded connection with a calibrated compression spring interposed between the tensioning members. According to another preferred embodiment, fluid pressure is applied by means of a calibrated pressure valve to apply the ligament-tensioning force.
Claims13
A knee distraction device for facilitating knee arthroplasty comprising
- a tibia-engaging member engageable with a resected tibial plateau of a patient,
- a condyle-engaging member engageable with a distal femoral condyle of the patient,
- force-applying means for forcibly moving said tibia- and condyle-engaging members relative to one another to tension the patient's ligaments,
- and adjustable force calibration means operatively connected with the force-applying means for calibrating the degree of ligament tension applied by the distraction device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.