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US 7,442,172 B2Granted
Ligament tension gauge
AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsLynn A. Kirkpatrick, Jacque R. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for assessing tension of a ligament in a patient's body with less reliance on a subjective feel of a human examiner.
Claims22
An apparatus of assessing tension of a ligament at a joint in a patient's body, the apparatus comprising:
- a base having a surface abuttable with a portion of the patient's body;
- a tubular housing mounted to the base, the tubular housing defining an opening transverse to the surface;
- a probe having an elongated shaft with a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, the probe being mounted for translation within the opening of the tubular housing transverse to the surface and along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the probe extending from the base such that the first end is axially engage able with the ligament;
- and
- means for translating the probe axially within the opening of the tubular housing toward the ligament to apply a force to the ligament by pressing the first end axially against the ligament.
2 more elements
An apparatus for assessing tension of a ligament in a patient's body, the apparatus comprising:
- a base member configured to be positioned outside the patient's body;
- a longitudinal sleeve slidably coupled to the base member;
- a locking mechanism mounted to the base member, the locking mechanism being operable to fix a position of the sleeve relative to the base member;
- a longitudinal probe having a first end and a second end, the first end being engageable with the ligament, the probe extending through the longitudinal sleeve;
- a spring member abutting the second end of the probe;
- and
- a cap defining a cylindrical space, tbe cap including an open end, the cap further including an endwall at a closed end of the cylindrical space and a sidewall extending between the open end and the endwall, the second end of the probe and the spring being housed in the cylindrical space with the spring interposed between the second end of the probe and the endwall.
4 more elements
A method for assessing tension of a ligament in a patient's body, the method comprising the steps of:
- abutting a base against a portion of the patient's body outside of a joint;
- translating a probe transversely relative to the base into the joint to engage the ligament;
- translating the probe further into the joint to further engage the ligament and apply a force to the ligament relative to the base;
- and
- indicating ligament tension by a movement, relative to the base, of the ligament in response to the force.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.