Intraoperative joint force measuring device, system and method

A kit for assisting joint replacement procedures, the kit comprising:

• an intraoperative joint head having a cavity for accepting the insertion of a stem attachment structure;
• a stem attachment structure being removably attachable to a stem and removably insertable in the joint head cavity;
• a plurality of force sensors disposed within the joint head for measuring in vivo forces during surgery;
• wherein the force sensors are placed at the periphery of the joint head cavity and the distance between adjacent force sensors is uniform, and at least one force sensors is located coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the stem such that the plurality of force sensors measure joint component forces to determine the resultant joint vector;
• wherein the in vivo forces are generated from the group consisting of tension provided by soft tissue, load application during surgery, limb movement during surgery, and a combination thereof;
• and
• an intraoperative joint head tool.

A method of performing joint replacement surgery, comprising the steps of:

• installing an intraoperative joint head having a cavity for accepting the insertion of a stem attachment structure;
• a stem attachment structure being removably attachable to a stem and removably insertable in the joint head cavity;
• a plurality of force sensors disposed within the joint head for measuring in vivo forces during surgery;
• wherein the force sensors are placed at the periphery of the joint head cavity and the distance between adjacent force sensors is uniform, and at least one force sensor is located coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the stem such that the plurality of force sensors measure joint component forces to determine the resultant joint vector;
• and wherein the in vivo forces are generated from the group consisting of tension provided by soft tissue, load application during surgery, limb movement during surgery, and a combination thereof;
• measuring joint forces;
• determining the resultant joint force vector;
• and
• adjusting an implant parameter based on the measured joint forces.

A surgical system for measuring joint forces during surgery, comprising:

• an intraoperative joint head having a cavity for accepting the insertion of a stem attachment structure;
• a stem attachment structure being removably attachable to a stem and removably insertable in the joint head cavity;
• a plurality of force sensors disposed within the joint head for measuring in vivo forces during surgery;
• wherein the force sensors are placed at the periphery of the joint head cavity and the distance between adjacent force sensors is uniform, and at least one force sensor is located coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the stem such that the plurality of force sensors measure joint component forces to determine the resultant joint vector;
• and wherein the in vivo forces are generated from the group consisting of tension provided by soft tissue, load application during surgery, limb movement during surgery, and a combination thereof;
• an anatomical tracking system for tracking movements of body parts, the system in communication with the force sensor;
• and
• a processor in communication with the anatomical tracking system and the force sensor, the processor programmed to provide calculations selected from the group consisting of in vivo joint reaction forces and in vivo joint vectors.