Method and apparatus for femoral resection

US6575980B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR THE RUPTURED AND CRIPPLED, MAINTAINING THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY · US

Inventors

• Bruce Robie · North Andover, US
• Jordan Ryalls · New York, US
• Joseph D. Lipman · New York, US
• Albert H. Burstein · Sarasota, US
• Thomas P. Sculco · New York, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 28, 1999
• Grant date: Jun 10, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 28, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/061
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An instrument is provided for use in shaping a femur preparatory to implantation of a knee prosthesis. A gap checking device is fixed to the distal end of the patient's femur and referenced to the epicondyles of the femur. The gap checking device includes slots through which a cutting instrument can be passed to shape the femur so that it can receive the femoral component of the prosthesis. One of the slots enables the distal femoral cut to be made. The thickness of the gap checking device is selected so that the distance between the distal femoral cut and the distal surface of the gap checking device plus the thickness of a shim resting on the cut proximal tibia surface is equal to the combined thickness of the tibial and femoral components of the prosthesis. This enables balancing of the ligaments to be checked before the femoral cuts are made, but while the gap checking device is secured to the femur.