Dynamic knee balancer with pressure sensing

US7578821B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Synvasive Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Michael G. Fisher · Blieskastel, DE
• Anthony K. Hedley · Paradise Valley, US
• Michael Howard · Boston, US
• Kevin Cordes · Glenmoore, US
• Toshinobu Katsuya · Kobe, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 25, 2004
• Grant date: Aug 25, 2009
• Expiry date: May 12, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2250/0008
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A device for performing a surgical procedure on a knee includes an adjustable femoral portion, a tibial portion and at least one sensor coupled with the femoral and/or tibial portions to sense pressure exerted by the femoral and tibial portions against one another. The femoral portion is adapted for removably coupling with a distal end of a femur to adjust tension in soft tissue adjacent the knee and has at least one positioning feature adapted to move relative to the distal end of the femur as the femoral portion is adjusted, thus helping position a femoral prosthetic on the distal end of the femur. The sensor(s) may be adapted to sense pressure at medial and lateral sides of the knee, and relative pressures may be displayed as data on a visual display. Adjustments to the femoral member may be made to balance pressure at flexion and extension of the knee.