Surgical instrument system with ball and socket support

US8187279B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DePuy Products, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Carl F. Livorsi · Lakeville, US
• Joseph G. Wyss · Fort Wayne, US
• Normand T. Brisebois · Westport, US
• Mark A. Capobianco · Westport, US
• Michael J. Fortin · Acushnet, US
• Kenneth R. Hayes · Fall River, US
• James M. Kennedy · American Fork, US
• John J. McMorrow · Franklin, US
• Paul Monteiro · Somerset, US
• Jean-Pierce Nuss · North Dartmouth, US
• Phillip G. Withee · Fall River, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 2007
• Grant date: May 29, 2012
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/3983
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument support system has a support frame supported by three arms. Each arm has a plurality of ball and socket members strung in series along a cable. The arms are also connected to bases mountable to the patient's limb on the proximal and distal sides of the joint. Actuators are provided for each arm to change the tension in the cables to change the stiffness of each arm. The support system can be part of a surgical instrument system that includes a plurality of resection guides mountable to the support frame.