US4501266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Knee distraction device
Assignee: Biomet Inc
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Filing: 1983-03-04
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Granted: 1985-02-26
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Expires: 2003-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A knee distraction device is provided for facilitating knee arthroplasty. An adjustable force calibration mechanism is disposed in the device to accommodate controlled selection of the ligament-tensioning force to be applied at respective opposite sides of the knee. In preferred embodiments, the tensioning force is provided by a screw-threaded connection with a calibrated compression spring interposed between the tensioning members. According to another preferred embodiment, fluid pressure is applied by means of a calibrated pressure valve to apply the ligament-tensioning force.
Inventors
- 👤 John McDaniel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 18:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/88; A61B17/8802; A61B17/8847; A61B17/02; A61B17/025; A61L; A61L31/00; A61L31/04; A61L31/06; A61B2017/0268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A knee distraction device for facilitating knee arthroplasty comprising a tibia-engaging member engageable with a resected tibial plateau of a patient, a condyle-engaging member engageable with a distal femoral condyle of the patient, force-applying means for forcibly moving said tibia- and condyle-engaging members relative to one another to tension the patient's ligaments, and adjustable force calibration means operatively connected with the force-applying means for calibrating the degree of ligament tension applied by the distraction device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A knee distraction device for facilitating knee arthroplasty comprising a tibia-engaging member engageable with a resected tibial plateau of a patient, a condyle-engaging member engageable with a distal femoral condyle of the patient, force-applying means for forcibly moving said tibia- and condyle-engaging members relative to one another to tension the patient's ligaments, and adjustable force calibration means operatively connected with the force-applying means for calibrating the degree of ligament tension applied by the distraction device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 1 comprising two of said condyle-engaging members, one for each condyle of the patient's knee, wherein said force-applying means includes means for independently moving each of said condyle-engaging members relative to the tibia-engaging member, and wherein said calibration means includes means for independently calibrating the degree of ligament tension applied by the respective condyle-engaging members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 1 comprising slidably interengageable guide means for guiding the relative movement of the tibia- and condyle-engaging members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 3 wherein said calibration means includes calibration spring means interposed between the guide means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 4 wherein said slidably interengageable guide means includes two linear telescoping guide members fixedly attached respectively to the tibia- and condyle-engaging members, and wherein said calibration spring means is interposed between the telescoping guide members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 5 wherein one of said guide members is tubular-shaped and is fixedly attached to the tibia-engaging members and the other of said guide members is fixedly attached to the condyle-engaging member and is configured to slidably move along the inside of the tubular-shaped member, wherein the force-applying means includes a screw-threaded adjusting member, and wherein the calibration spring means is a compression spring interposed between the threaded adjusting member and the other of said guide members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 6 wherein low-friction lining means are provided in said tubular-shaped guide member to minimize the frictional resistance to relative sliding movement of the guide members with respect to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 7 wherein said low-friction lining means includes linear ball bushings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 8 further comprising a polyformaldehyde polymer spacer interposed between the calibration spring and the other of said guide members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 3 wherein said force-applying means includes means for applying fluid under pressure to move said tibia- and condyle-engaging members relative to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 10 wherein said calibration means includes means for calibrating the fluid pressure applied to forcibly move the tibia- and condyle-engaging members relative to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 10 wherein one of said guide members is tubular-shaped and is fixedly attached to the tibia-engaging member and the other of said guide members is fixedly attached to the condyle-engaging member and is configured to slidably move along the inside of the tubular-shaped member, said guide members forming a fluid pressure space in said tubular member for the application of the fluid pressure, and wherein said calibration means includes calibration valve means interposed between the fluid pressure space and a supply of fluid under pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A knee distraction device according to claim 12 wherein low-friction lining means are provided in said tubular-shaped guide member to minimize the frictional resistance to relative sliding movement of the guide members with respect to one another.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-26 | 1988-08-27 | 1989-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-26 | 1992-08-27 | 1993-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-26 | 1996-08-27 | 1997-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |