US 11,712,350 B2
Devices and methods to prevent joint instability following arthroplasty
Laurent Angibaud, Gainesville, FL (US)
Assigned to Exactech, Inc., Gainesville, FL (US)
Appl. No. 16/324,015
Filed by Exactech, Inc., Gainesville, FL (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 9, 2017, PCT No. PCT/US2017/046099
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 7, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/031659, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 15, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/372,487, filed on Aug. 9, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0167447 A1, Jun. 6, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61F 2/38 (2006.01); A61B 5/107 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/103 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61B 34/10 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61F 2/4657 (2013.01) [A61B 5/1036 (2013.01); A61B 5/1076 (2013.01); A61B 5/4585 (2013.01); A61B 17/025 (2013.01); A61F 2/389 (2013.01); A61F 2/3859 (2013.01); A61F 2/461 (2013.01); A61F 2/4684 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00075 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0268 (2013.01); A61B 2034/105 (2016.02); A61B 2034/2051 (2016.02); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61F 2002/30125 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30148 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30153 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30154 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30616 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4632 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4658 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4666 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4668 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
positioning at least one sensor in a first member of a distractor,
wherein the distractor is configured to separate a first bone of a joint from a second bone of the joint,
wherein the distractor comprises the first member and a second member,
wherein the first member includes a first side portion and a second side portion,
wherein the first member is movable with respect to the second member to thereby separate the first bone from the second bone, and
wherein the at least one sensor is configured to record a magnitude of a force;
positioning the first member and the second member of the distractor between a first bone of a joint of a patient and a second bone of the joint of the patient so as to position the sensor in an intraarticular location between the first bone of the patient and the second bone of the patient;
moving the joint of the patient through a range of flexion while the distractor applies a force so as to move the first bone of the joint of the patient away from the second bone of the joint of the patient;
removing the first member and the second member of the distractor from the joint of the patient;
removing the at least one sensor from the first member of the distractor;
positioning the at least one sensor in a trial implant;
positioning the trial implant on a resected surface of one of the first bone or the second bone of the joint of the patient;
moving the joint of the patient through a range of flexion while the trial implant having the at least one sensor positioned therein is positioned on the resected surface of one of the first bone or the second bone of the joint of the patient; and
verifying proper balance of the joint based on data recorded by the at least one sensor.