US 11,786,232 B1
Force-sensing joint tensioner
Benjamin McCandless, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH); and Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore (SG)
Filed by Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore (SG); and Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/347,895.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/041,436, filed on Jun. 19, 2020.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/025 (2013.01) [A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00557 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0268 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0275 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A joint tensioner assembly for distracting a joint, the joint tensioner assembly comprising:
a housing comprising a first movable member coupled to the housing via a first living hinge and a second movable member coupled to the housing via a second living hinge;
an inflatable bladder disposed within the housing, wherein the inflatable bladder is configured to be coupled to a pump to receive a fluid from the pump and contact the first movable member and the second movable member to cause the first movable member and the second movable member to translate relative to each other and contact patient bone when the fluid is pumped into the inflatable bladder, and wherein the housing at least partially surrounds the first movable member and the second movable member; and
a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure exerted by the first movable member as the first movable member translates, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to provide the sensed pressure to a surgical computer system.