Method and apparatus for bone size gauging

• US 4,987,904 A
• Filed: 03/22/1990
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Thomas Wilson
• Original Assignee: James Thomas Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pfaffle, Krista M.
• Application Number:
  US07/497,492
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 33/511, 33/512, 33/513, 33/501.45, 73/104, 73/762, 128/774, 128/630, 606/53, 606/86, 606/102
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 1/00 Measuring instruments characterised by the selection of material therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/20 for measuring contours or curvatures

Abstract

A device for gauging the size of a bone socket comprising a hemispherical member having a pole on its axis at the distal end and having a bore on its axis at its proximal end; a handle releasably attached to the bore of the hemispherical member; and a pressure responsive surface on the hemispherical member to constitute a pressure responsive surface for changing characteristics when brought in contact with a bone socket to be gauged. The change in characteristics may be in color or shape. Also disclosed is the method for using the device.

Claims

1. A device for gauging the size of a bone socket comprising:

a hemispherical member having a pole on its axis at the distal end and having a bore on its axis at its proximal end;

a handle releasably attached to the bore of the hemispherical member; and

a pressure responsive surface means on the hemispherical member for changing characteristics when brought in contact with a bone socket to be gauged.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hemispherical member is formed of a rigid, non-deformable material and the pressure responsive surface is formed of a film coupled to the hemispherical member.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the film changes color characteristics upon application of pressure.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the handle includes resilient means for indicating a proper pressure applied to the hemispherical member.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hemispherical member is formed of a mass of deformable material.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the surface of the mass of deformable material changes shape characteristics to conform to a bone socket to be gauged when brought in pressure contact therewith.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6 and further including a support structure within the mass of deformable material.

8. A method for gauging the size of a bone socket to be provided with a hemispherical prosthetic device comprising:

providing a hemispherical member with a pressure responsive contact surface changeable in readable characteristic upon the application of pressure;

inserting the contact surface into pressure contact with the bone socket to be sized in order to change the contact surface;

terminating the inserting and pressure contact of the contact surface when a predetermined pressure has been reached;

withdrawing the contact surface;

reading the contact surface which has been changed in characteristic.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the change in readable characteristic is a change in color.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 and further including the repeating of the above steps if the majority of the contact surface has not been discolored as indicative of the determination of the proper size.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the change in readable characteristic is a change in shape of a deformable material.