Device and method for determining forces of a patient's joint

• US 8,740,817 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Ireland Unlimited Company (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sherman, Jason T., Rock, Mick, Hastings, Robert, Grant, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENSON, DEVIN B
• Application Number:
  US12/415,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/424, 600/438, 600/587, 600594-595, 606/71, 606/85, 606/86.R, 606 87- 88, 606/90, 606/102, 606/280, 623/17.11, 623/20.14, 623/20.36, 623/22, 623/28, 623/23, 623/41, 623/914, 707/758
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3877 Patellae or trochleae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

An orthopaedic surgical device for determining the joint force of a patient'"'"'s joint includes a sensor housing and a handle. The sensor housing is shaped to be positioned in a patient'"'"'s joint and includes a sensor array positioned therein and configured to generate sensor signals indicative of the joint force of the patient'"'"'s joint. The handle includes a circuit positioned therein and configured to control a display located on the handle to provide a visual indication of the joint force of the patient'"'"'s joint. The handle may be physically secured to the sensor housing or may be coupled thereto via a wire to facilitate communications between the sensor array and the circuit.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic surgical device comprising:

a sensor housing shaped to be positioned in a joint of the patient, the sensor housing including an upper housing piece having a concavely-curved upper surface;

a sensor array positioned in the sensor housing, the sensor array including a plurality of pressure sensors configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a joint force of the patient'"'"'s joint;

a rigid handle secured to the sensor housing and including a top handle housing and a bottom handle housing, the top handle housing having an interior surface that faces a corresponding interior surface of the bottom handle housing;

a first display secured to an end of the handle housing;

a second display secured to an end of the bottom handle housing; and

a circuit positioned in the handle, the circuit configured to receive the sensor signals from the sensor array and to control the first and second displays to provide a visual indication of the joint force of the patient'"'"'s joint.

2. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing is hemispherical.

3. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 2, wherein the sensor housing is shaped to be positioned in a hip joint of the patient.

4. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 2, wherein the sensor housing is shaped to be positioned in a shoulder joint of the patient.

5. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing includes a convexly-curved lower housing piece, an outer rim of the concavely-curved upper housing piece being spaced apart from a corresponding outer rim of the convexly-curved lower housing when no force is applied to the sensor housing.

6. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are capacitive pressure sensors.

7. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 1, wherein:

the first display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and

the circuit is configured to control the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide a visual indication of the joint force.

8. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data indicative of the joint force.

9. An orthopaedic surgical device comprising:

a sensor housing shaped to be positioned in a joint of the patient,

a sensor array positioned in the sensor housing, the sensor array including a plurality of pressure sensors configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a joint force of the patient'"'"'s joint;

a handle separate from the sensor housing and coupled to the sensor housing via a plurality of wires, the handle including a top handle housing and a bottom handle housing, the top handle housing having an interior surface that faces a corresponding interior surface of the bottom handle housing;

a first display secured to an end of the top handle housing;

a second display secured to an end of the bottom handle housing; and

a circuit positioned in the handle, the circuit configured to receive the sensor signals from the sensor array and to control the first and second displays to provide a visual indication of the joint force of the patient'"'"'s joint.

10. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 9, wherein the sensor housing includes a hemispherical outer surface.

11. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 9, wherein the sensor housing is substantially planar and sized to be placed between a first and second vertebra of the patient'"'"'s spine, the sensor housing including a notch shaped to receive a portion of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord.

12. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 9, wherein the sensor housing is substantially planar and sized to be placed between a patella and femur of the patient, the sensor housing having a substantially oval shape.

13. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 9, wherein:

the first display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and

the circuit is configured to control the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide a visual indication of the joint force.

14. An orthopaedic surgical device comprising:

a sensor housing shaped to be positioned in a joint of the patient;

a plurality of pressure sensors positioned in the sensor housing and configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a joint force of the joint of the patient;

a handle coupled to the sensor housing, the handle including a top handle housing and a bottom handle housing, the top handle housing having an interior surface that faces a corresponding interior surface of the bottom handle housing;

a first display coupled to an end of the top handle housing, the first display consisting of a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged in a row;

a second display coupled to an end of the bottom handle housing, the second display consisting of a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged in a row;

a processor electrically coupled to the plurality of pressure sensors and the first and second displays; and

a hardware memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, is configured to cause the processor to control the first and second displays to provide a visual indication of the joint force of the joint of the patient.

15. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 14, wherein the sensor housing is hemispherical.

16. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 14, wherein the sensor housing is substantially planar and sized to be placed between a first and second vertebra of the patient'"'"'s spine, the sensor housing including a notch shaped to receive a portion of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord.

17. The orthopaedic surgical device of claim 14, wherein the sensor housing is substantially planar and sized to be placed between a patella and femur of the patient, the sensor housing having a substantially oval shape.