Method and apparatus for testing a joint replacement device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for testing components of a joint replacement device in desired articulation relative to one another under a load, comprising:
- a first unit operable to impart undulating orientations to a first member of the joint replacement device; and
a second unit operable to locate a second member of the joint replacement device proximate to the first member of the joint replacement device such that an articulation surface of the second member engages an articulation surface of the first member for articulation in response to the undulating orientations of the first member, the second unit being operable to automatically adjust the location of the second member of the joint replacement device relative to the first member for the desired articulation in response to lateral forces exerted by the first member upon the second member during the undulating orientations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for testing components of a joint replacement device in desired articulation relative to one another under a load, include: a first unit or step operable to impart undulating orientations of a first member of the joint replacement device; and a second unit or step operable to locate a second member of the joint replacement device proximate to the first member of the joint replacement device such that an articulation surface of the second member engages an articulation surface of the first member for movement in response to the undulating orientations of the first member, wherein at least one of: (i) the second unit is operable to automatically adjust the location of the second member of the joint replacement device in response to lateral forces exerted by the first member on the second member, and (ii) the apparatus and method include a third unit or step operable to impart rotational displacement to the first member of the joint replacement device such that the articulation surface of the first member will be engaged with the articulation surface of the second member for the desired articulation of the first and second members.
27 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for testing components of a joint replacement device in desired articulation relative to one another under a load, comprising:
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a first unit operable to impart undulating orientations to a first member of the joint replacement device; and
a second unit operable to locate a second member of the joint replacement device proximate to the first member of the joint replacement device such that an articulation surface of the second member engages an articulation surface of the first member for articulation in response to the undulating orientations of the first member, the second unit being operable to automatically adjust the location of the second member of the joint replacement device relative to the first member for the desired articulation in response to lateral forces exerted by the first member upon the second member during the undulating orientations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for testing components of a joint replacement device in desired articulation relative to one another under a load, comprising:
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a first unit operable to impart undulating orientations of a first member of the joint replacement device with respect to a longitudinal axis;
a second unit operable to locate a second member of the joint replacement device proximate to the first member of the joint replacement device such that an articulation surface of the second member movingly engages an articulation surface of the first member in response to the undulating orientations of the first member; and
a third unit operable to impart rotational displacement to the first member of the joint replacement device such that the articulation surface of the first member will be engaged with the articulation surface of the second member for the desired articulation of the first and second members. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for testing components of a joint replacement device in desired articulation relative to one another under a load, comprising:
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imparting undulating orientations to a first member of the joint replacement device;
locating a second member of the joint replacement device proximate to the first member of the joint replacement device such that an articulation surface of the second member is engaged with an articulation surface of the first member for articulation in response to the undulating orientations of the first member; and
automatically adjusting the location of the second member of the joint replacement device relative to the first member in response to lateral forces exerted by the first member upon the second member and thereby attaining the desired articulation. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification