Zimmer Gmbh

Sulzer Orthopedics Inc.

Zimmer Technology, Inc.

Paul L Saenger

Richard Williamson

Robert A Hodorek

Adam H Sanford

Toby N Farling

Richard J Kana

Charles H Perrone, Jr

Mark A Price

A method of resecting a proximal tibia and distal femur for implanting a partial knee prosthesis uses a resecting kit which includes multiple spacers, each of which has a different spacing dimension. A surgeon selects the appropriate spacer with the amount of correction desired to align the patient's leg and installs the spacer with the spacing dimension between the distal femur and proximal tibia which is to receive the partial knee prosthesis. The spacers have projecting stems, upon which a resector is installed. The resector is then aligned with the axis selected by the surgeon according to known methods, and is pinned to the femur and proximal tibia. A distal femoral cut is then made in the femur after which the resector is removed while leaving at least two of the pins in place, the pins being headless pins. A second resector is then installed on the pins to effect the required cut of the tibia. Additional cuts are made in the femur according to known procedures, and the femoral and tibial prostheses are then installed, according to known procedures.

Method and apparatus for resecting a distal femur and a proximal tibia in preparation for implementing a partial knee prosthesis

A method and apparatus for correcting limb alignment in a unicondylar knee arthroplasty and linking the distal femoral cut and the proximal tibial cut. Alignment rods are connected to a spacing apparatus to facilitate correction of limb alignment. The alignment rods are positioned along the mechanical axis of the femur and the tibia and the knee joint is positioned to correct alignment. A spacing apparatus is positioned in the relevant knee compartment and utilized to hold the knee in position to correct limb alignment. The spacing apparatus includes a femoral cut slot through which the distal femoral cut is made and further includes tibial affixment apertures through which a headless securing device can be positioned to secure the spacing apparatus to the tibia. After the distal femoral resection is complete, the spacing apparatus is removed, with the headless securing devices remaining positioned in the tibia. The headless securing devices are used as a reference for securing a tibial cut block to the tibia for making the proximal tibial resection. With the mechanism of the present invention, the knee can be placed in flexion when making the proximal tibial cut and the distal femoral cut is linked to the proximal tibial cut.

Method and apparatus for achieving correct limb alignment in unicondylar knee arthroplasty

Method and apparatus for resecting a distal femur and a proximal tibia in preparation for implanting a partial knee prosthesis

A surgical instrument for establishing and verifying cutting depth and alignment includes a distal saw drill guide, a rod adaptor removably mounted on the distal saw drill guide and a modular alignment rod removably mounted on the rod adaptor. The distal saw drill guide includes pin apertures for receiving a plurality of pins for locating the distal saw drill guide on the distal end of a femur. A distal saw block is mounted on the pins in replacement of the distal saw drill guide the rod adaptor and the alignment rod. A stylus is adjustably attached to a stylus block which is movably mounted on the distal saw block. The rod adaptor and modular alignment rod are movably mounted on the distal saw block in replacement of the stylus and stylus block.

Unicompartmental replacement instrument and method

A surgical measuring instrument includes a caliper having pin apertures formed therein for mounting on surgical pins in a first skeletal member. An adaptor includes pin apertures on a first portion for mounting on the surgical pins when the caliper is removed, and includes adaptor pins extending from a second portion for engagement with the caliper. A rod is connected to the caliper for indicating alignment and flexibility of a second skeletal member relative to the first skeletal member.

Incremental varus/valgus and flexion/extension measuring instrument

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Asheville, NC, United States of America

Paul L Saenger