The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 2026
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2021
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore, SG;
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ag, Zug, CH;
Samuel C. Dumpe, Beaver, PA (US);
Branislav Jaramaz, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Ryan Sheehan, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Brian W. Mckinnon, Arlington, TN (US);
Daniel Farley, Memphis, TN (US);
SMITH & NEPHEW, INC., Memphis, TN (US);
SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG, Zug, CH;
SMITH & NEPHEW ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LIMITED, Singapore, SG;
Abstract
A tensioner tool for assessing joint laxity is disclosed. The tensioner tool comprises a pair of pivotally coupled arms, each arm comprising a proximal handle portion, a distal portion, and an insertion tip selectively coupled to the distal portion. The pair of arms pivot between a compressed configuration for insertion within the joint and an expanded configuration for distraction of the joint by applying a force to the handles, thus spreading the insertion tips. The tensioner tool also comprises a force sensor configured to measure the force applied to the handle portion and a positional sensor configured to measure a separation distance between the pair of arms. The tensioner tool also comprises a processor configured to calculate a distraction force at the insertion tips based on the measured force and to calculate a tip distance between the insertion tips based on the measured separation distance.