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:
Aug. 21, 1990
Filed:
Feb. 06, 1989
Jack L Lewis, Maple Plain, MN (US);
William D Lew, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
Curtis W Kowalczyk, St. Paul, MN (US);
Robert E Hunter, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A knee reconstruction apparatus and method provides for controlling and adjusting the point of fixation of a ligament graft, for example a replacement for the anterior cruciate ligament, which permits precisely and repeatably adjusting the length of the ligament graft or graft components with the joint under a prescribed load prior to fixation. A fixture is fixed on the tibia and includes an adjustable clamp that holds a ligament graft anchored or held in the femur. The clamp can be moved for adjusting the length of the ligament graft, or individual segments of a composite ligament graft while the joint is under a prescribed load. The load carried by one or more individual graft components also can be measured prior to fixation to ensure that each of the segments of a composite ligament graft will carry the desired or selected load for a joint under a prescribed load.