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Figure 1A is a perspective view depicting one exemplary embodiment of a gap gauge 100 for facilitating an arthroplasty procedure on a first bone and a second bone of a patient. As used herein, an “arthroplasty procedure” refers to a surgical procedure for restoring and/or improving function and/or operation of a joint of a patient. An arthroplasty procedure can be done for a toe joint, ankle joint, knee joint, hip joint, arm joint, elbow joint, finger joint, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the first bone can be a femur 102 and the second bone can be a tibia 104. As used herein, a "gap gauge" refers to an apparatus, instrument, structure, device, component, system, assembly, hardware, software, firmware, circuit, module, or logic structured, organized, configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to measure an attribute, characteristic, state, or condition of another structure or object or set of structures or objects. In one embodiment, the gap gauge is structured, organized, configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to measure a displacement between two structures. |
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The present disclosure discloses a gap gauge for facilitating an arthroplasty procedure on a first bone and a second bone of a patient. During an arthroplasty procedure, a surgeon may need to confirm that the gap between two bones of the joint is of a desired displacement and that the joint has a desired balance (e.g. balanced, varus condition, or valgus condition). Using separate instruments to get either the displacement or the balance status can complicate the procedure and may require more personnel to assist in the procedure. As one instrument is exchanged for another (e.g., an instrument that only measures displacement exchanged for an instrument that only measures balance status), parts of a joint can shift and thus alter a displacement already measured or alter a balance status read using an instrument that cannot provide both displacement measurements and a balance status, or balance measurement in a single instrument. Consequently, a need exists for an improved gap gauge. In particular, a need exists for gap gauge that can provide both a displacement measurement and a balance status (e.g., balance measurement) using a single instrument. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides for a gap gauge that enables a user to optionally disengage/disable a balance indicator or balance gauge 168 during use for that a user can use the same instrument to only measure displacement between two joint bones, if desired. |
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The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated. |
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The phrases "connected to," "coupled to" and "in communication with" refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid, and thermal interaction. Two components may be functionally coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. The term "abutting" refers to items that are in direct physical contact with each other, although the items may not necessarily be attached together. The phrase "fluid communication" refers to two features that are connected such that a fluid within one feature is able to pass into the other feature. |
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An anterior-posterior axis is an axis perpendicular to the coronal plane. A medial-lateral axis is an axis perpendicular to the median plane. A cephalad-caudal axis is an axis perpendicular to the transverse plane. These descriptive terms may be applied to an animate or inanimate body. |
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In certain embodiments, a balance status can represent whether, or not, a superior resection of one bone of a joint is parallel to an inferior resection of another bone of the joint. In another embodiment, a balance status can represent a degree to which a superior resection of one bone of a joint is, or is not, parallel to an inferior resection of another bone of the joint. In another embodiment, a balance status can represent how two bones of a joint and space / opening between them relate to a medial collateral ligament and a lateral collateral ligament interact to each other to achieve a desired relationship with the joint. |
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In one embodiment, the balance indicator 126 indicates a balance status between the superior plate 118 and the inferior plate 120. Alternatively, or in addition, the balance indicator 126 may indicate a balance status for a joint 108 and/or between a medial collateral ligament and a lateral collateral ligament of a joint 108. Alternatively, or in addition, the balance indicator 126 may indicate a balance status between a first bone and a second bone. In the context of knee arthroplasty, the balance indicator 126 may indicate whether the arthroplasty procedure, if completed with implants on the measured bone surfaces, is likely to be varus, valgus, or balanced. |
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The balance indicator 126 can be connected to one, or the other, or both, of superior plate 118 and the inferior plate 120. In one embodiment, the balance indicator 126 connects to the superior plate 118. The balance indicator 126 is illustrated as a dashed region of the gap gauge 100 because one or more components or elements in the dashed region can serve as the balance indicator 126 in different embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, a user may observe a non-parallel position of the superior plate 118, or part of the superior plate 118, and such observation may serve as the balance indicator 126. |
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Figures 1C – 1I illustrate a top view (FIGURE 1C), bottom view (FIGURE 1D), side views (FIGURE E-G), rear view (FIGURE 1H), and front view (FIGURE 1I) of one embodiment of a gap gauge 100. FIGURE 1C illustrates an embodiment that includes a lock-out mechanism 130, a pair of grips 132, and a handle 134. As used herein, a "handle" refers to a structure used to hold, control, or manipulate a device, apparatus, component, tool, or the like. A “handle” may be designed to be grasped and/or held in one or more hands of a user. |
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In certain embodiments, the lock-out mechanism 130 can be used by a user to disable, prevent, or turn off actuation of the balance indicator 126 to indicate a balance status. As used herein, a "lock-out mechanism" refers to an apparatus, instrument, structure, device, component, system, assembly, hardware, software, firmware, circuit, module, or logic structured, organized, configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to prevent, mitigate, or stop operation of a balance indicator of a gap gauge such that the balance indicator does not report a balance status when the gap gauge is actuated. In one embodiment, the lock-out mechanism can prevent rotation of a plate connected to the balance indicator of a gap gauge. The pair of grips 132 can be used by a user to position the superior plate 118 relative to the inferior plate 120. For example, a user may grab the pair of grips 132 with one hand and hold the handle 134 with another hand and pull up on the grips 132 to separate the superior plate 118 and the inferior plate 120. |
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FIGURE 1D illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of the gap gauge 100. The view shows the inferior plate 120, lock-out mechanism 130, grips 132, and handle 134. |
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FIGURE 1E illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the gap gauge 100. The view shows the superior plate 118, inferior plate 120, separator 122, a grip 132, and a handle 134. In addition, the illustrated embodiment includes a superior body 136, an inferior body 138, a shaft 140, and a spring 142. As used herein, a "body" refers to a main or central part of a structure. In one embodiment, a body may include a housing or frame or framework for a larger system, component, structure, or device. As used herein, a "spring" refers to an elastic structure that stores mechanical energy. Springs can be made of a variety of elastic material such as spring steel and can be cylindrical and/or helical in shape. Various types of springs can be used including coil springs, torsion springs, and the like. (Search "spring (device)" on Wikipedia.com Nov. 28, 2020. Modified. Accessed Jan. 6, 2020.) |
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The superior body 136 provides structural support and integrity for the gap gauge 100 and may house one or more parts of the gap gauge 100. The inferior body 138 provides structural support and integrity for the gap gauge 100 and may house one or more parts of the gap gauge 100. In one embodiment, the superior plate 118 extends from the superior body 136 and the inferior plate 120 extends from the inferior body 138. |
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The shaft 140 may couple or connect the superior body 136 to the inferior body 138. The shaft 140 may slidably couple with the superior body 136 to the inferior body 138. The slidable coupling between the shaft 140, the superior body 136, and the inferior body 138 permits adjustment of the displacement 128. |
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In one embodiment, the shaft 140 may fit within an opening in the superior body 136 and pass through the superior body 136 to engage the inferior body 138. In certain embodiments, the shaft 140 can include threads on the outside of one end of the shaft 140. The threads of the shaft 140 may engage threads of an opening in the inferior body 138 to connect the shaft 140 to the inferior body 138. The shaft 140 may include a head 144 on one end opposite an end that includes the threads. |
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The opening in the superior body 136 can be sized to accept the shaft 140 and the spring 142 coiled around the outside of the shaft 140. The spring 142 may contact the superior body 136 and the head 144. The shaft 140 and spring 142 cooperated to retain the superior body 136 connected to the inferior body 138. In one embodiment once assembled in the gap gauge 100, the spring 142 may be biased against the head 144 and the superior body 136. The spring 142 can bias the superior body 136 in opposition to movement of the superior plate 118 away from the inferior plate 120. |
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In certain embodiments, the gap gauge 100 may include a post 146. The post 146 may slidably engage the superior body 136 and be connected to the inferior body 138. In one embodiment, the post 146 may be screwed into an opening in the superior body 136. The post 146 may cooperate with the shaft 140 to maintain movement of the superior body 136 along a single axis. |
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FIGURE 1F illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the gap gauge 100. The side view shows the superior plate 118, inferior plate 120, separator 122, a lock-out mechanism 130, a grip 132, a handle 134, a superior body 136, inferior body 138, a shaft 140, a spring 142, and a post 146. |
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FIGURE 1G illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the gap gauge 100. The side view shows the superior plate 118, inferior plate 120, separator 122, a lock-out mechanism 130, a grip 132, a handle 134, a superior body 136, inferior body 138, a shaft 140, spring 142, and a post 146. |
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FIGURE 1G illustrates the gap gauge 100 with the separator 122 actuate such that the superior plate 118 and inferior plate 120 are displaced from each other by a displacement 128. In one embodiment, the displacement 128 is a measure between an external surface of the superior plate 118 and an external surface of the inferior plate 120. Those of skill in the art will recognize that a displacement can also be a measure between an internal surface of the superior plate 118 and an internal surface of the inferior plate 120 indicated by displacement 128’. |
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