Paragraph Number

38

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.

Added by DJM 2 2021