Kinematic restraint device and method for determining the range of motion of a total knee replacement system

摘要

A kinematic restraint device and method for determining the range of motion of a total knee replacement system are disclosed. The kinematic restraint device is used as a surrogate knee that duplicates the elastic behavior of individual ligaments, tendons, muscles related to a human knee. The kinematic restraint device according to the invention includes a total knee replacement system and at least one cable or cable- spring combination representing a ligament, tendon, or muscle component of the human knee. The kinematic restraint device overcomes hurdles posed by the use of natural knees in pre-operatively determining the range of motion of a total knee replacement system. Furthermore, an outer membrane is used to simulate the viscoelastic effects exhibited by fibrous structures, fatty tissues, and muscle mass enveloping the joint on the total knee replacement kinematics.