Insert sensing system with medial-lateral shims and method therefor

Abstract

An orthopedic system to monitor a parameter related to the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The orthopedic system includes electronic circuitry, at least one sensor, and a computer to receive measurement data in real-time. The orthopedic system comprises a first plurality of shims of a first type, a second plurality of a second type, a measurement module, and the computer. The measurement module houses the electronic circuitry and at least one sensor. The measurement module is adapted to be used with the first plurality of shims and the second plurality of shims. The measurement module has a medial surface that differs from a lateral surface by shape, size, or contour.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A prosthetic knee component comprising a first shim of a first type having a medial articular surface and a lateral articular surface wherein a first plurality of columns couple to the medial articular surface and a second plurality of columns couple to the lateral articular surface. 
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic knee component of  claim 1  wherein the first shim is non-symmetrical. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic component of  claim 1  wherein the medial articular surface of the first shim differs in area or contour from the lateral articular surface of the first shim. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic component of  claim 1  wherein the first shim includes structural webbing coupling a sidewall of the shim to the first plurality of columns of the first shim or the second plurality of columns of the first shim. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic component of  claim 4  wherein the structural webbing couples between the first plurality of columns of the first shim and wherein the structural webbing couples between the second plurality of columns of the first shim. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic component of  claim 1  further including a first plurality of shims of the first type wherein each of the first plurality of shims has a different height. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthetic component of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of columns and the second plurality of columns of the first shim are configured to respectively couple to a medial surface and a lateral surface of a first side of a measurement module, wherein the measurement module is configured to measure loading applied to the medial and lateral articular surfaces of the first shim, and wherein the medial surface of the first side of the measurement module differs in area or contour from the lateral surface of the first side of the measurement module. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic component of  claim 7  further including a second shim of a second type having a medial articular surface and a lateral articular surface, wherein a first plurality of columns couple to the medial articular surface of the second shim and a second plurality of columns of the second shim couple to the lateral articular surface and wherein the medial articular surface on the second shim differs in area or contour than the lateral articular surface on the second shim. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthetic component of  claim 8  wherein the first plurality of columns and the second plurality of columns of the second shim are configured to respectively couple to a medial surface and a lateral surface of a second side of the measurement module, wherein the measurement module is configured to measure loading applied to the medial articular surface and the lateral articular surfaces of the second shim, and wherein the medial surface of the second side on the measurement module differs in area or contour from the lateral surface on the second side of the measurement module. 
     
     
         10 . A prosthetic knee component comprising a first shim of a first type having a medial articular surface and a lateral articular surface wherein a first plurality of columns couple to the medial articular surface and a second plurality of columns couple to the lateral articular surface and wherein the medial articular surface on the first shim differs in area or contour than the lateral articular surface on the first shim. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthetic component of  claim 10  further including a second shim of a second type having a medial articular surface and a lateral articular surface wherein a first plurality of columns couple to the medial articular surface of the second shim and a second plurality of columns couple to the lateral articular surface of the second shim and wherein the medial articular surface on the second shim differs in area or contour than the lateral articular surface on the second shim. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthetic component of  claim 11  wherein the first plurality of columns of the first shim and the second plurality of columns of the first shim are configured to respectively couple to a medial surface and a lateral surface on a first side of a measurement module and wherein the measurement module is configured to measure loading applied to the medial articular surface and the lateral articular surface of the first shim of the first type. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthetic component of  claim 12  wherein the first plurality of columns of the second shim and the second plurality of columns of the second shim are configured to respectively couple to a medial surface and a lateral surface on a second side of the measurement module and wherein the measurement module is configured to measure loading applied to the medial articular surface and the lateral articular surface of the second shim of the second type. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthetic component of  claim 11  further including a third shim of a first type having a rigid plate wherein the rigid plate is configured to couple to the medial surface and the lateral surface of the measurement module on the first side. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthetic component of  claim 12  wherein a load sensor of the measurement module is configured to be aligned to and underlie a column of the first plurality of columns of the first shim when the first side of the measurement module couples to the first shim and wherein the load sensor is a capacitor, a piezo-resistive load sensor, or a MEMs load sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A prosthetic knee component comprising a first shim of a first type having a medial articular surface and a lateral articular surface wherein a first column, a second column, and a third column couples to the medial articular surface and a fourth column, a fifth column, and a sixth column couples to the lateral articular surface and wherein the medial articular surface on the first shim differs in area or contour than the lateral articular surface on the first shim. 
     
     
         17 . The prosthetic component of  claim 16  further including a second shim of a second type having a medial articular surface and a lateral articular surface wherein a first column, a second column, and a third column couples to the medial articular surface of the second shim and a fourth column, a fifth column, and a sixth column couples to the lateral articular surface of the second shim and wherein the medial articular surface on the second shim differs in area or contour than the lateral articular surface on the second shim. 
     
     
         18 . The prosthetic component of  claim 17  wherein the first, second, and third columns of the first shim and the fourth, fifth, and sixth columns of the first shim are configured to respectively couple to a medial surface and a lateral surface on a first side of a measurement module, wherein the measurement module is configured to measure loading applied to the medial articular surface and the lateral articular surface of the first shim of the first type, wherein a first load sensor, second load sensor, and a third load sensor of the measurement module align to and underlie the first, second, and third columns of the first shim when the first shim couples to the first side of the measurement module, and wherein a fourth load sensor, a fifth load sensor, and a sixth load sensor of the measurement module align to and underlie the third, fourth, and fifth columns of the first shim when the first shim couples to the first side of the measurement module. 
     
     
         19 . The prosthetic component of  claim 17  wherein the first, second, and third columns of the second shim and the fourth, fifth, and sixth columns of the second shim are configured to respectively couple to a medial surface and a lateral surface on a second side of a measurement module, wherein the measurement module is configured to measure loading applied to the medial articular surface and the lateral articular surface of the second shim of the second type, wherein a first load sensor, second load sensor, and a third load sensor of the measurement module align to and underlie the first, second, and third columns of the second shim when the second shim couples to the second side of the measurement module, and wherein a fourth load sensor, a fifth load sensor, and a sixth load sensor of the measurement module align to and underlie the third, fourth, and fifth columns of the second shim when the first shim couples to the second side of the measurement module. 
     
     
         20 . The prosthetic component 17 wherein the medial surface on the first side of the measurement module differs in area or contour than the lateral surface on the first side of the measurement module.