Patent ID: 7156852

Claim:
A method for making measurements inside a minimally invasive surgical site to implant a prosthetic femur into an intramedullary canal of a patient, comprising the steps of: incising a hip and creating a surgical site with a minimally invasive incision with a length of about 2½ inches to about 4 to 5 inches to access a natural femur of the patient; providing a ruler having an elongated central body with two measuring ends disposed at opposite ends of the body, each of the measuring ends having a T-shape and being angled with respect to the body, each of said measuring ends comprising measuring markings; positioning one of the measuring ends of the ruler through the incision and into the surgical site; taking measurements with the measuring end while positioned in the surgical site; removing the ruler from the surgical site; transecting a femoral head of a natural femur; implanting the prosthetic femur into the intramedullary canal; and closing the incision.