Patent ID: 8690882

Claim:
A spacer to balance tension in ligaments and other soft tissue structures of a knee joint comprising a femur and a tibia, the spacer comprising: an elongate handle; and a leading end region extending from the elongate handle and configured for insertion into the knee joint, the leading end region having a contour dimensioned for engagement with one of medial or lateral condyles of the femur and a corresponding one of medial or lateral condyles of the tibia, the leading end region defining a thickness dimensioned to obtain a desired spacing between the femur and the tibia, and wherein the thickness of the leading end region is greater adjacent the elongate handle relative to a forward-most end of the leading end region, wherein the leading end region has an upperside and an opposite underside, the upperside defining a contoured upper surface dimensioned for engagement with the one of the medial or lateral condyles of the femur, the underside defining an under surface dimensioned for engagement with the corresponding one of the medial or lateral condyles of the tibia, wherein the contoured upper surface comprises a concave trough that is dimensioned to receive the one of the medial or lateral condyle of the femur.