Patent ID: 7338497

Claim:
Apparatus for positioning or removing a femoral knee prosthesis having first and second condylar portions, each said condylar portion having an articulating surface extending proximally to distally, a superior surface for engagement with a prepared surface at the distal end of a femur, each of said condylar portions having an inner edge between its said articulating surface and superior surface, said inner edges defining a gap, said apparatus comprising (a) an elongated housing extending from a distal end to a proximal end; (b) a passageway extending through said housing along an axial path; (c) a condylar engagement member at the distal end of said housing, said member having a first condylar engagement surface and a second condylar engagement surface spaced from said first condylar engagement surface, said condylar engagement member having an aperture between said first and second condylar engagement surfaces; and (d) a post having a longitudinal axis positioned in said passageway for axial movement therein and extending through said condylar engagement member, said post having an outwardly extending flange at its distal end, said flange having first and second edges spaced apart to define a breadth smaller than said gap and first and second ends spaced apart to define a length greater than said gap, said post and flange being rotatable together about said longitudinal axis from a first position in which said breadth is aligned to permit movement of said flange through said gap to a second position in which said length spans said gap to align said first and second ends with said superior surface on opposite sides of said gap, said post being movable axially to a position at which said flange first and second ends, upon rotation to said second position, engage said superior surface while said condylar engagement member is engaged to said first and second condylar portions.