Patent ID: 8801795

Claim:
A system for manipulating loads on a natural knee joint having members collectively defining a natural path of motion and having a cartilage having a load absorption component configured therebetween, the system comprising: a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the knee, the first member having a first energy absorbing component; a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint, the second member having a second energy absorbing component; and a load bearing member including a piston support assembly attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure, the load bearing member having a flexibility and a load manipulating geometry; wherein the flexibility of the load bearing member is selected to permit the joint members to follow the natural path of motion and the load manipulating geometry is selected to offset about 1% to about 40% of a load absorption component of the cartilage and the first and second energy absorption components respectively of the first and second members of the joint; wherein the piston support assembly comprises at least one spring configured to aid in load manipulation; and wherein the at least one spring is placed around a piston.