Patent ID: 6942488

Claim:
An apparatus for modeling a skeletal structure before and after a surgical procedure is performed on the structure, the apparatus comprising: a base, the base including a generally planar surface; a first bone member coupled to the base, the first bone member representing a bone involved in the surgical procedure, and the first bone member being coupled to the base generally parallel to the surface of the base; a second bone member coupled to the first bone member to simulate a skeletal joint, the second bone member being movably coupled to the first bone member so that the second bone member may be moved between an extended position and a flexed position relative to the first bone member, and the second bone member being movably coupled to the base and adapted to move generally parallel to the surface of the base; at least one bone portion movably coupled to the bone member, the bone portion representing a part of the bone involved in the surgical procedure that is repositioned in the surgical procedure from a preoperative position to a postoperative position; wherein the bone portion may be selectively moved between a preoperative position, representing the position of the part of the bone before the surgical procedure is performed, and a postoperative position representing the position of the part of the bone after the surgical procedure is performed; and at least one stopping member coupled to the base, wherein the stopping member is adapted to stop the second bone member from being moved past a predetermined location on the base.