Patent ID: 8323290

Claim:
A tensor for use with a surgical navigation system, the tensor comprising: a first bone engaging member engageable with a first bone; a second bone engaging member engageable with a second bone, the second bone engaging member having a pair of paddles; a force-applying mechanism positioned along a vertical axis that is centrally disposed between the pair of paddles of the second bone engaging member, the mechanism being configured to forcibly move the first and second bone engaging members relative to one another; a sensor configured to detect the value of the force applied by the force-applying mechanism, the sensor including a sensing arm having a pressure sensitive material; a pivot arm coupled to the force-applying mechanism and configured to pivot about a fulcrum point of a central peg, the pivot arm engaging the sensing arm during use of the tensor with a force that is proportional to the force applied by the force-applying mechanism; and a transmitter for communicating a parameter associated with the tensor to the surgical navigation system.