Implantable assembly for a knee joint and method for mounting an implantable assembly for a knee joint
AssigneeMoximed, Inc.
InventorsAnton G. Clifford, Nathaniel Skinner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implantable assembly (21) for a knee joint includes a force absorber assembly (33) connected to a first attachment structure (25) for a tibia and a second attachment structure (29) for a femur. The absorber assembly includes a cylinder body (47) connected to the first attachment structure and a piston (41) connected to the second attachment structure. The piston includes a first portion (39) connected to the second attachment structure and a second portion receivable in a cylinder body opening (43) of the cylinder body, the second portion of the piston being of greater flexibility than the first portion of the piston.
Claims29
An implantable assembly for a knee joint, comprising:
- a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the knee joint;
- a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the knee joint;
- and
- a force absorber assembly connected to the first attachment structure and the second attachment structure, the absorber assembly including a cylinder body connected to the first attachment structure and a piston connected to the second attachment structure, the piston including a first portion connected to the second attachment structure and a second portion receivable in a cylinder body opening of the cylinder body, the second portion of the piston being of greater flexibility than the first portion of the piston;
- wherein the first attachment structure comprises a connection point for the cylinder body and a pair of legs disposed on opposite sides of the connection point, each leg comprising an opening for receiving a screw;
- wherein the pair of legs define an obtuse angle relative to each other;
- and
- wherein the pair of legs define, with a tibia to which they are to be mounted, a space of sufficient size to span a medial collateral ligament.
A method for mounting an implantable assembly for a knee joint, comprising:
- fixing a first attachment structure to a tibia via a pair of screws;
- attaching a first end of a laterally and longitudinally flexible force absorber assembly including a cylinder body to a first connection point of the first attachment structure;
- drilling a first hole in a femur;
- inserting a post of a second attachment structure into the first hole;
- rotating the second attachment structure about the axis of the post to align a second connection point of the second attachment member with a second end of the force absorber assembly;
- and
- fixing the remaining portion of the second attachment structure to the femur via a screw;
- wherein the first attachment structure comprises a connection point for the cylinder body and a pair of legs disposed on opposite sides of the connection point, each leg comprising an opening for receiving a screw;
- wherein the pair of legs define an obtuse angle relative to each other;
- and
- wherein the pair of legs define, with a tibia to which they are to be mounted, a space of sufficient size to span a medial collateral ligament.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.