Artificial toe joint
OwnerTroy N. Mortoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An artificial toe joint utilizes a ball in socket joint structure and arms or side walls which are exterior to the bone. The resulting joint provides improved strength and durability, and may be used to repair joints which are not suitable for installation of a prior art artificial joint.
Claims30
An artificial toe joint comprising:
- a first artificial joint member having a first side forming an articulation surface and a second side forming a bone attachment surface and having an attachment member extending from the perimeter edge of the second side in a direction away from the first side;
- a second artificial joint member having a first side forming an articulation surface and a second side forming a bone attachment surface and having an attachment member extending from the perimeter edge of the second side in a direction away from the first side;
- wherein the first side of the first artificial joint member and the first side of the second artificial joint member comprise generally complementary surfaces disposed adjacent one another to form a movable joint;
- and
- wherein the second side of the first artificial joint member and the second side of the second artificial joint member are attachable to first and second toe bones forming a toe joint which is to be replaced;
- wherein
- the adjoining ends of the first and second bones are resected to form end surfaces generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bone such that the first and second bones each comprise a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces, a resected end surface, and an interior core;
- wherein, when the first and second joint members are installed on said first and second bones, respectively, the second sides of the first and second joint members are attached to the resected ends of the first and second bones respectively, and the attachment members of both the first and second joint members are attached to the top surface or a side surface of the respective bone without penetrating the interior core of the bone.
-12. (canceled)
An artificial toe joint for attachment to a first bone and a second bone which are adjacent one another in a foot so as to form a toe joint, the bones each having a resected end forming an end surface and having an upper surface, a lower surface, and side surfaces, the artificial toe joint comprising:
- a first artificial joint member having a first side forming an articulation surface and a second side forming a bone attachment surface, and comprising an attachment structure extending from the edge of the second side;
- wherein, when the first joint member is attached to the first bone, the second side is attached to the bone end surface and the attachment structure is attached to the top surface or a side surface of the bone;
- a second artificial joint member having a first side forming an articulation surface and a second side forming a bone attachment surface, and comprising an attachment structure extending from the edge of the second side;
- and
- wherein, when the second joint member is attached to the second bone, the second side is attached to the bone end surface and the attachment structure is attached to the top surface or a side surface of the bone.
The artificial toe joint of claim 20, wherein the first artificial toe joint member is configured to substantially enclose the resected end of the first bone.
21-43. (canceled)
An artificial toe joint for installation onto a first toe bone and a second toe bone, the first bone having a longitudinal axis and an end generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, the second bone having a longitudinal axis and an end generally perpendicular to the end of the first bone, the joint comprising:
- a first joint component, the first joint component having a bone attachment surface, an articulation surface disposed opposite the bone mounting surface, and a mounting arm attached to the top edge of the bone attachment surface and extending generally perpendicularly to the bone attachment surface in a direction away from the articulation surface;
- a second joint component, the second joint component having a bone attachment surface, an articulation surface disposed opposite the bone mounting surface, and a mounting arm attached to the top edge of the bone attachment surface and extending generally perpendicular to the bone attachment surface in a direction away from the articulation surface;
- and
- wherein the second joint component articulation surface is disposed against the first joint component articulation surface to form an articulating toe joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.