Method and Apparatus for Altering Biomechanics of the Articular Joints
AssigneeCotera, Inc.
InventorsVivek Shenoy, Hanson S. Gifford, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Pathology of the human knee can arise from excessive and/or uneven loading of regions within the joint. Methods and apparatus are disclosed that enable displacement of soft tissue around the knee, without displacing or severing bone thereby altering the mechanical load distribution within the joint in a less invasive manner than previous techniques.
Claims26
An apparatus for treating disorders of the knee, comprising a substantially rigid prosthesis formed along a first axis, said first axis lying in a first plane, the prosthesis comprising:
- a fixation portion configured and dimensioned to be mounted to the femur at a fixation site adjacent the knee, the fixation portion having a generally elongate shape oriented along said first axis, cranial and caudal ends, at least a first width transverse to the first axis, at least one bone screw hole, an inner surface configured to contact the femur with at least an edge portion of said inner surface lying in said first plane, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
- a displacement portion configured to engage and displace a connective tissue of the knee targeted for treatment, the displacement portion having a cranial end, a caudal end, a smooth, outer, convex bearing surface between said cranial and caudal ends free of bone screw holes, wherein said convex bearing surface is spaced caudally from the fixation portion in a direction along said axis and spaced from said inner surface of the fixation portion in a direction perpendicular to said first plane, the displacement portion having a second width greater than the first width of said fixation portion;
- and
- a spanning section extending between the caudal end of said fixation portion and the cranial end of said displacement portion at an angle with respect to said first plane, the displacement portion having anterior and posterior edges each having a convex curvature extending from the cranial end to a caudal edge of the displacement portion.
An apparatus for treating disorders of the knee, the apparatus comprising a prosthesis comprising:
- a fixation portion having a bone facing surface and including at least one bone screw hole, the fixation portion configured to be secured to the femur at a fixation site on the lateral side and proximate the lower extremity of the femur;
- a displacement portion including a rounded and smooth bearing surface having continuously arcing anterior, caudal and posterior edges and being free of holes or other fixation means;
- and
- a spanning section between the fixation portion and the displacement portion, the spanning section configured and dimensioned to extend laterally and caudally from the fixation portion;
- wherein the spanning section and displacement portion are configured and dimensioned to position the displacement portion further caudally from the fixation portion and laterally displaced from said bone-facing surface of the fixation portion so as to insert under the iliotibial band from a medial and cranial position with the fixation portion fixed to the femur to atraumatically engage and displace the iliotibial band in at least a lateral direction from a pre-treatment anatomical path by a distance of more than about 5 mm and less than about 30 mm while avoiding select tissues medial to at least part of the displacement portion.
An apparatus for treating disorders of the knee, the apparatus comprising a prosthesis configured to be secured to a lateral side of the femur proximate the lower extremity of the femur in engagement with a target tissue comprising a laterally placed muscle, tendon or ligament, said prosthesis comprising a rounded and smooth convex bearing surface formed with an outermost point spaced cranially from a caudal edge of the bearing surface, and being configured and dimensioned to displace said target tissue in at least a lateral direction from a pre-treatment anatomical path by a displacement distance of more than about 5 mm and less than about 30 mm to alter the location, angle or magnitude of forces exerted thereby on the knee so as to achieve a therapeutic effect comprising at least reducing a load at an articular surface of the knee.
An apparatus for treating disorders of the knee, comprising a prosthesis having a spoon-like shape generally mirroring a lateral profile of a distal portion of the femur including a femoral shaft and a femoral condyle, the prosthesis comprising:
- an elongate fixation portion having proximal and distal ends, a width, a longitudinal axis therebetween lying in a first plane, and at least one screw hole passing through the first plane for receiving a bone screw;
- and
- a displacement portion rigidly coupled distally with respect to the fixation portion, the displacement portion having (i) a size and shape selected to substantially cover a lateral aspect of the femoral condyle, (ii) opposing, convexly rounded anterior and posterior edges, (iii) a width between the anterior and posterior edges larger than the width of the fixation portion, (iv) a concave inner surface shaped to extend over the lateral femoral condyle, and (v) a convex outer surface free of screw holes for receiving bone screws and elevated relative to the first plane such that when the fixation portion is attached to the femoral shaft the displacement portion is positionable between the iliotibial band and the lateral femoral condyle, spaced laterally from the lateral femoral condyle and the outer surface displaces the iliotibial band laterally at least 10 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.