# US 2014/0156017 A1 · Flex anchor for attaching a prosthesis to bone > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156017 A1 - Document ID: US20140156017A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,921 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC - Applicants: Biomet Manufacturing Corp. - Inventors: Brian Salyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156017A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/389: {Tibial components (A61F2/3868 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/30749: {Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body} - A61F 2002/30166: {H-shaped or I-shaped} - A61F 2002/30387: {Dovetail connection} - A61F 2002/30571: {Leaf springs} - A61F 2002/30878: {with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts} - A61F 2002/30883: {dovetail-shaped} - A61F 2002/30884: {Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A tibial anchoring assembly comprising a tibial tray and an anchor. The tibial tray comprises an upper surface for engagement with a femoral component and a lower surface for engagement with a tibia bone. The lower surface defines at least one retaining aperture. The anchor is adapted to compressively couple the tibial tray to the tibia bone. The anchor comprises a longitudinally extending base, a top section coupled to the base and having a shape to be received into the retaining aperture of the tibial tray, and a flexible blade member protruding from the base. The flexible blade member is adapted to be flexed in tension while being inserted into the tibia bone, thereby exerting a compressive force between the tibial tray and the tibia bone. A deforming fixture may be used to shape the flexible blade member. Methods of affixing an implant to a bone structure are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tibial anchoring assembly, comprising: a tibial tray comprising an upper surface for engagement with a femoral component and a lower surface for engagement with a tibia bone, the tibial tray defining at least one retaining aperture; and an anchor adapted to compressively couple the tibial tray to the tibia bone, the anchor comprising: a longitudinally extending base; a top section coupled to the base and defining a cooperating shape to be received into the retaining aperture of the tibial tray; and a flexible blade member protruding from at least one side of the base, wherein the flexible blade member is adapted to be flexed in tension while being inserted into the tibia bone, thereby exerting a compressive force between the tibial tray and the associated tibia bone after the anchor is inserted therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor further comprises a bottom section coupled to the base and defining a cooperating shape to be received in the tibia bone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor is formed as a unitary component having a monolithic construction with the flexible blade member being integral with the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the base of the anchor defines at least one slot, the slot being configured to retain the flexible blade member therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 4, wherein the flexible blade member comprises at least one notch, the notch cooperates with a locking catch defined in the slot to secure the flexible blade member to the base of the anchor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 4, wherein the base of the anchor defines a plurality of spaced apart and parallel slots for selective engagement with the flexible blade member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible blade member comprises at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: a serrated edge, a sharpened edge, a bone ingrowth opening, a curved tab, or a porous coating. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the tibial tray defines a plurality of spaced apart retaining apertures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of the spaced apart retaining apertures defines a plurality of channels extending parallel to one another at differing depths within the tibial tray, each channel being configured to retain the anchor at a different height. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tibial anchoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the base of the anchor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: titanium, stainless steel, a titanium alloy, a cobalt-chrome alloy, a ceramic, and a thermoplastic. ### Claim 11 A system for affixing an implant to a bone structure, the system comprising: a tibial tray for engagement with a tibia bone, the tibial tray defining at least one retaining aperture; an anchor adapted to be received in the retaining aperture, the anchor comprising a flexible blade member protruding from a longitudinally extending base and adapted to compressively couple the tibial tray to the tibia bone; and a deforming fixture adapted to receive the anchor and deform the flexible blade member while the anchor is being inserted into the tibia bone, the deformed blade member exerting a compressive force between the tibial tray and the associated tibia bone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the anchor further comprises: a top section coupled to the base and defining a cooperating shape to be received into the retaining aperture of the tibial tray; and a bottom section coupled to the base and to be received into the tibia bone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the base of the anchor defines at least one slot and locking catch, the slot being configured to retain the flexible blade member therein, further wherein the flexible blade member comprises at least one notch, the notch cooperating with the locking catch to secure the flexible blade member to the base of the anchor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the tibial tray defines a plurality of spaced apart retaining apertures, at least one of the spaced apart retaining apertures defines a plurality of channels extending parallel to one another at differing depths within the tibial tray, each channel being configured to receive the anchor from deforming fixture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the deforming fixture comprises a two-piece press die mold. ### Claim 16 A method of affixing an implant to a bone structure, the method comprising: receiving an anchor adapted to compressively couple a tibial tray to a tibia bone, the anchor comprising a flexible blade member protruding from a longitudinally extending base, deforming the flexible blade member; inserting the anchor into the tibia bone while the flexible blade member remains in a deformed state; and coupling the anchor to the tibial tray. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein deforming the flexible blade member comprises shaping the anchor using a deforming fixture. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein deforming the flexible blade member comprises applying a press force to the deforming fixture, thereby bending or altering the flexible blade member angular orientation in order to exert a compressive force between the tibial tray and the associated tibia bone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising defining a slot or bore in the tibia bone to receive the base of the anchor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein receiving an anchor comprises selecting a longitudinally extending base from a plurality of pre-manufactured base members and inserting at least one flexible blade member into a slot formed therein.