Knee joint prosthesis

A joint prosthesis for use in replacement of a skeletal knee joint which joint permits movement of adjacent body members in flexion about a flexion axis and in rotation relative to each other about an axis extending longitudinally through at least one of the body members perpendicular to said flexion axis, comprising:

• first joint component means for connection with one body member, and second joint component means for connection with said adjacent body member;
• first and second pivot members, said first and second pivot members being spaced apart on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and disposed between said first and second joint component means;
• and
• securing means including a pair of first bodies of elastomeric material and a pair of second bodies of elastomeric material, said pair of first bodies of elastomeric material being disposed between and attaching to said first joint component means and respective ones of said pivot members, said pair of second bodies of elastomeric material being disposed between and attaching to said second joint component means and respective ones of said pivot members, said first pair of bodies of elastomeric material and said second pair of bodies of elastomeric material being spaced apart and suspending said pivot members between said first and second joint component means to permit motion of said first and second joint component means relative to each other about said flexion axis in response to flexion movement of said adjacent body members, said pivot members pivoting about axes parallel to said longitudinal axis and independently rotating in opposite directions about axes in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis in response to rotational movement of said adjacent body members relative to each other, said pivot members cooperating with said first and second bodies of elastomeric material in simulating the operation of a knee joint in the human body.