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US 4,309,778 AGranted

New Jersey meniscal bearing knee replacement

AssigneeBiomedical Engineering Corp.

InventorsFrederick F. Buechel, Michael J. Pappas

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Abstract Drawings Claims Description

Abstract

A prosthesis for the surgical replacement of a dysfunctional knee joint. The prosthesis includes a tibial platform, one or two tibial bearing inserts, and a femoral component. In a unicompartmental embodiment of the invention, the tibial platform includes a spike for securing the tibial platform to the tibia. The tibial platform, in the unicompartmental embodiment, includes a track, which may be curved, and which is slidably engaged in dovetail fashion by a tibial bearing insert. The superior surface of the tibial bearing insert is concave spherical, designed to slidably engage the inferior surface of the femoral component. The inferior surface of the femoral component is generally convex spherical, with radius of curvature slightly smaller than the radius of curvature of the tibial bearing insert. In a bicompartmental or tricompartmental embodiment of the invention, the tibial platform includes two tracks, each of which may be curved, and each of which slidably engages in dovetail fashion a tibial bearing insert. The two tibial bearing inserts each engage, via their superior concave spherical surfaces, mating inferior convex surfaces of the femoral component. The two curved tracks are in general not concentric; rather, the center of each falls on a line normal to the plane of such curved track and passing through the center of curvature of the concave spherical surface of the tibial bearing insert of the other curved track.

Claims48

Dependent claims

Claim 1An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 107 words5 dependent Claim 7An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 151 words4 dependent Claim 12An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 268 words1 dependent Claim 14An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 334 words4 dependent Claim 19An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 108 words4 dependent Claim 23An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 152 words7 dependent Claim 30An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 260 words1 dependent Claim 32An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 313 words4 dependent Claim 37An improved prosthetic joint for implantation between a first bone and a second bone · 132 wordsNo dependents Claim 39An improved prosthetic knee joint · 98 words3 dependent Claim 43An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 189 wordsNo dependents Claim 44An improved prosthetic knee joint · 166 wordsNo dependents Claim 45An improved prosthetic knee joint · 151 wordsNo dependents Claim 46An improved prosthetic joint of the type · 145 words1 dependent Claim 48An improved prosthetic knee joint · 189 wordsNo dependents

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) tibial platform means having a first superior bearing surface, the tibial platform means for replacing tibial portions of a knee;
(b) bearing insert means having a first inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the first superior bearing surface of the tibial platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the bearing insert means for providing an articulated joint between the tibial platform means and femoral portions of the knee;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(c) means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the tibial platform means.

1 more element

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) tibial platform means having a first superior bearing surface, the tibial platform means for replacing tibial portions of a knee;
(b) bearing insert means having a first inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the first superior bearing surface of the tibial platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the bearing insert means having a second superior bearing surface, the bearing insert means for providing an articulated joint between the tibial platform means and a femoral component means, and,
(c) femoral component means having a second inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the second superior bearing surface of the bearing insert means, the femoral component means for replacing femoral portions of the knee;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(d) means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the tibial platform means.

2 more elements

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) tibial platform means having a first superior bearing surface, the tibial platform means for replacing tibial portions of a first condylar articulation of a knee;
(b) bearing insert means having a first inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the first superior bearing surface of the tibial platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the bearing insert means having a second superior bearing surface, the bearing insert means for providing an articulated joint replacing the first condylar articulation of the knee;
(c) femoral component means having a second inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the second superior bearing surface of the bearing insert means, the femoral component means for replacing femoral portions of the first condylar articulation of the knee;
and,
(d) wherein the knee includes a second condylar articulation including a third, substantially spherical concave, superior bearing surface, which slidably engages a third, substantially spherical convex, inferior bearing surface;
(e) wherein the third, substantially spherical concave, superior bearing surface defines a first center of curvature;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(f) means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined circular path relative to the tibial platform means;
(g) wherein the circular path lies within a first plane and has a second center of curvature, thereby defining a first axis perpendicular to the first plane and passing through the second center of curvature;
and,
(h) wherein the first axis passes substantially through the first center of curvature of the third, substantially spherical concave, superior bearing surface of the second condylar articulation.

8 more elements

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) first tibial platform means having a first superior bearing surface, the first tibial platform means for replacing tibial portions of a first condylar articulation of a knee;
(b) second tibial platform means having a second superior bearing surface, the second tibial platform means for replacing tibial portions of a second condylar articulation of the knee;
(c) first bearing insert means having a first inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the first superior bearing surface of the first tibial platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the first bearing insert means having a third superior bearing surface, the first bearing insert means for providing a first articulated joint replacing the first condylar articulation of the knee;
(d) second bearing insert means having a second inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the second superior bearing surface of the second tibial platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the second bearing insert means having a fourth superior bearing surface, the second bearing insert means for providing a second articulated joint replacing the second condylar articulation of the knee;
(e) first femoral component means having a third inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the third superior bearing surface of the first bearing insert means, the first femoral component means for replacing femoral portions of the first condylar articulation of the knee;
and,
(f) second femoral component means having a fourth inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the fourth superior bearing surface of the second bearing insert means, the second femoral component means for replacing femoral portions of the second condylar articulation of the knee;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(g) first means for constraining motion of the first bearing insert means during joint articulation to a first predetermined path relative to the first tibial platform means;
and,
(h) second means for constraining motion of the second bearing insert means during joint articulation to a second predetermined path relative to the second tibial platform means.

8 more elements

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) platform means having a first bearing surface, the platform means for being secured to a first bone of an anatomical joint;
(b) bearing insert means having a second bearing surface which slidably engages the first bearing surface of the platform means for sliding movement relative thereto, during joint articulation, the bearing insert means for providing an articulated joint between the platform means and portions of the anatomical joint associated with a second bone;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(c) means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the platform means.

1 more element

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) platform means having a first bearing surface, the platform means for being secured to a first bone of an anatomical joint;
(b) bearing insert means having a second bearing surface which slidably engages the first bearing surface of the platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the bearing insert means having a third bearing surface, the bearing insert means for providing an articulated joint between the platform means and a second bone component means;
and,
(c) a second bone component means having a fourth bearing surface which slidably engages the third bearing surface of the bearing insert means, the second bone component means for being secured to a second bone of the anatomical joint;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(d) means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the platform means.

3 more elements

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) platform means having a first bearing surface, the platform means for being secured to a first bone of an anatomical joint;
(b) bearing insert means having a second bearing surface which slidably engages the first bearing surface of the platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the bearing insert means having a third bearing surface, the bearing insert means for providing a first articulated joint between the platform means and a second bone component means;
(c) second bone component means having a fourth bearing surface which slidably engages the third bearing surface of the bearing insert means, the second bone component means for being secured to a second bone of the anatomical joint;
(d) wherein the anatomical joint includes a second articulated joint including a fifth, substantially spherical concave bearing surface, which slidably engages a sixth, substantially spherical convex, bearing surface;
(e) wherein the fifth, substantially spherical concave, bearing surface defines a first center of curvature;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(f) means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined circular path relative to the platform means;
(g) wherein the circular path lies within a first plane and has a second center of curvature, thereby defining a first axis perpendicular to the first plane and passing through the second center of curvature;
and,
(h) wherein the first axis passes substantially through a point near the first center of curvature of the fifth, substantially spherical concave, bearing surface of the second articulated joint.

7 more elements

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) first platform means having a first bearing surface, the first platform means for being secured to a first bone of an anatomical joint;
p1 (b) second platform means having a second bearing surface, the second platform means for being also secured to the first bone of the anatomical joint;
(c) first bearing insert means having a third bearing surface which slidably engages the first bearing surface of the first platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the first bearing insert means having a fourth bearing surface, the first bearing insert means for providing a first articulated joint between the first platform means and a first component means;
(d) second bearing insert means having a fifth bearing surface which slidably engages the second bearing surface of the second platform means for sliding movement relative thereto during joint articulation, the second bearing insert means having a sixth bearing surface, the second bearing insert means for providing a second articulated joint between the second platform means and a second component means;
(e) first component means having a seventh bearing surface which slidably engages the fourth bearing surface of the first bearing insert means, the first component means for being secured to a second bone of the anatomical joint;
(f) second component means having an eighth bearing surface which slidably engages the sixth bearing surface of the second bearing insert means, the second component means for being also secured to the second bone of the anatomical joint;
ps wherein the improvement comprises:
(g) first means for constraining motion of the first bearing insert means during joint articulation to a first predetermined path relative to the first platform means;
and,
(h) second means for constraining motion of the second bearing insert means during joint articulation to a second predetermined path relative to the second platform means.

7 more elements

An improved prosthetic joint for implantation between a first bone and a second bone, comprising:

first means for being implanted in said first bone and having a first bearing surface;
second means for being implanted in said second bone and having a second bearing surface for being positioned opposite said first bearing surface;
and
third means for being positioned intermediate and for engaging said bearing surfaces to provide joint articulation between said bones and for permitting unrestricted motion in a first predetermined direction within limits permitted by soft tissue, and unrestricted motion axially of said bones within limits provided by soft tissue;
and
fourth means for constraining motion of said third means during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to said second means to provide stability in a second predetermined direction.

3 more elements

An improved prosthetic knee joint comprising first and second components, one surface of the first component being adapted for securement to the tibia, one surface of the second component defining a generally concave bearing surface for mutual articulatory engagement with a femoral condylar surface, the other surface of each component providing a substantially planar bearing surface for mutual sliding engagement between such other surfaces, and said other surfaces of said components being respectively provided with a projection and a track for constraining motion of said first component during joint articulation to a predetermined path defined by said track.

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) tibial platform means having a first superior bearing surface, the tibial platform means for replacing tibial portions of a knee;
(b) bearing insert means having a first inferior bearing surface which slidably engages the first superior bearing surface of the tibial platform means for rotating and sliding movement relative thereto, the bearing insert means provided with a generally concave second superior bearing surface for providing an articulated joint between the tibial platform means and femoral portions of the knee, the generally concave second superior bearing surface defined by a predetermined radius providing a predetermined engagement height;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(c) track means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the tibial platform means and for preventing rotation of the bearing insert means relative to the tibial platform means independent of anterior-posterior sliding movement of the bearing insert means relative to the tibial platform means thereby permitting the predetermined radius to be a non-central radius thereby providing the bearing insert means with an engagement height greater than predetermined engagement height.

1 more element

An improved prosthetic knee joint, comprising:

a tibial platform for replacing tibial portions of a knee, the tibial platform provided with two outwardly curved tracks on its superior surface for constraining motion of a pair of intermediate tibial bearing components during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the tibial platform;
a pair of intermediate tibial bearing components, each component provided with an inferior bearing surface for being slidably received in one of the outwardly curved tracks, and each component provided with a generally concave bearing surface on its superior surface providing an articulated joint with femoral condylar surfaces;
and
during knee joint articulation:
(i) the pair of tibial bearing components simultaneously slide anteriorly-posteriorly in the outwardly curved tracks to provide anterior-posterior shift, (ii) one of the tibial bearing components slides anteriorly in one of the curved tracks while the other of the tibial components slides posteriorly in the other of the tracks to provide axial rotation, and (iii) the tracks provide enhanced medial-lateral stability.

2 more elements

An improved prosthetic knee joint, comprising:

a tibial platform for replacing tibial portions of a knee, the tibial platform provided with an outwardly curved track on its superior surface for constraining motion of an intermediate tibial bearing component during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the tibial platform;
a femoral component for replacing femoral portions of a knee, the femoral component having an inferior generally convex bearing surface;
an intermediate tibial bearing component provided with an inferior bearing surface for being slidably received in the outwardly curved track, the intermediate tibial bearing component provided with a generally concave bearing surface on its superior surface for articulation with the inferior generally convex bearing surface provided in the femoral component;
and
during knee joint articulation:
the tibial bearing component sliding anteriorly-posteriorly in the outwardly curved track to provide anterior-posterior shift, axial rotation, and the outwardly curved track providing enhanced medial-lateral stability.

3 more elements

An improved prosthetic joint of the type including:

(a) tibial platform means for replacing tibial portions of a knee and having a superior bearing surface;
(b) bearing insert means for providing an articulated joint between the tibial platform means and femoral portions of the knee, the bearing insert means having an inferior bearing surface for slidably and/or rotatably engaging the superior bearing surface of the tibial platform means during joint articulation and undergoing axial rotation and/or anterior-posterior shift during joint articulation;
the bearing insert means having medial-lateral stability during joint articulation;
wherein the improvement comprises:
(c) means for constraining motion of the bearing insert means during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the tibial platform means thereby providing the bearing insert means with improved medial-lateral stability substantially unaffected by the axial rotation and/or anterior-posterior shift of the bearing insert means during joint articulation.

2 more elements

An improved prosthetic knee joint, comprising:

a tibial platform for replacing tibial portions of a knee, the tibial platform provided with two outwardly curved tracks on its superior surface for constraining motion of a pair of intermediate tibial bearing components during joint articulation to a predetermined path relative to the tibial platform;
a femoral component for replacing femoral portions of the knee, the femoral component provided with an inferior generally convex bearing surface;
a pair of intermediate tibial bearing components;
each component provided with an inferior bearing surface for being slidably received in one of the outwardly curved tracks, and each component provided with a superior generally concave bearing surface for articulation with the inferior generally convex bearing surface of the femoral component;
and
during knee joint articulation:
the pair of tibial bearing components simultaneously sliding anteriorly-posteriorly in the outwardly curved tracks to provide anterior-posterior shift, one of the tibial bearing components sliding anteriorly in one of the outwardly curved tracks while the other of the tibial components is sliding posteriorly in the other of the curved tracks to provide axial rotation, and the tracks providing enhanced medial-lateral stability.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/053,694Filed 2 Jul 1979
Granted: 12 Jan 1982
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61F 2/3868
For elbows or knees: with sliding tibial bearing
A61F 2/4202
For wrists or ankles; for hands, e.g. fingers; for feet, e.g. toes: for ankles
A61F 2/3877
For elbows or knees: patellae or trochleae
A61F 2002/30176
Concave polygonal shapes: v-shaped

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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