Artifical implant component and method for securing same

A method of securing an artificial patella component to a natural patella, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an artificial patella component including a dome-shaped portion having a spherical articular surface and a substantially flat undersurface, said artificial patella component further including a plurality of flexible lobes extending from the undersurface;
• surgically preparing a natural patella for receiving said artificial patella component including forming a cavity in said natural patella;
• and
• inserting said plurality of flexible lobes into said cavity such that said flexible lobes are compressed together as they are being inserted into said cavity thereby securing said artificial patella component to said natural patella.

An artificial patella component of a knee joint prosthesis, said knee joint prosthesis having a femoral component, said artificial patella component adapted to be secured to a natural patella having a cavity, said artificial patella component comprising:

• a dome-shaped portion including a spherical articular surface operable to articulate with said knee joint prosthesis and an undersurface operable to engage said natural patella, said dome-shaped portion having a centerline perpendicularly disposed with respect to said undersurface of said dome-shaped portion;
• a tapered portion extending from said undersurface of said dome-shaped portion, said tapered portion being operable to engage a cavity formed in said natural patella, said tapered portion includes a plurality of flexible lobes extending from said undersurface of said dome-shaped portion;
• and
• a plurality of canals extending from said undersurface of said dome-shaped portion, said plurality of canals including at least one canal disposed perpendicularly with respect to said undersurface of said dome-shaped portion and at least one canal angularly displaced from said centerline of said dome-shaped portion.

A method of securing an artificial implant component having an articulating surface to a portion of the human body, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an artificial implant component having a first portion mechanically communicating with a second portion, said first portion having said articulating surface and said second portion including a plurality of flexible lobes;
• surgically preparing said portion of said human body for receiving said artificial implant component including forming a cavity in said portion of said human body;
• and
• inserting said plurality of flexible lobes into said cavity such that said flexible lobes are compressed together as they are being inserted into said cavity thereby securing said artificial implant component to said portion of said human body.

An artificial implant component operable to movably articulate with a portion of a joint prosthesis, said artificial implant component adapted to be secured to a portion of the human body having a cavity using bone cement, said artificial implant component comprising:

• an articulating portion operable to engage a portion of said joint prosthesis, said articulating portion having an axial centerline;
• and
• a plurality of canals partially disposed in said articulating portion of said, artificial implant component, said plurality of canals including at least one canal disposed parallel to said axial centerline of said articulating portion and at least one canal angularly displaced from the said axial centerline of said articulating portion,
• whereby said canals are operable to receive bone cement when said artificial implant component is secured to the portion of the human body using bone cement.