Rotational and translational bearing combination in biological joint replacement
AssigneeBiomedical Engineering Trust I
InventorsMichael J. Pappas, Frederick F. Buechel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A joint prosthesis having a femoral element, a tibial element and a bearing for articulation therebetween is disclosed to further include an intermediate element. The intermediate element permits rotation of the bearing with respect to the tibial element and longitudinal translation of the bearing with respect to the intermediate element. Transverse translation of the bearing with respect to the intermediate element is precluded. In an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal translation may be limited either in the anterior or posterior direction.
Claims28
An improved prosthetic joint for accommodating articulation between a first bone and a second bone, said joint comprising:
- a first element for attachment to a first bone, said first element having a surface facing generally away from said first bone;
- a second element for attachment to a second bone, said second element having a surface facing generally away from said second bone;
- bearing means disposed between said first and second elements, said bearing means having a first bearing surface in contact with said surface of said first element, and a second bearing surface in contact with said surface of said second element;
- and
- intermediate means disposed wholly between said first element and said bearing means for selectively permitting translation of said bearing means, said intermediate means being movable with respect to both said first element and said bearing means, and wherein said bearing means is slidable to permit longitudinal translation with respect to said intermediate means and further including means for preventing transverse translation of said bearing means with respect to said intermediate means.
A prosthetic joint for accommodating articulation between a first bone and a second bone, said joint comprising:
- a first metal element for attachment to the first bone, said first metal element having a surface facing generally away from said first bone;
- a second element for attachment to the second bone, said second element having a surface facing generally away from said second bone;
- plastic bearing means disposed between and in articulating contact with said first and second elements, said plastic bearing means having a first bearing surface in contact with said surface of said first element, and a second bearing surface in contact with said surface of said second element;
- and
- intermediate guide means disposed wholly between said first metal element and said plastic bearing means, said intermediate guide means being movably coupled to the first element for permitting the articulation between the first element and the bearing means during normal load bearing operation of the prosthetic joint without metal-to-metal contact between the intermediate guide means and first element, said intermediate guide means selectively permitting translation of said bearing means and being moveable with respect to both said first element and said bearing means, and wherein said bearing means is slidable to permit longitudinal translation with respect to said intermediate guide means and further including means for preventing transverse translation of said bearing means with respect to said intermediate guide means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.