US 6,123,729 A · Four compartment knee

Abstract

A femoral knee implant includes a fourth compartment of articulation. The superior posterior articulating surface is achieved by first increasing the thickness of the superior posterior condylar portion of the femoral component to widen the superior posterior edge of the posterior condyle. Second, the newly created surface at the superior posterior condyle is smoothly rounded to provide an articular surface with no sharp changes in the surface contours. In one embodiment, the fourth articular compartment of this invention is provided in a one piece femoral design. In another embodiment, it is provided as a modular addition to an existing prior art femoral component. In another embodiment, the fourth compartment is combined with a posterior stabilized (PS) TKR design that includes a tibial post and cooperating femoral cam characterized by low engagement of the cam on the spine.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A prosthetic knee implant including:

a tibial component comprising a tibial articular surface;
and
a femoral component comprising arcuate medial and lateral condyles joined together to form a patellar flange, each of the medial and lateral condyles including a distal condyle extending distally from the patellar flange to form a distal articular surface, a posterior condyle extending posteriorly from the distal condyle to form a posterior articular surface, and a superior condyle extending superiorly from the distal condyle to form a superior articular surface, the distal condyles, the posterior condyles, and the superior condyles defining a smooth articular surface extending around the exterior of the implant for articulation with the tibial articular surface, the superior condyles extending the articular surface back toward the patellar flange to accommodate flexion of the femoral component relative to the tibial component of at least 160 degrees.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Four compartment knee

Life of this patent

Four compartment knee

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11