Multipart component for an orthopaedic implant
AssigneeZimmer Technology, Inc.
InventorMichael E. Hawkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect of the invention, an implant includes first and second components to replace a portion of each of a pair of opposed articulating bone ends. The second component has means for low friction articulation with the first component and means for engaging the first component to constrain the motion between the components. The means for low friction articulation includes a first material exhibiting low wear and having a predetermined toughness value. The means for engaging includes a second material having a predetermined toughness value higher than the means for low friction articulation.
Claims19
A tibial implant component configured for articulating with a corresponding femoral implant having a medial condyle portion and a lateral condyle portion, the tibial implant comprising:
- a medial condylar component having a medial articulating surface, said medial articulating surface configured to articulate with the medial condyle portion of the femoral implant;
- a lateral condylar component having a lateral articulating surface, said lateral articulating surface configured to articulate with the lateral condyle portion of the femoral implant;
- and
- an intercondylar component terminating laterally at a lateral extremity and terminating medially at a medial extremity, said lateral extremity and said medial extremity positioned intermediate said medial condylar component and said lateral condylar component, whereby the entirety of said intercondylar component is positioned lateral of said medial condylar component and medial of said lateral condylar component;
- wherein said medial condylar component, said lateral condylar component, and said intercondylar component are separate, discrete components;
- and
- wherein said medial condylar component, said lateral condylar component, and said intercondylar component are fixedly coupled together in a fixed relative position.
A tibial implant component configured for articulating with a corresponding femoral implant having a medial condyle portion and a lateral condyle portion, the tibial implant comprising:
- a medial condylar component having a medial articulating surface, a medial component posterior wall, and a medial component anterior wall, said medial articulating surface configured to articulate with the medial condyle portion of the femoral implant;
- a lateral condylar component having a lateral articulating surface, a lateral component posterior wall, and a lateral component anterior wall, said lateral articulating surface configured to articulate with the lateral condyle portion of the femoral implant;
- and
- an intercondylar component having an intercondylar component posterior wall and an intercondylar component anterior wall, said intercondylar component positioned between said medial condylar component and said lateral condylar component, said intercondylar component and said medial condylar component cooperating to form a medial junction and said intercondylar component and said lateral condylar component cooperating to form a lateral junction;
- wherein said intercondylar component posterior wall and said intercondylar component anterior wall are substantially flush with said medial component posterior wall and said medial component anterior wall at said medial junction and are substantially flush with said lateral component posterior wall and said lateral component anterior wall at said lateral junction;
- wherein said medial condylar component, said lateral condylar component, and said intercondylar component are fixedly coupled together in a fixed relative position;
- and
- wherein said intercondylar component further comprises a tibial eminence sized to fit in an intercondylar notch of the corresponding femoral component, said tibial eminence extending above said medial articulating surface of said medial condylar component and said lateral articulating surface of said lateral condylar component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.