# US 8,540,775 B2 · Modular implant part and knee joint prosthesis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,775 B2 - Document ID: US8540775B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/156,791 - Filed: 2008-06-03 - Published: 2008-12-11 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-11 - Assignees: Aesculap AG - Applicants: Jan Reich; Uwe Idler - Inventors: Jan Reich; Uwe Idler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540775B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/389: {Tibial components (A61F2/3868 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/30721: {Accessories} - A61F 2/30734: {Modular inserts, sleeves or augments, e.g. placed on proximal part of stem for fixation purposes or wedges for bridging a bone defect} - A61F 2002/30537: {adjustable} - A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation} - A61F 2002/30553: {for adjusting a position by translation along an axis} - A61F 2002/30604: {modular} - A61F 2002/30878: {with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts} - A61F 2250/0004: adjustable - A61F 2250/0006: for adjusting angular orientation - A61F 2250/0008: for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract In order to improve a modular implant part for replacing a part of a natural knee joint with an implant component comprising a shaft extending away from the implant component and a connecting device for connecting the shaft to the implant component such that the shaft is adapted to be fixed to the implant component in a multiplicity of desired positions in a simple manner, it is proposed that the connecting device be formed in such a manner that, in a mounting disposition, the shaft is adapted to be moved into different translatory positions by a translatory movement in a direction transverse or substantially transverse to its longitudinal axis, and that, in an implantation disposition, the shaft is adapted to be fixed immovably to the implant component in one of the different translatory positions. Furthermore, an improved knee joint prosthesis is proposed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular implant part for replacing a part of a natural knee joint comprising: an implant component comprising a plate-like tibia plateau having an upper surface and a lower surface, a shaft, and a connecting device comprising a single adapter for connecting the shaft to said implant component, the adapter is adapted to be fixed to the implant component on the one hand and the shaft on the other hand, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis and extending away from said implant component, in a mounting disposition the adapter and the implant component are temporarily connected while still allowing a relative movement therebetween such that the adapter is: (i) adapted to be moved into different translatory positions with respect to the lower surface of the tibia plateau by a translatory movement in a direction transverse or substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; and (ii) the adapter is rotatable about an axis of rotation into different rotary positions with respect to the lower surface of the tibia plateau, the axis of rotation running parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and in an implantation disposition, the adapter is adapted to be immovably fixed to the implant component in one of the different translatory positions and one of the different rotary positions, wherein: a first coupling member is provided which couples the implant component and adapter together and is in engagement in at least one of a force-locking and a shape-locking manner with the adapter in the implantation disposition, the connecting device comprises a first guidance device for guiding a movement of the adapter and the implant component relative to each other in the mounting disposition, the first guidance device comprises a linear guide means comprised of at least one guide groove formed on the adapter, and a head of the first coupling member is guided in the guide groove in linear movable manner in the mounting disposition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting device is formed in such a manner that it is possible for different translatory positions to be set in a step-less manner in the mounting disposition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shaft is adapted to be fixed immovably to the implant component by the connecting device in one of the different rotary positions in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting device is formed in such a manner that it is possible to set differing rotary positions in a step-less manner in the mounting disposition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter element which is formed symmetrically or substantially symmetrically. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first coupling member is constructed in the form of a bolt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a first coupling device for immovably fixing the adapter to the implant component in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein: at least two first coupling elements are provided which are in engagement in the implantation disposition, and the implant component comprises one of the at least two first coupling elements and wherein the adapter comprises another one of the at least two first coupling elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of the at least two first coupling elements comprises an internally threaded section and another of the at least two first coupling elements comprises a corresponding externally threaded section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of the at least two first coupling elements comprises a recess and another of the at least two first coupling elements comprises a projection which enters the recess in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 10, wherein the recess is in the form of a groove and the projection is in the form of a screw, whereby at least one part of the screw enters the groove in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 8, wherein the adapter and the first coupling element comprised thereby are formed in one piece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a second coupling device for immovably fixing the adapter to the shaft in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein: at least two second coupling elements are provided which are in engagement in the implantation disposition, the shaft comprises one of the at least two second coupling elements, and the adapter comprises another one of the at least two second coupling elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 14, wherein the at least two second coupling elements are in engagement with each other in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 14, wherein one of the at least two second coupling elements is constructed in the form of a coupling projection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 14, wherein one of the at least two second coupling elements comprises an internally threaded section and another one of the at least two second coupling elements comprises a corresponding externally threaded section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A modular implant part in accordance with claims 14, wherein one of the at least two second coupling elements comprises a recess and another one of the at least two second coupling elements comprises a projection which enters the recess in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 18, wherein the recess is in the form of a groove and the projection is in the form of a screw, whereby at least one part of the screw enters the groove in the implantation disposition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 14, wherein the adapter and the second coupling element comprised thereby are formed in one piece. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first guidance device comprises a rotary guide means. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein a free end of the shaft is rounded off. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of shafts of different lengths are provided. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claims 1, wherein the implant part forms a tibial part of a knee joint prosthesis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A modular implant part in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting device is formed in such a manner that the shaft is fixable in the translatory position and in the rotary position independently of each other. ### Claim 26 A knee joint prosthesis comprising a first implant part, a second implant part and a third implant part, said first implant part being in the form of a femoral part, said second implant part being in the form of a tibial part and said third implant part being in the form of a meniscus part, said second implant part is a modular implant part, said modular implant part comprising: an implant component comprising a plate-like tibia plateau having an upper surface and a lower surface, a shaft, and a connecting device comprising a single adapter for connecting the shaft to the implant component, the adapter is adapted to be fixed to the implant component on the one hand and the shaft on the other hand, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis and extending away from the implant component, wherein: in a mounting disposition the adapter and the implant component are temporarily connected while still allowing a relative movement therebetween such that the adapter is: (i) adapted to be moved into different translatory positions with respect to the lower surface of the tibia plateau by a translatory movement in a direction transverse or substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; and (ii) the adapter is rotatable about an axis of rotation into different rotary positions with respect to the lower surface of the tibia plateau, the axis of rotation running parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and in an implantation disposition, the adapter is adapted to be fixed immovably to the implant component in one of the different translatory positions and one of the different rotary positions, a first coupling member is provided which couples the implant component and adapter together and is in engagement in at least one of a force-locking and a shape-locking manner with the adapter in the implantation disposition, the connecting device comprises a first guidance device for guiding a movement of the adapter and the implant component relative to each other in the mounting disposition, the first guidance device comprises a linear guide means comprised of at least one guide groove formed on the adapter, and a head of the first coupling member is guided in the guide groove in linear movable manner in the mounting disposition. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A knee joint prosthesis in accordance with claim 26, wherein the connecting device is formed in such a manner that the shaft is fixable in the translatory position and in the rotary position independently of each other.