# US 8,784,497 B2 · Systems and methods for providing an anterior flange for a femoral component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,497 B2 - Document ID: US8784497B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/831,531 - Filed: 2013-03-14 - Published: 2013-08-15 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-27 - Applicants: Kent M. Samuelson; Connor E. Samuelson - Inventors: Kent M. Samuelson; Connor E. Samuelson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784497B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/46: Special tools for implanting artificial joints - A61B 17/155: {Cutting femur} - A61B 17/1675: {for the knee} - 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 2/30756: {Cartilage endoprostheses (A61F2/3603 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/30767: {Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth} - A61F 2/38: for elbows or knees - A61F 2/3859: {Femoral components} - A61F 2/3886: {for stabilising knees against anterior or lateral dislocations} - A61F 2/389: {Tibial components (A61F2/3868 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/30965: {Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping} - A61F 2/3877: {Patellae or trochleae} - A61F 2002/30116: {partial circles, i.e. circular segments} - A61F 2002/30245: {Partial spheres} - A61F 2002/30604: {modular} - A61F 2002/30607: {Kits of prosthetic parts to be assembled in various combinations for forming different prostheses} - A61F 2002/30934: {Special articulating surfaces} - A61F 2002/3863: {Condyles fitted on an anchored base} - A61F 2002/3895: {unicompartimental} - A61F 2230/0006: circular - A61F 2230/0071: spherical - A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys - A61F 2310/00179: Ceramics or ceramic-like structures - A61F 2310/00329: Glasses, e.g. bioglass - A61F 2310/00353: Bone cement, e.g. polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities. In some instances, such systems and methods include a modular patella-femoral component. This modular patella-femoral component can include several characteristics, including a modular anterior flange that has an anterior femoral articulation surface that is configured to articulate against a patella in a knee joint, a posterior surface that is configured to be attached to an anterior portion of a femur, and a distal end that is configured to couple to a proximal end of an anterior portion of a femoral prosthesis, which is configured to couple to a distal portion of the femur. Other implementations are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular patella-femoral component, comprising: a modular anterior flange having: an anterior femoral articulation surface configured to articulate against a patella in a knee joint; a posterior surface configured to be coupled to an anterior portion of a femur; and a distal end that is coupleable to a proximal end of an anterodistal condylar portion of a femoral prosthesis that is configured to couple to a distal portion of the femur, wherein the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral prosthesis comprises an interior surface configured to interface with an anterior chamfer cut on the femur. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular component of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange is configured to be adjusted proximally and distally with respect to the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral prosthesis when the modular anterior flange is coupled to the femoral prosthesis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular component of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange is configured to couple to the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral prosthesis via a process that extends between the modular anterior flange and the femoral prosthesis and a recess that is sized and shaped to receive the process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular component of claim 1, wherein the modular anterior flange is configured to be laterally adjustable with respect to the femoral prosthesis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular component of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange comprises a texture that is configured to hold cement to couple the modular anterior flange to the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral prosthesis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular component of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange is sized and shaped to couple to the proximal end of the anterior portion of a femoral prosthesis via an adjustable butt joint. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular component of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange comprises a process and wherein the proximal end of the anterior portion of the femoral component comprises a socket that is sized and shaped to receive the process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular component of claim 7, wherein the socket comprises a tapered opening. ### Claim 9 A femoral component comprising: a femoral component configured to attach to a distal portion of a femur, the femoral component comprising an anterodistal condylar portion having a proximal end; and a discrete modular anterior flange having: an anterior femoral articulation surface configured to articulate against a patella in a knee joint; a posterior surface configured to couple to an anterior portion of the femur; and a distal end that is configured to couple to the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The femoral component of claim 9, wherein the modular anterior flange is configured to terminate within about 15 mm of a proximal limit of articular cartilage in the knee joint when the modular anterior flange is attached to the anterodistal condylar portion of the femur. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The femoral component of claim 9, wherein the modular anterior flange is configured to be adjusted laterally with respect to the femoral component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The femoral component of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange comprises a process and wherein the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral component comprises a socket that is sized and shaped to receive the process. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The femoral component of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange is proximally and distally adjustable with respect to the proximal end of the anterior portion of the femoral prosthesis when the modular anterior flange is coupled to the femoral prosthesis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The femoral component of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange is sized and shaped to couple to the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral component via an adjustable butt joint. ### Claim 15 A method for coupling a modular anterior flange to a femur, the method comprising: obtaining a femoral component configured to attach to a distal portion of a femur, the femoral component comprising an anterodistal condylar portion having a proximal end; obtaining a discrete modular anterior flange having: an anterior femoral articulation surface configured to articulate against a patella in a knee joint; a posterior surface configured to couple to an anterior portion of the femur; and a distal end that is configured to couple to the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral component; preparing the femur to receive the femoral component, including removing bone from the distal portion of the femur; attaching the femoral component to the distal portion of the femur; and attaching the modular anterior flange to the anterior portion of the femur. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the distal end of the modular anterior flange comprises a concave surface, and wherein the method further comprises coupling the concave surface with the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion of the femoral component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the modular anterior flange is sized such that a proximal end of the modular anterior flange terminates within about 15 mm of a proximal limit of articular cartilage in the knee joint. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting a position of the modular anterior flange laterally with respect to the femoral component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting a position of the modular anterior flange at least one of distally and proximally with respect to the femoral component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the femoral component attaches to the distal portion of the femur such that the proximal end of the anterodistal condylar portion terminates adjacent to a proximal-most end of an anterior oblique cut on the femur.