Knee system and method of making same
AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsOludele O. Popoola, Joel G. Scrafton, David M. Miller, Dirk Pletcher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A femoral prosthesis may be formed as a femoral component incorporating a base material and an articulating material. In one exemplary embodiment, the base material is a metal and the articulating material is a polymer. Specifically, the base material provides strength and rigidity to the femoral component, while the articulating material contacts a tibial prosthesis or natural tibia during joint articulation. In one exemplary embodiment, the articulating material forms the articulating surface of one or more condyle portions of the femoral component.
Claims17
A knee prosthesis including a tibial prosthesis, said tibial prosthesis comprising:
- a tibial component having a polymeric body and at least one non-polymeric articulating portion, said polymeric body having an upper surface, said at least one non-polymeric articulating portion having a perimeter and an articulating surface configured for articulating with a chosen one of a femoral prosthesis and a natural femur, said non-polymeric articulating portion received and secured within said polymeric body in a fixed position to prevent relative movement between the non-polymeric articulating portion and the polymeric body, wherein said polymeric body surrounds said perimeter of said non-polymeric articulating portion and said articulating surface of said non-polymeric articulating portion is substantially flush with said upper surface of said polymeric body, wherein, if during articulation the chosen one of a femoral prosthesis and a natural femur advances off of said articulating surface of said non-polymeric articulating portion and onto said upper surface of said polymeric body, a transition from said articulating surface of said non-polymeric articulating portion to said upper surface of said polymeric body will occur smoothly, as no sudden increase and no sudden decrease in a height of a surface against which the chosen one of a femoral prosthesis and a natural femur articulates is encountered during said transition;
- and
- a tibial tray component, said tibial tray component having a plate and a stem, said polymeric body of said tibial component configured for securement to said plate of said tibial tray component.
A tibial prosthesis, comprising:
- a tibial component having a polymeric body and at least one non-polymeric articulating portion, said polymeric body having an upper surface, said at least one non-polymeric articulating portion having a perimeter and an articulating surface configured for articulating with a chosen one of a femoral prosthesis and a natural femur, said non-polymeric articulating portion received and secured within said polymeric body in a fixed position to prevent relative movement between the non-polymeric articulating portion and the polymeric body, wherein said polymeric body surrounds said perimeter of said non-polymeric articulating portion and said articulating surface of said non-polymeric articulating portion is substantially flush with said upper surface of said polymeric body, wherein, if during articulation the chosen one of a femoral prosthesis and a natural femur advances off of said articulating surface of said non-polymeric articulating portion and onto said upper surface of said polymeric body, a transition from said articulating surface of said non-polymeric articulating portion to said upper surface of said polymeric body will occur smoothly, as no sudden increase and no sudden decrease in a height of a surface against which the chosen one of a femoral prosthesis and a natural femur articulates is encountered during said transition;
- and
- a tibial tray component, said tibial tray component having a plate and a stem, said polymeric body of said tibial component configured for securement to said plate of said tibial tray component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.