Surgically implantable knee prosthesis having attachment apertures

• US 6,923,831 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Centerpulse Orthopedics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Centerpulse Orthopedics Incorporated
• Inventors: Fell, Barry M., Hallock, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Priddy, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US10/226,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 623 2014- 2036, 623/14.12
• US Class Current: 623/14.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30942 for designing or making customized prostheses, e.g. using templates, CT or NMR scans, finite-element analysis or CAD-CAM techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3868 with sliding tibial bearing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3872 Meniscus for implantation between the natural bone surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30026 differing in wear resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30065 thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30324 differing in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30708 Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices, Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30762 Means for culturing cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30782 inclined obliquely
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3895 unicompartimental
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0071 : thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0036 : differing in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0084 : Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices; Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics

Abstract

An implantable knee prosthesis for unicompartmental implantation into a knee joint includes a body having a substantially elliptical shape in plan and a pair of opposed faces. A peripheral face extends between the opposed faces and has first and second opposed sides and first and second opposed ends. At least one aperture extends through the body and extends from a first one of the faces to a second one of the faces.

Claims

1. A knee prosthesis for unicompartmental implantation into a knee joint, comprising:

a unicompartmental body having a substantially elliptical shape in plan, the body having a convex face, an opposed concave face and a peripheral face extending between the opposed faces having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and

at least one aperture extending through the body, the aperture extending from a first one of the faces to a second one of the faces.

2. The knee prosthesis as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a first dimension D defined by the first end and the second end; and

a second dimension F defined by the first side and the second side, where the dimension F is from about 0.25 to about 1.5 of the dimension D.

3. The knee prosthesis as defined in claim 1 wherein the aperture penetrates the body at the peripheral face and at one of the opposed faces.

4. The knee prosthesis as defined in claim 1 wherein the body includes two separate apertures, each aperture penetrating the body at the peripheral face and at one of the opposed faces.

5. The knee prosthesis as defined in claim 4 wherein each aperture penetrates the same opposed face of the body.

6. The knee prosthesis as defined in claim 1 wherein the aperture penetrates the body at a first portion of the peripheral face and at a second portion of the peripheral face.

7. The knee prosthesis as defined in claim 1 wherein there are two separate apertures, each aperture penetrating the body at spaced apart portions of the peripheral face.

8. The knee prosthesis as defined in claim 1 wherein the convex surface is a tibial surface of the prosthesis and the concave surface is a femoral surface of the prosthesis.

9. A method of providing an implantable knee prosthesis for unicompartmental implantation into a knee joint comprising:

providing a unicompartmental body having a substantially elliptical shape in plan, the body having a convex face, an opposed concave face, and a peripheral face extending between the opposed faces; and

forming at least one aperture to extend through the body, the aperture extending from a first one of the faces to a second one of the faces.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

dimensioning the faces to be defined by a dimension D extending between opposite ends of the body, and a dimension F extending between opposite sides of the body, where the dimension F is in the range of about 0.25 to about 1.5 of the dimension D.

11. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

forming the aperture to penetrate the body at the peripheral face and one of the opposed faces.

12. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

forming two separate apertures such that each aperture penetrates the body at the peripheral face and at one of the opposed faces.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising:

forming each aperture to penetrate the same opposed face of the body.

14. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

forming the aperture to penetrate the body at a first portion of the peripheral face and at a second portion of the peripheral face.

15. The method defined by claim 9 further comprising:

forming two separate apertures such that each aperture penetrates the body at spaced apart portions of the peripheral face.

16. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

removing at least a portion of a meniscus in the knee joint.

17. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

introducing suture through the at least one aperture to attach the prosthesis in the knee joint.

18. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the convex surface is a tibial surface of the prosthesis and the concave surface is a femoral surface of the prosthesis.

19. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

measuring for a length dimension of the prosthesis; and

measuring for a thickness dimension of the prosthesis.

20. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

inserting a trial component into the knee joint;

verifying sizing for the trial component;

removing the trial component; and

inserting the prosthesis.