Methods and apparatuses for enhancing prosthetic implant durability

• US 7,338,529 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Higgins, Joel C
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Pedro
• Application Number:
  US10/813,355
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 623/20.14, 623/20.29, 623/20.28, 623/20.15, 623/20.32, 623/20.33, 623/20.24
• US Class Current: 623/20.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3868 with sliding tibial bearing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3886 for stabilising knees against anterior or lateral dislocations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30922 Hardened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00203 containing alumina or aluminium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00239 containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0064 Coating made of niobium oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00652 Coating made of hafnium oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00856 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of compounds based on metal nitrides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0091 Coating made of tantalum nitride

Abstract

The present teachings provide for a prosthetic implant comprising a femoral component, a tibial component, a bearing and a wear reduction device. The femoral component is operable to replace at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s natural femur. The tibial component is operable to replace at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s natural tibia, the tibial component having a superior tibial component surface. The bearing is operable to provide engagement between the femoral component and the tibial component. The bearing has a superior bearing surface operable to articulate with the femoral component and an inferior bearing surface operable to cooperate with the superior tibial component surface. The wear reduction device is located at least one of the superior tibial component surface and the inferior bearing surface and is operable to reduce wear upon at least one of the superior tibial component surface and the inferior bearing surface.

Claims

1. A prosthetic implant comprising:

a femoral component operable to replace at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s natural femur;

a tibial component operable to replace at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s natural tibia, said tibial component having a superior tibial component surface;

a bearing operable to provide engagement between said femoral component and said tibial component having;

a superior bearing surface operable to articulate with said femoral component; and

an inferior bearing surface operable to cooperate with said superior tibial component surface; and

a wear reduction device located at at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface and operable to reduce wear upon at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface, said wear reduction device is coplanar with at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface;

wherein said wear reduction device is a ceramic insert seated within a recess located at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein said bearing is fixed relative to said tibial component.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein said bearing is movable relative to said tibial component in a medial to lateral direction.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein said bearing is movable relative to said tibial component in an anterior to posterior direction.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein said bearing is operable to move in a rotational direction relative to said tibial component.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein said superior tibial component is planar.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein said superior tibial component surface is at least one of a concave or a convex surface.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein said ceramic insert is at least one of zirconia and alumina.

9. A prosthetic tibial implant comprising:

a tibial plate operable to replace at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s tibia having;

a superior surface;

an inferior surface opposite said superior surface;

a bearing engagement surface located at said superior surface; and

a wear reduction device located at said superior surface and coplanar with both said superior surface and said bearing engagement surface; and

a stem extending from said inferior surface;

wherein said wear reduction device is a ceramic insert seated within a recess at said superior surface.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein said superior surface is planar.

11. The implant of claim 9, wherein said superior surface is curved.

12. The implant of claim 9, wherein said ceramic insert is at least one of zirconia and alumina.

13. A prosthetic implant comprising:

a first member having a first surface;

a second member with a second surface that engages said first surface of said first member; and

a wear reduction device provided on and co-planar with at least one of said first surface and said second surface to reduce wear of said first member and said second member;

wherein said wear reduction device is a ceramic insert seated within a recess in at least one of said first surface and said second surface.

14. The implant of claim 13, wherein said first member is a tibial component operable to replace at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s natural tibia.

15. The implant of claim 14, wherein said second member is a bearing operable to permit articulation between a femoral component and said tibial component.

16. The implant of claim 13, wherein said first member is fixed relative to said second member.

17. The implant of claim 13, wherein said ceramic insert is at least one of zirconia and alumina.

18. The implant of claim 13, wherein said first member is movable relative to said second member.