Reinforced joint assembly

• US 8,764,837 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linares Medical Devices, LLC
• Original Assignee: Linares Medical Devices, LLC
• Inventors: Linares, Miguel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prone, Christopher D
• Application Number:
  US12/411,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 623/18.11, 623/20.14, 623/20.28, 623/20.33, 623/22.14, 623/19.12, 623/20.21, 623/20.22, 623/23.39, 623/23.4
• US Class Current: 623/20.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/42 for wrists or ankles; for hands, e.g. fingers; for feet, e.g. toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3007 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of elastic material, e.g. of elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30673 Lubricating means, e.g. synovial pocket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30754 Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3082 Grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30934 Special articulating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4631 the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins

Abstract

A reinforced joint assembly includes a first implant portion secured to a sectioned end of a first bone. A second implant portion is likewise secured to a sectioned end of a second bone and in opposing fashion relative to the first implant to define a joint zone therebetween. The first implant exhibits a first surface profile, whereas the second implant exhibits a second and mating surface profile. A male projection extends from the first surface profile of the first implant and seats within a recess defined within the second implant.

Claims

1. A reinforced joint assembly, comprising:

a first implant adapted to being a secured to a sectioned end of a first bone;

a second implant adapted to being secured to a sectioned end of a second bone in opposing fashion to said first implant to define a joint zone therebetween;

said first implant having a first surface profile and said second implant having a second surface profile, each of said surface profiles including multiple peaks and valleys which are contoured so as to mate with each other, each of said surface profiles further including a softened plastic;

a first tear drop shaped cartilage portion arranged at a first location between said first and second surface profiles, a first plurality of short strands being bunched together and connecting said first cartilage portion to said first surface profile; and

a second tear drop shaped cartilage portion arranged at a second location between said second and first surface profiles, a further plurality of short strands being bunched together and connecting said second cartilage portion said second surface profile, said cartilage portions each establishing multiple wear surfaces on opposite sides thereof and permitted by said bunched connecting strands a limited range of inter-displaceable contact with each of said first and second implant surface profiles.

2. The joint assembly as described in claim 1, at least one of said softened plastic surfaces further comprising a fluid lubricant grid pattern having crosswise extending and fluid retaining tracks.

3. The joint assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising each of said implants having a peripheral extending and undercut profile for securing to an associated and sectioned bone end.

4. The joint assembly as described in claim 1, each of said implants further comprising a roughened inner surface for promoting bone marrow adhesion.

5. A reinforced joint assembly adapted to being installed between reconditioned ends of first and second join defining bones, said assembly comprising:

a first implant having an annular recess defined in a rear for receiving an annular sectioned end of the first bone to mount said first implant to the first bone;

a second implant having an annular recess defined in a rear for receiving an annular sectioned end of the second bone to mount said second implant to the second bone in opposing fashion to said first implant to define a joint zone therebetween;

said first implant having a first surface profile and said second implant having a second surface profile, each of said surface profiles including multiple peaks and valleys which are contoured so as to mate with each other, each of said surface profiles further including a soften plastic exterior;

first and second tear drop shaped cartilage portions arranged at a first and second locations between said first and second surface profiles, pluralities of shortened and bunched strands connecting said first and second cartilage portions to locations along at least one of said opposing first and second surface profiles; and

said cartilage portions each establishing multiple wear surfaces on opposite sides thereof and permitted by said bunched strands a limited range of contact with each of said first and second implant surface profiles.

6. The join as described in claim 5, at least one of said softened plastic surface profiles further comprising a fluid lubricant grid pattern having crosswise extending and fluid retaining tracks.

7. The join assembly as described in claim 5, each of said implants further comprising a roughened inner surface for promoting bone marrow adhesion.

8. The join assembly as described in claim 5, each of said tear drop shaped cartilage portions further comprising a harder inner material around which is formed a softened outer coating.