Method of implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly

• US 8,900,314 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Metzger, Robert, Uthgenannt, Brian A., Stone, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WATKINS, MARCIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/720,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 623/13.12, 623/14.12, 623/20.14, 623/20.21, 623/20.22, 623/20.24, 623/20.26, 623/20.28, 623/20.29, 623/20.33, 623/23.41
• US Class Current: 623/20.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3836 Special connection between upper and lower leg, e.g. constrained
• 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 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• 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 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable

Abstract

A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component that engages a femur and at least one bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component thereon. Also, the assembly includes a tibial tray that engages a tibia and that supports the bearing. A ligament link coupling component is included on the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link coupling component is operable to couple to a ligament link to couple the ligament link to the femoral component or the tibial tray. Moreover, the assembly includes an opening included on the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link is received in the opening to bypass the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray to operably couple to the respective one of the femur or the tibia.

Claims

1. A method of implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising:

selecting for implantation a ligament link from a plurality of ligament links;

engaging a femoral component to a femur;

engaging a tibial tray to a tibia;

intraoperatively choosing whether to operably couple the selected ligament link to one of the femur or the tibia;

operably coupling the selected ligament link to the one of the femur or the tibia;

extending the selected ligament link through an opening of one of the femoral component or the tibial tray, the one of the femoral component or the tibial tray operable to engage to the one of the femur or the tibia;

operably coupling the selected ligament link to a coupling component of the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray; and

selecting the coupling component from a plurality of coupling components disposed on the tibial tray, and wherein operably coupling the selected ligament link to the coupling component includes operably coupling the selected ligament link to the selected coupling component;

wherein selecting the coupling component from the plurality of coupling components includes determining whether the prosthetic knee joint assembly is for a left knee or a right knee and selecting the coupling component corresponding to the determined one of the left knee and the right knee.

2. A method of implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising:

selecting for implantation a ligament link from a plurality of ligament links;

engaging a femoral component to a femur;

engaging a tibial tray to a tibia;

intraoperatively choosing whether to operably couple the selected ligament link to one of the femur or the tibia;

operably coupling the selected ligament link to the one of the femur or the tibia;

extending the selected ligament link through an opening of one of the femoral component or the tibial tray, the one of the femoral component or the tibial tray operable to engage to the one of the femur or the tibia;

operably coupling the selected ligament link to a coupling component of the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray; and

wherein extending the selected ligament link through the opening includes extending the selected ligament link through one of a first opening of the tibial tray or a second opening of the tibial tray; and

wherein extending the selected ligament link through one of the first opening of the tibial tray or the second opening of the tibial tray includes selecting the first opening or the second opening based on whether the prosthetic knee joint assembly is for a left knee or a right knee.