Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Implantable prosthesis – Bone
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2001-10-23
Snow, Bruce (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Implantable prosthesis
Bone
C623S020330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306172
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to joint knee prostheses. More particularly, the invention is directed to tibial components of rotatable and non-rotatable knee joint prostheses that have a modular tibial bearing insert.
Joint replacement surgery is quite common and enables many individuals to function normally when otherwise it would not be possible to do so. Artificial joints usually comprise metallic, ceramic and/or plastic components that are fixed to existing bone.
Knee arthroplasty is a well known surgical procedure by which a diseased and/or damaged natural knee joint is replaced with a prosthetic knee joint. Typical knee prostheses include a femoral component, a patella component, a tibial tray or plateau, and a tibial bearing insert. The femoral component generally includes a pair of laterally spaced apart condylar portions, the distal surfaces of which articulate with complementary condylar elements formed in a tibial bearing insert.
The tibial tray is mounted within the tibia of a patient. Typically, the tibial bearing insert, which is usually made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), is mounted upon the superior surface of the tibial plateau. The geometry of the tibial bearing insert varies depending upon the needs and joint condition of a patient. Some other tibial bearing inserts are designed to be used with joint prostheses that are implanted during procedures that retain the cruciate ligaments. Others are implanted after removal of the cruciate ligaments, and are thus structured to compensate for the loss of these ligaments. Yet other tibial bearing inserts are used with prostheses that provide enhanced stabilization to the knee joint. In addition to the geometry that may be assumed by a tibial bearing insert of a joint prosthesis, the tibial bearing insert may be designed so as to be fixed or rotatable with respect to the tibial plateau upon which it is mounted.
It is not normally possible for a surgeon to make a final determination in advance of surgery the type of knee prosthesis system that will best suit a patient. This decision is not made until the condition of the knee is assessed in the course of surgery.
As a result of the numerous candidate designs for knee joint prostheses, each of which may have a different geometry and varying degrees of constraint and thickness, numerous prosthesis components of differing designs may be used or trialed during a surgical procedure before the appropriate components are selected. Accordingly, a large inventory of parts is required during a joint replacement surgical procedure, thus adding to the cost of surgery. It would thus be advantageous to provide a joint prosthesis system that utilizes modular components to reduce the overall inventory count and to reduce the inventory carrying costs associated with joint replacement surgery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a knee joint prosthesis system which utilizes modular tibial bearing insert components. The system includes various components that may be combined to change the structure and functionality of the joint prosthesis.
The prosthesis system of the invention comprises one or more tibial plateaus, one or more tibial insert bodies, and a variety of modular elements that may be combined with one of the tibial insert bodies to yield a suitable tibial bearing insert.
Each tibial plateau has a bottom, bone-engaging surface and a top surface that is matable with a tibial bearing insert. Depending upon the type of tibial bearing insert with which it is to be used, the tibial plateau may or may not include a cavity formed in its top surface.
As noted above, a selection of tibial insert bodies may be provided, each with a different structure and functionality. For example, tibial insert bodies that are suitable for use as rotatable and non-rotatable cruciate retaining tibial inserts may be provided. Other tibial insert bodies include those suitable for use as cruciate retaining tibial bearing inserts, cruciate substituting tibial bearing inserts, and stabilized tibial bearing inserts. The tibial insert bodies may be provided in different sizes as well.
Each tibial insert body has a top articulation surface and a bottom, mating surface that has a cavity formed therein. Various types and sizes of tibial insert bodies may be provided to enable the formation of a variety of tibial bearing inserts.
The modular elements, each of which has a different shape, size and function, are adapted to be inserted within the cavity of the tibial insert body to form a tibial bearing insert of a desired structure and functionality.
One example of a suitable modular element is a plug member that is useful with a non-rotatable cruciate retaining tibial insert body to provide a non-rotatable cruciate retaining tibial insert by simply filling the cavity in the insert body. The modular element may also be in the form of a modular rotating platform post having a plug portion matable with the cavity of the tibial insert and a second portion that extends distally from the plug portion and which is matable within a cavity formed in the top surface of a tibial plateau. Additional modular elements include modular pin elements for forming non-rotatable cruciate substituting tibial inserts and modular rotatable platform posts for cruciate substituting tibial inserts. The modular element may also be in the form of elongate stabilizing pins for use with rotatable and non-rotatable stabilizing tibial inserts.
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Boyko James
Cipolletti George
Kennedy Joseph
O'Neil Michael J.
Johnson & Johnson Professional Inc.
Nutter & McClennen & Fish LLP
Snow Bruce
LandOfFree
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