Articulated prosthesis

US4538305A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• GMT Gesellschaft fur madizinische Technik mbH · DE
• WALDEMAR LINK GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Eckart Engelbrecht · Hamburg, DE
• Elmar Nieder · Sandau (Elbe), DE
• Arnold Keller · Kayhude, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 15, 1982
• Grant date: Sep 3, 1985
• Expiry date: Jul 15, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2/384
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A prosthesis for the knee joint has a tibial component and a femoral component. No mechanical connection exists between these components. The tibial component includes a shaft which carries a platform and is received in the cavity of the tibia so as to position the tibial component. The platform supports a bearing element which engages the femoral component and, in addition, a projection is mounted on the platform and extends towards the femoral component. The femoral component includes a shaft which carries a hinge and is received in the cavity of the femur to position the femoral component. The hinge, which defines a pivot axis for bending of the knee, comprises a hinge pin having a recess which faces the tibial component. The projection is slidably received in the recess and defines a rotational axis about which limited rotation of the tibial component relative to the femoral component may take place. In addition, the projection maintains the hinge pin in requisite position. The prosthesis is economical and may be constructed in a simple manner, without any screw connections, from elements which are readily assembled.