Knee joint endoprosthesis

US5064437A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Friedrichsfeld AG Keramik- und Kunststoffwerke · DE

Inventors

• Dietrich Stock · Braunschweig, DE
• Walter Hund · Hollfeld, DE
• Friemut Vizethum · Schwetzingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 11, 1991
• Grant date: Nov 12, 1991
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2/3868
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A knee-jount endoprosthesis including a femoral part (2), a meniscus element (6) and a tibial part (12), the femoral part (2) and the tibial part (12) lying with their bearing surfaces in contact with associated bearing surfaces of the meniscus element (6). This endoprosthesis is capable of achieving the physiological knee-joint functions of movement and load-bearing while preventing local peak stresses, especially those caused by line or point contact. The femoral part (2) is provided with a spherical bearing surface (4) which lies on a corresponding spherical and concentrically disposed bearing surface (8) of the meniscus element (6). The tibial part (12) has a convex configuration and a cylindrical bearing surface which contacts a mating, coaxially arranged second bearing surface (10) on the meniscus element (6).