Four compartment knee

US6402786B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Zimmer, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John N. Insall · New York, US
• Mark A. Heldreth · Mentone, US
• Vince Webster · Warsaw, US
• Steve Zawadski · Leesburg, US
• Roy Y. Hori · Warsaw, US
• Kyoko Ohkuni · Shizuoka, JP
• Audrey Beckman · Warsaw, US
• William Rohr · Marshfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 29, 2000
• Grant date: Jun 11, 2002
• Expiry date: Jun 29, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2002/30736
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A femoral knee implant includes a fourth compartment of articulation. The superior posterior articulating surface is achieved by first increasing the thickness of the superior posterior condylar portion of the femoral component to widen the superior posterior edge of the posterior condyle. Second, the newly created surface at the superior posterior condyle is smoothly rounded to provide an articular surface with no sharp changes in the surface contours. In one embodiment, the fourth articular compartment of this invention is provided in a one piece femoral design. In another embodiment, it is provided as a modular addition to an existing prior art femoral component. In another embodiment, the fourth compartment is combined with a posterior stabilized (PS) TKR design that includes a tibial post and cooperating femoral cam characterized by low engagement of the cam on the spine.