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US4249270A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Endoprosthesis for a knee joint

Assignee: Sulzer AG
•
Filing: 1979-10-01
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Granted: 1981-02-10
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Expires: 1999-10-01
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Abstract

Abstract When the knee bends, the condyle-like bearing surfaces of the femur part of the prosthesis slide on the tibia-like rolling surfaces of the tibia part. The motion is guided by a web of the tibia part which engages in a fork-like mounting of the femur part. The web has a head which has a cylindrical shape to slide on a corresponding cylindrical section formed by a member mounted in the femur part. Web and mounting are preferably made of metal whereas the member in the femur part is made of another material, preferably, a moulded plastics member.

Inventors

  • 👤 Andre Bahler
  • 👤 Norbert Gschwend
  • 👤 Heinrich Scheier

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 16:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/38; A61F2/3886

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 201 words
An endoprosthesis for a knee joint comprising a femur part having a fork-like end defining a pair of sidewalls, each said sidewall having a condyle-shaped bearing surface; a member mounted within said femur part between said sidewalls, said member having a contoured boundary surface defining a first curvilinear section and a following second cylindrical section having a center of curvature; and a tibia part having a pair of rolling surfaces each disposed in opposition to a respective condyle-shaped bearing surface and a web of a material different from said member between said rolling surfaces and extending into said fork-like end between said sidewalls, said web being curved in a direction away from said first curvlinear section towards said cylindrical section and having a head thereon with a peripheral surface of cylindrical shape, said peripheral surface having a center of curvature; whereby, in a stretched position of said femur part and said tibia part, said bearing and rolling surfaces are loaded and said centers of curvature coincide with an axis of rotation of the knee joint and, during bending of said parts from said stretched position, said bearing and rolling surfaces and said cylindrical section and said head slide over one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 201 words
An endoprosthesis for a knee joint comprising a femur part having a fork-like end defining a pair of sidewalls, each said sidewall having a condyle-shaped bearing surface; a member mounted within said femur part between said sidewalls, said member having a contoured boundary surface defining a first curvilinear section and a following second cylindrical section having a center of curvature; and a tibia part having a pair of rolling surfaces each disposed in opposition to a respective condyle-shaped bearing surface and a web of a material different from said member between said rolling surfaces and extending into said fork-like end between said sidewalls, said web being curved in a direction away from said first curvlinear section towards said cylindrical section and having a head thereon with a peripheral surface of cylindrical shape, said peripheral surface having a center of curvature; whereby, in a stretched position of said femur part and said tibia part, said bearing and rolling surfaces are loaded and said centers of curvature coincide with an axis of rotation of the knee joint and, during bending of said parts from said stretched position, said bearing and rolling surfaces and said cylindrical section and said head slide over one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 58 words
An endoprosthesis as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boundary surface of said member further defines a convex circular bead following said cylindrical section and said web of said tibia part defines a concave recess for receiving said bead upon bending of said parts from said stretched postion over an angle of greater than 65% to 70%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
An endoprosthesis as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is made of a molded resilient plastics material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
An endoprosthesis as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said part has a stem for anchoring in one of a femur and tibia, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 180 words
An endoprosthesis for a knee joint comprising a femur part having a fork-like end defining a pair of condyle-shaped bearing surfaces; means disposed within said femur part to define a contoured boundary surface defining a first curvilinear section and a following second cylindrical section having a center of curvature; and a tibia part having a pair of rolling surfaces each disposed in opposition to a respective condyle-shaped bearing surface and a web of material different from said means between said rolling surfaces, said web being curved in a direction away from said first curvilinear section towards said cylindrical section and having a head thereon with a peripheral surface of cylindrical shape, said peripheral surface having a center of curvature whereby, in a stretched position of said femur part and said tibia part, said bearing and rolling surfaces are loaded and said centers of curvature coincide with an axis of rotation of the knee joint and, during bending of said parts from said stretched position, said bearing and rolling surfaces and said cylindrical section and said head slide over one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 180 words
An endoprosthesis for a knee joint comprising a femur part having a fork-like end defining a pair of condyle-shaped bearing surfaces; means disposed within said femur part to define a contoured boundary surface defining a first curvilinear section and a following second cylindrical section having a center of curvature; and a tibia part having a pair of rolling surfaces each disposed in opposition to a respective condyle-shaped bearing surface and a web of material different from said means between said rolling surfaces, said web being curved in a direction away from said first curvilinear section towards said cylindrical section and having a head thereon with a peripheral surface of cylindrical shape, said peripheral surface having a center of curvature whereby, in a stretched position of said femur part and said tibia part, said bearing and rolling surfaces are loaded and said centers of curvature coincide with an axis of rotation of the knee joint and, during bending of said parts from said stretched position, said bearing and rolling surfaces and said cylindrical section and said head slide over one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
An endoprosthesis as set forth in claim 5 wherein a pair of plastic bodies are secured on said tibia part to define said rolling surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
An endoprosthesis as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means is a molded resilient plastics member secured to said femur part.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3795922A Cited
CH555671A Cited
US3840905A Cited
US3868730A Cited
FR2288509A1 Cited
DE2452412A1 Cited
US4094017A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-02-10 1984-08-11 1985-02-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-02-10 1988-08-11 1989-02-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-02-10 1992-08-11 1993-02-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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