Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A tibial component for use in a prosthetic knee implant, the tibial component including a tibial tray having an upper surface for confronting the femur and a lower surface for engaging the proximal tibia, the tibial component comprising: a keel projecting in an axial direction downwardly from a proximal end at the lower surface of the tibial tray to a distal end spaced away from the lower surface, the keel including a pair of flanges extending in the axial direction and establishing a generally V-shaped overall cross-sectional configuration in planes transverse to the axial direction, the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration having an apex located essentially centrally of the tribial tray along a medial-lateral direction; the flanges each having an inner edge located adjacent the apex and an outer edge extending away from the apex in the medial-lateral direction and extending in a posterior direction from the inner edge toward the outer edge such that the flanges make an angle with one another for being directed toward relatively denser portions of the bone of the proximal tibia; each flange having a plurality of ribs extending axially along the flange and spaced laterally from one another along the flange, each rib having an essentially planar first face oriented generally in an anterior-posterior direction and an essentially planar second face oriented generally in a direction transverse to the anterior-posterior direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A tibial component for use in a prosthetic knee implant, the tibial component including a tibial tray having an upper surface for confronting the femur and a lower surface for engaging the proximal tibia, the tibial component comprising: a keel projecting in an axial direction downwardly from a proximal end at the lower surface of the tibial tray to a distal end spaced away from the lower surface, the keel including a pair of flanges extending in the axial direction and establishing a generally V-shaped overall cross-sectional configuration in planes transverse to the axial direction, the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration having an apex located essentially centrally of the tribial tray along a medial-lateral direction; the flanges each having an inner edge located adjacent the apex and an outer edge extending away from the apex in the medial-lateral direction and extending in a posterior direction from the inner edge toward the outer edge such that the flanges make an angle with one another for being directed toward relatively denser portions of the bone of the proximal tibia; each flange having a plurality of ribs extending axially along the flange and spaced laterally from one another along the flange, each rib having an essentially planar first face oriented generally in an anterior-posterior direction and an essentially planar second face oriented generally in a direction transverse to the anterior-posterior direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each flange has an anterior surface and a posterior surface and the ribs extend along at least one of the anterior surface and the posterior surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each flange has an anterior surface and a posterior surface and the ribs extend along both the anterior surface and the posterior surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the extent of each rib in the anterior-posterior direction is approximately the same as the extent of the rib in the transverse direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the first faces are located in first planes oriented generally in the anteriorposterior direction and spaced apart in the medial-lateral direction, and the second faces are located in second planes making a shallow acute angle with the medial-lateral direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the first planes are essentially parallel to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the second planes are essentially parallel to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the shallow acute angle is about nine degrees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the extent of each rib in the anterior-posterior direction is approximately the same as the extent of the rib in the transverse direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein the shallow acute angle is about nine degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the angle between the flanges is about one-hundred-twenty degrees.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the flanges are tapered axially such that the outer edges extend generally from the apex adjacent the distal end of the keel laterally outwardly to the lower surface of the tibial tray adjacent the proximal end of the keel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the keel includes a post extending axially along the apex of the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration.