US6206927B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Surgically implantable knee prothesis
Assignee: Zimmer Austin Inc
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Filing: 1999-04-02
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2019-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A self-centering meniscal prosthesis device suitable for minimally invasive, surgical implantation into the cavity between a femoral condyle and the corresponding tibial plateau is composed of a hard, high modulus material shaped such that the contour of the device and the natural articulation of the knee exerts a restoring force on the free-floating device.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry M. Fell
- 👤 Richard H. Hallock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/38; A61F2/3872; A61F2/30767; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30965; A61F2/3868; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30065; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30133; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30317; A61F2002/30324; A61F2/30942; A61F2002/30952; A61F2002/30957; A61F2002/30962; A61F2002/3895; A61F2/46; A61F2002/4635; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0071; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0015; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0036; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00179; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/0097; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y80/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A meniscal load distribution device suitable for an arthroscopically assisted implantation into a meniscal cavity of one compartment of a knee joint between a femoral condyle and the respective tibial plateau, said meniscal device comprising a high modulus material having a hardness greater than about Shore D 60, said meniscal device being substantially elliptical in plan, and having a concave femoral meniscal surface, a convex tibial meniscal surface, and a periphery defined by lateral, medial, anterior, and posterior portions, the periphery being on average of greater thickness than a central portion of the meniscal device, said femoral meniscal surface having a contour such that the contour angle of said femoral meniscal surface is approximately the same as the contour angle of said femoral condyle, relative to the contour angle of the tibial plateau, said tibial meniscal surface having a contour such that the contour angle is substantially the same as the contour angle of said tibial plateau.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A meniscal load distribution device suitable for an arthroscopically assisted implantation into a meniscal cavity of one compartment of a knee joint between a femoral condyle and the respective tibial plateau, said meniscal device comprising a high modulus material having a hardness greater than about Shore D 60, said meniscal device being substantially elliptical in plan, and having a concave femoral meniscal surface, a convex tibial meniscal surface, and a periphery defined by lateral, medial, anterior, and posterior portions, the periphery being on average of greater thickness than a central portion of the meniscal device, said femoral meniscal surface having a contour such that the contour angle of said femoral meniscal surface is approximately the same as the contour angle of said femoral condyle, relative to the contour angle of the tibial plateau, said tibial meniscal surface having a contour such that the contour angle is substantially the same as the contour angle of said tibial plateau.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 , wherein said meniscal device in plan is kidney-shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein said device has a thickness along the posterior portion is equal to or greater than the thickness at the lateral, medial and anterior portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein said device is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of a biocompatible ceramic, a biocompatible metal, or composites thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein said device is constructed of a material comprising a thermoset polymer or a thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 5 wherein said polymer contains fibrous reinforcement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein the contour angle of the femoral meniscal surface as referenced by the tibial contour angle is different from the contour angle of the tibial plateau by up to about 35°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein the contour angle of the femoral meniscal surface is different from the contour angle of the tibial plateau from about 10° to about 20°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein the contour angle of the femoral meniscal surface of the device is offset from the contour angle of the femoral condyle from +0.20 inches to −0.20 inches relative to the CSO of the device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein the contour angle of the tibial meniscal surface of the device is offset from the contour angle of the tibial plateau from +0.40 inches to −0.20 inches relative to the CSO of the device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein the surface area of the femoral surface is smaller than the surface area of the tibial surface resulting in an increasing taper of the edge of the device from the femoral surface to the tibial surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 wherein the device contains one or more areas of reverse curvature at the extreme anterior-lateral and/or posterior/lateral portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A procedure for unicompartmental correction of knee joint injury, degeneration, or injury and degeneration, said procedure comprising: a) creating an incision in the anterior portion of tissue surrounding a knee joint compartment; b) optionally arthroscopically altering the condition of bone, meniscal cartilage, articular cartilage, or other tissue located in said compartment or adjacent thereto; c) inserting into said compartment a device of claim 1 ; and d) closing off said incision.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The procedure of claim 13 wherein said meniscal cartilage is left substantially intact.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The procedure of claim 13 wherein said device is the device of claim 14 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 , said meniscal device having an active material coated thereon, contained as part of or contained therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 14 , wherein said meniscal load distribution device has a surface contour such that the device bridges a damaged or degenerated portion of tissue, said surface contour optionally containing, or producing an active material which encourages tissue regrowth or which decreases inflammation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
A process for the regeneration of tissue in a bearing surface of a knee joint compartment, comprising coating said surface with an active material which encourages tissue regeneration; inserting into said knee joint compartment a meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 , said device having a recessed portion or non-contacting portion which, following insertion of said device into said knee joint compartment, is proximate said surface such that said surface is protected from abrasion and wear at least during the period of tissue regeneration at said surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method for correcting a varus or valgus deformity in the alignment of the knee joint, inserting into said knee joint compartment a meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 , said device having a shape and thickness which, following insertion of said device into said knee joint compartment, is able to correct a varus or valgus deformity in the knee joint.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 , said meniscal device having surfaces of varying radii.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The meniscal load distribution device of claim 1 , said meniscal device having surfaces of substantially constant radii.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A bicompartmental meniscal device suitable for bicompartmental implantation, comprising a medial meniscal device in accordance with claim 1 and a lateral meniscal device in accordance with claim 1 , said medial and lateral meniscal devices mechanically but non-rigidly linked.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
147 words
A process for the preparation of a unicompartmental meniscal load distribution device suitable for implantation into a knee joint, between a femoral condyle and its corresponding tibial plateau, said process comprising: a) determining the geometry of said femoral condyle by a non-invasive imaging technique; b) determining the geometry of said corresponding tibial plateau; c) molding a meniscal load distribution device which is dimensioned to fit within the compartment defined on its top and bottom surfaces by the geometry of said femoral condyle and said tibial plateau, said device being substantially elliptical in shape, and having a concave femoral meniscal surface, a convex tibial meniscal surface, and a posterior thickness which is equal to or greater than a lateral and an anterior thickness, said femoral meniscal surface having a contour angle which is substantially equal to the contour angle of said femoral condyle relative to the tibial plateau.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
147 words
A process for the preparation of a unicompartmental meniscal load distribution device suitable for implantation into a knee joint, between a femoral condyle and its corresponding tibial plateau, said process comprising: a) determining the geometry of said femoral condyle by a non-invasive imaging technique; b) determining the geometry of said corresponding tibial plateau; c) molding a meniscal load distribution device which is dimensioned to fit within the compartment defined on its top and bottom surfaces by the geometry of said femoral condyle and said tibial plateau, said device being substantially elliptical in shape, and having a concave femoral meniscal surface, a convex tibial meniscal surface, and a posterior thickness which is equal to or greater than a lateral and an anterior thickness, said femoral meniscal surface having a contour angle which is substantially equal to the contour angle of said femoral condyle relative to the tibial plateau.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
147 words
A prosthetic device suitable for unicompartmental implantation into the knee joint of a patient, said device comprising a hard, rigid device substantially elliptical in plan with a periphery whose average thickness is greater than the portion of the central portion of said device of lowest thickness, said device having an uppermost concave femoral meniscal surface having generally the contour of the femoral condyle of the knee compartment into which said device is to be inserted, a lowermost convex tibial meniscal surface, said periphery defined by lateral, medial, anterior, and posterior portions, said device free of anchoring devices attached to bone, cartilage, ligaments, or other tissue, said device thus being capable of translation, rotation, or both translation and rotation in the compartment cavity, the femoral meniscal surface and tibial meniscal surface contoured such that the device is self-centering between the femoral condyle and tibial plateau of said compartment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
147 words
A prosthetic device suitable for unicompartmental implantation into the knee joint of a patient, said device comprising a hard, rigid device substantially elliptical in plan with a periphery whose average thickness is greater than the portion of the central portion of said device of lowest thickness, said device having an uppermost concave femoral meniscal surface having generally the contour of the femoral condyle of the knee compartment into which said device is to be inserted, a lowermost convex tibial meniscal surface, said periphery defined by lateral, medial, anterior, and posterior portions, said device free of anchoring devices attached to bone, cartilage, ligaments, or other tissue, said device thus being capable of translation, rotation, or both translation and rotation in the compartment cavity, the femoral meniscal surface and tibial meniscal surface contoured such that the device is self-centering between the femoral condyle and tibial plateau of said compartment.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 24 wherein said posterior portion of said periphery is on average equal to or of greater thickness than the average thickness of said lateral, medial and anterior portions of said periphery.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 24 wherein the geometry of said device renders said device substantially immune from spitting from said compartment upon flexing of the knee joint.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 24 wherein said device in plan is kidney-shaped.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 24 wherein the contour angle of the femoral meniscal surface of the device is equal to or different from the contour angle of said femoral condyle within ±15°, and less than 20°, of the contour angle of the femoral condyle relative to the contour angle of the tibial plateau.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 24 wherein the contour angle of said femoral meniscal surface is different from the contour angle of said tibial plateau by from about 10° to about 35°.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 24 wherein said device is constructed of one or more fiber reinforced and non-fiber reinforced biocompatible materials selected from the group consisting of thermoset polymers, thermoplastic polymers, metals, and ceramics.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The prosthetic device of claim 24 , said prosthetic device having an active material coated thereon, contained as part of or contained therein.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein said prosthetic device has a surface contour such that the device bridges a damaged or degenerated portion of tissue, said surface contour optionally containing, or producing an active material which encourages tissue regrowth or which decreases inflammation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The prosthetic device of claim 32 , wherein said active material is contained in a composition which releases said active material in a timed release manner.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthetic device of claim 33 wherein said composition comprises a gel, a paste, or a polymer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |