Abstract: A femoral slideway and a femoral slideway/femur-size template combination is employed to create an installed knee prosthesis that creates a reduced amount of stress in the collateral ligaments relative to previous prostheses. In one embodiment, the reduced stress is achieved by employing a femoral slideway/femur-size template combination which results in installation of a femoral slideway which has a smaller dorsal-ventral dimension than a corresponding dimension of the femur prior to resection.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis includes a femoral component with condylar sliding surfaces which are rigidly interconnected, a tibial component provided with a tibial platform which is linked to it in a non-rotatable manner and has tibial sliding surfaces which cooperate with the condylar sliding surfaces, and a coupling device which forms a flexion bearing with the femoral component and a rotational bearing with the tibial component, the axis of said rotational bearing being inclined relative to the tibial direction. In order to achieve a more advantageous force distribution in the prosthesis and a restoring force upon rotation of the prosthesis parts, the prosthesis is configured such that the normal with respect to the area of the tibial sliding surfaces which cooperates with the condylar sliding surfaces and transmits most of the load in the extension position is less inclined relative to the tibial direction than is the axis of the rotational bearing, as seen in a side view or sagittal section.

Abstract: A knee replacement system provides a knee implant that may be used to more accurately replicate the diameter of a natural knee. In one embodiment, a patellofemoral component is connected to the posterior portion of a condylar component by screws that pass through the femur allowing the patellofemoral component and the condylar component to be torqued against opposing sides of the femur. Two additional screws are used to connect the patellofemoral component to an anterior portion of the condylar component. A gap may be left between the patellofemoral component and the anterior portion of the condylar component if needed to provide precise replication of the diameter of the natural knee from the patellofemoral component to the condylar component.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis includes a femoral prosthetic part which forms a pair of condylar gliding surfaces, a tibial part that has tibial gliding surfaces cooperating with the condylar gliding surfaces and a coupling part that connects the femoral and tibial parts so that they can rotate about a rotational axis that is approximately parallel to the axis of the tibia. If the femoral and tibial parts have the same anteroposterior alignment, an applied load is borne by a central region of the tibial gliding surfaces. The tibial gliding surface slopes upwardly relative to the prosthesis both in front of and behind the central region of the tibial gliding surface so that when the femoral and tibial parts rotate against one another, each of the condylar gliding surfaces remains in contact with its corresponding tibial gliding surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for restoring individual patient joint kinematics using minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrumentation of the invention sculpts the articular surface of a first bone that normally articulates in a predetermined manner with a second bone. The instrumentation includes a bone sculpting tool and a mount for attaching the tool to the second bone. The implant system is comprised of implants that provide intraoperative surgical options for articular constraint and facilitate proper alignment and orientation of the joint to restore kinematics as defined by the individual patient anatomy.

Abstract: An artificial joint (1) suitable for use as an endoprosthesis for a human knee joint, having a first joint compartment (2) formed by a first condyle (3) and a first socket (4) and a second joint compartment (5) formed by a second condyle (6) and a second socket (7). The contact surfaces (C) of the respective joint compartments (2, 5) are offset in the main functional plane. To further improve the characteristics of the artificial joint (1), the contact surfaces (C) of the two joint compartments (2, 5) are sloped as a function of the flexion angle such that the surface normals (8, 9) of the contact surfaces (C) have a common point of intersection at every flexion angle. This arrangement of the contact surfaces (C) achieves self-stabilization of the joint (1) both when a rotary motion or torsion and when lateral forces are introduced.

Abstract: A modular prosthetic knee implant system includes a femoral component, a femoral stem, a femoral stem collar, an augment and a bolt. The modular prosthetic knee system can be assembled in different ways. If assembled without the augment, the stem is at a valgus angle. If assembled with the augment, the stem is at a neutral angle. The stem collar has an inferior surface that is angled with respect to its superior surface, and the augment has a superior surface that is angled with respect to its inferior surface. The components also include mating anti-rotation members to fix the relative positions of the members.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis comprises a femoral component, a tibial component and a bearing component therebetween. The femoral component defines medial and lateral condylar surfaces which are in the form of respective parts of a common helix, and the bearing component has respective surfaces matching the condylar surfaces. Accordingly a patella groove in the femoral component is laterally displaced, and on flexion of the knee, in use, from an extended position there is a lateral translatory movement of the femur. Congruent contact between the femoral component and the bearing component is maintained through at least 60° of flexion of the knee from an extended position.

Abstract: An internal brace for distraction arthroplasty includes femoral and tibial components which can be fixed to a patient's femur and tibia and which in combination distract or separate the knee joint without substantially hindering mobility of the knee.

Abstract: Knee prostheses featuring components that more faithfully replicate the structure and function of the human knee joint in order to provide, among other benefits: greater flexion of the knee in a more natural way by promoting or at least accommodating internal tibial rotation in a controlled way, replication of the natural screw home mechanism, and controlled articulation of the tibia and femur respective to each other in a more natural way. In a preferred embodiment, such prostheses include an insert component disposed between a femoral component and a tibial component, the insert component preferably featuring among other things a reversely contoured postereolateral bearing surface that helps impart internal rotation to the tibia as the knee flexes.

Abstract: Knee prosthesis comprising a femoral component (1) with condylar sliding surfaces (20) which are rigidly interconnected, a tibial component (2) provided with a tibial platform (7) which is linked to it in a non-rotatable manner and has tibial sliding surfaces (21) which cooperate with the condylar sliding surfaces (20), and a coupling device (10) which forms a flexion bearing (11) with the femoral component (1) and a rotational bearing (12) with the tibial component (2), the axis (12) of said rotational bearing being inclined relative to the tibial direction (5).

Abstract: An anatomical knee prosthesis configured to be oriented on an anatomical line of an interarticular space of the knee and not oriented on a mechanical axis as far as the interarticular space of the knee is concerned.

Abstract: An artificial knee joint, which makes a drag (a contact stress) acting on a sliding surface upon bending small so as to evade an extraordinary abrasion and damage of a sliding surface of a tibia component and which prevents an bending angle from being decreased by preventing lifting of a femoral component in a rotational movement. The artificial knee joint comprises a femoral component to be secured to a distal portion of a femur and a tibia component to be secured to a proximal portion of a tibia, comprising an inner sliding surface and an outer sliding surface receiving a load of the femoral component at the tibia component.

Abstract: Knee prosthesis, consisting of a femoral component (1), a tibial component (3) and an intermediate piece (10) which connects these and forms a flexion bearing (11) with the femoral component (1) and a rotation bearing (14, 15) with the tibial component (3), which rotation bearing (14, 15) can be locked relative to the tibial part (3). To allow the physician to decide during the operation whether to use a rotation-free prosthesis or a rotationally fixed prosthesis, the intermediate piece (10) is alternatively provided with a projection which engages in a matching recess in the tibial component (4).

Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis is provided having a femoral part (1) that can be linked with a shank part to be anchored in the femur, the femoral part being provided with two runners (2, 3) interlinked ventrally via a bridge. A tibia plateau part (5) interacts with a shank part to be anchored in the tibia and is provided with two slide guides (6) in which the runners (2, 3) of the femoral part (1) can roll off and slide. With increasing bend of the knee joint and upon exceeding a predetermined bending angle, the femoral part is allowed to perform an increasing rotation relative to the tibia plateau part (5).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling access to an intramedullary canal of a femur through a femoral knee joint prosthesis includes a first condylar portion and a second condylar portion. The first condylar portion has a first femoral bearing surface and the second condylar portion has a second femoral bearing surface. An inner condylar portion extends between the first condylar portion and the second condylar portion and defines an opening passing therethrough. A seal member is operable to substantially seal the opening such that the seal member is further operable to be opened to enable access to the intramedullary canal of the femur without having to remove the femoral knee joint prosthesis from the femur. A method for enabling access to the intramedullary canal of the femur through the femoral knee joint prosthesis is also provided.

Abstract: A kit for a knee joint prosthesis includes a tibia part, a femur part and a meniscus part which is to be arranged between the femur part and the tibia part. The kit enables the assembly of different prosthesis types, namely of prostheses in which the meniscus part is arranged to be immobile relative to the tibia part and of prostheses in which the meniscus part is arranged so as to be movable relative to the tibia part. The kit includes a plurality of guiding elements which are formed in such a manner that the respective guiding element is in engagement with the tibia part and with the meniscus part when the prosthesis is assembled and determines the movability of the meniscus part relative to the tibia part.

Abstract: An artificial joint (1) suitable for use as an endoprosthesis for a human knee joint, having a first joint compartment (2) formed by a first condyle (3) and a first socket (4) and a second joint compartment (5) formed by a second condyle (6) and a second socket (7). The contact surfaces (C) of the respective joint compartments (2, 5) are offset in the main functional plane. To further improve the characteristics of the artificial joint (1), the contact surfaces (C) of the two joint compartments (2, 5) are sloped as a function of the flexion angle such that the surface normals (8, 9) of the contact surfaces (C) have a common point of intersection at every flexion angle. This arrangement of the contact surfaces (C) achieves self-stabilization of the joint (1) both when a rotary motion or torsion and when lateral forces are introduced.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis system includes a single-piece tibia plateau with two sliding cavities, a single-piece femur component with two condylar sliding surfaces, the distances between and shapes of which are adapted to the tibial sliding cavities and a pair of unconnected femoral condylar cups, the shapes of the sliding surfaces of which are adapted to the tibial sliding cavities. To be able also to adapt their relative positions, including their distances apart, to the sliding cavities, the system includes a position instrument which ensures this adapted relative position of the codylar cups.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to prosthetic knee joints having femoral and tibial components. More particularly, in one embodiment the knee joint prosthesis of the present invention includes an auxiliary pair of load bearing surfaces in addition to other load bearing surfaces of the tibial and femoral components, which are the medial tibial and femoral condyles, the lateral tibial and femoral condyles, and the central tibial and femoral cam surfaces. The auxiliary pair of load bearing surfaces are located on the tibial component, posterior (i.e, on the rear side of the knee joint) to the central cam, centered between the tibial condyles, and on the femoral component, posterior to the femoral central camming surface, centered between the femoral condyles.

Abstract: A disposable articulated spacing device for the treatment of joints of the human body, particularly for temporarily replacing an explanted joint prosthesis, comprises at least one first member able to be secured to a first articulation end and at least one second member able to be secured to the other articulation end, both said members being pre-formed and made entirely of biological compatible and porous material suitable to be added with pharmaceutical and therapeutical products. The pre-formed members are reciprocally coupled in an articulated manner to maintain a suitable joint space and at least a partial articulation for the time necessary to perform the further implantation of a joint prosthesis. The biologically compatible and porous material is chosen among metals, metallic alloys, organo-metals, ceramics, glasses, plastics materials, bone cements and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A prosthesis, such as a knee prosthesis, for the lower limb including a femur prosthetic element having a block presenting a lug running into the trochlea and adjacent to a notch from which a convex bearing surface extends, and a tibia prosthetic element having an insert with a sagittally oriented elevation defining a projection for antero-postero stabilization engaged in the notch when the prosthesis is in the extended position and which runs into a concave sliding ramp that extends to the rear edge of the insert.

Abstract: An easily assembled provisional orthopaedic implant having first and second components. The first component may include a stem which can be inserted into an intermedulary canal and may be a femoral component of a knee joint prosthesis. The second component has a body and a sliding retention member. The retention member can be manually engaged with a groove on the stem of the first component to lock the two components together. The second component may form of an intercondylar box and have a projecting tab engageable with a recess on the femoral component to properly orient the two components when they are placed in registry with each other.

Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis is provided having a femoral part (1) that can be linked with a shank part to be anchored in the femur, the femoral part being provided with two runners (2, 3) interlinked ventrally via a bridge. A tibia plateau part (5) interacts with a shank part to be anchored in the tibia and is provided with two slide guides (6) in which the runners (2, 3) of the femoral part (1) can roll off and slide. The tibia plateau part (5) is hinged on the shank part by means of a rotation mechanism. Up to a predetermined bending angle of the knee joint the femoral part (1) and the tibia plateau part (5) are linked in a negative and in a positive fit, such that the femoral part (1) can be rotationally moved on the tibia shank part due to the fastening of the tibia plateau part (5) on the tibia shank part.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis comprises a femoral component, a tibial component and a bearing component therebetween. The femoral component defines medial and lateral condylar surfaces which are in the form of respective parts of a common helix, and the bearing component has respective surfaces matching the condylar surfaces. Accordingly a patella groove in the femoral component is laterally displaced, and on flexion of the knee, in use, from an extended position there is a lateral translatory movement of the femur. Congruent contact between the femoral component and the bearing component is maintained through at least 60° of flexion of the knee from an extended position.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis has a medial condyle (1) and a lateral condyle (5), the running surfaces (2) of which and the counter-surfaces A, B of which that lie on a tibia platform (3) are sections of spherical surfaces with radii R1, R2, with their center M1′ and M2′ forming in their vertical projection onto the counter-surfaces A, B the points M1, M2. The lateral counter-surface B belongs to a lateral meniscus part (7) which, guided on a plane (13) of the tibia platform, is pivotal with the point M2 on a circular arc with radius R3 about the point M1, with the radius R3 corresponding to the distance a of the centers M1′, M2′.

Abstract: A femoral part of a knee prosthetic of the type known as comprising three compartments, including two condyles (2) and a trochlea surface part (3) wherein the femoral part is to be anchored to the distal extremity of a femur and the external surface of the condyles is to co-operate with the upper external surface of a tibia insert such that, in a longitudinal section, the trochlea support surface (3) defines a trochlean trajectory following a first circular arc and, still in a longitudinal section, the external surface of the condyles (2) includes at least partially an intermediary circular arc (5), characterised in that in a longitudinal section, the external surface of the condyles (2) comprises an intermediary surface (5) and an extremity surface (6) both of which are a circular arc, with the intermediary circular arc (5) extending over an angle of 80° to 90°, the extremity circular arc (6) extending over an angle of 40° to 50°, the value of the curvature radius of the extremity arc (6) bei

Abstract: An artificial knee joint comprising: a femoral component comprising a femoral condylar portion made of a medial condylar section and a lateral condylar section which extend in an anteroposterior direction of the knee joint and have convex exterior surfaces, and a tibial component comprising a tibial condylar portion made of a medial condylar section and a lateral condylar section which extend in an anteroposterior direction of the knee joint and have concave interior surfaces so as to slidably receive the medial and lateral condylar sections of the fermoral condylar portion therein; and a space between the respective medial and lateral condylar sections of the femoral condylar portion and of the tibial condylar portion being formed so as to be gradually narrower toward the rear side of the knee joint, thus forming a “rear-in” configuration.

Abstract: A knee-joint prosthesis comprising a tibial component fixed to the proximal tibia, a femoral component fixed to the distal femur, the femoral component having condylar bearing sections which cooperate in an articulated manner with tibial bearing sections of said tibial component, and an anterior plate section of said femoral component which touches the patella or a patella component fixed to the patella.

Abstract: A femur slide has a patella shield and two convex curved condyle cups which are anteriorly rigidly joined by the patella shield. The two condyle cups and the patella shield define internally anterior and posterior matching surfaces which correspond with a femural ventral cut and with a femural dorsal cut. Relative to a reference plane which is defined by posterior slide surfaces of the condyle cups, an anterio-medial matching surface lies nearer to the reference plane than an anterio-lateral matching surface. The anterior matching surfaces are defined by a slanted surface with is continuously slanted in a direction from lateral to medial to posterior, and an angle between the slanted surface and the reference plane lies between three and ten degrees.

Abstract: The invention relates to a replacement knee prosthesis having a femoral component (1) provided with lock pins for attachment to femoral condyls and a plastic tibial component (2) placed in a metal tray (3) fixed to the tibia by means of a pin or a screw. The replacement knee prosthesis is characterized in that the lateral surface of its femoral component (1) has a movement determined by their conical surfaces which is formed in accordance with its logarithmic spiral generatrix (4) while its medial surface corresponds to the conical spiral generatrix (5).

Abstract: An artificial knee joint comprising: a femoral component comprising a femoral condylar portion made of a medial condylar section and a lateral condylar section which extend in an anteroposterior direction of the knee joint and have convex exterior surfaces, and a tibial component comprising a tibial condylar portion made of a medial condylar section and a lateral condylar section which extend in an anteroposterior direction of the knee joint and have concave interior surfaces so as to slidably receive the medial and lateral condylar sections of the femoral condylar portion therein; and a space between the respective medial and lateral condylar sections of the femoral condylar portion and of the tibial condylar portion being formed so as to be gradually narrower toward the rear side of the knee joint, thus forming a “rear-in” configuration.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis which more accurately reproduces the rollback of natural knee movement and, thus, reduces wear on the tibial component. The knee prosthesis includes a femoral component with two cams, the first located between the posterior condylar sections and the second located towards the anterior end of the condylar sections with a slot surface therebetween. The tibial component includes a spine which engages each cam as it rotates along the femoral component and the slot surface during flexion and extension.

Abstract: A knee joint endoprosthesis has an element for the femur (2) which is substantially U-shaped when seen from a medial to a lateral angle, one horizontal, two diagonal and two vertical support surfaces facing the femur for accommodation on the resected femur bone, which is fitted with two runners (24, 25), and an element for the tibia (1) having two slide tracks (4, 5) on which the runners for the femur element can roll, and optionally slide, and a horizontal support surface (6) facing the tibia for accommodation on the resected tibia. The femur element (20) and tibia element (1) are configured without any shanks. At least both diagonal support surfaces of the femur element (2) and the horizontal support surface (6) of the tibia element (20) are fitted with an open-mesh, three-dimensional spatial network structure (7) which is an integral component of the base structures (8, 8′) of the femur element (20) and the tibia element (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns an artificial joint, in particular an endoprosthesis for replacing natural joints, comprising at least two artificial joint parts with curved articulation faces, a curved contact line being formed on each of the articulation faces. The curved contact line (L1) of one of the articulation faces is part of an elliptical section contour of a first cylinder (1) or cone having the cylinder radius (R1) or the cone angle (&agr;1). The other contact line (L2) takes the form of a counter track of a second cylinder (2) or second cone having the cylinder radius (R2) or the cone angle (&agr;2) and rolling and/or sliding on the first cylinder (1) or first cone. The articulation faces comprise control faces (F1, F2) formed from a plurality of straight contact lines (B).

Abstract: An implant is provided for which has an outer bearing surface and an inner attachment surface. The outer bearing surface functions as ajoint contact surface for a reconstructed bone joint. The inner attachment surface contacts a bone and is attached thereto. The inner attachment surface of the implant is curvilinear from the anterior to the posterior area of the femur, and is also curvilinear from the medial to the lateral areas of the femur to approximates the shape of natural femur. The resection of the femur for accommodating the implant can be properly performed by a milling device employing one or more curvilinear milling bits.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis, includes a femoral element, a tibial element and at least one bearing element between the femoral and tibial components. The femoral component has medial and lateral condylar elements that extend posteriorly about 160°.