US3765033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prosthetic knee joint assembly with mutually slidable and rollable joint sections
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-19
•
Granted: 1973-10-16
•
Expires: 1991-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An implantable prosthetic knee joint assembly has mutually rollable and slidable upper and lower joint sections. A single retainer pin in an oversize bore or a link and two retainer pins in oversize bores assist muscles and tissues to prevent separation of the joint sections after implantation in a leg. The retainer pins are not weight bearing during leg extension and leg flexure. One joint section has a resilient shock absorbing plastic bearing member. The bearing member of the other joint section may be made of metal. Both bearing members have contacting, smooth, substantially frictionless bearing surfaces. Sufficient free play is provided by the mountings of the retainer pins in oversize bores to permit the weight bearing members to contact each other rollably and slidably when the leg flexes and when it is extended. The joint sections have outwardly extending shanks adapted for securement in the thigh and calf of a person''s leg. The bearing members are shaped so that articulation of the joint sections closely simulates human knee joint action.
Inventors
- 👤 D Goldberg
- 👤 S Rosen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/38; A61F2/3836; A61F2/384
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A prosthetic knee joint assembly, comprising mutually rollable and slidable upper and lower joint sections mountable to the thigh and calf respectively of a human leg, the upper joint section comprising a first weight bearing member having a lower first bearing portion, the lower joint section having an upPer second bearing portion, both joint sections having attachment structure means adapted for securement of the joint sections to thigh and calf bones respectively of the leg, both bearing portions having mutually contacting, smooth, substantially frictionless surfaces so that the joint sections rollably and slidably contact each other when under the influence of body weight and while flexing; and transverse retainer means in both joint sections to prevent separation of the joint sections while permitting free relative motion thereof, said joint sections having transverse bores receiving said retainer means so that the latter floats free and is free of load when the bearing surfaces of the joint sections are in contact with each other under the influence of body weight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A prosthetic knee joint assembly, comprising mutually rollable and slidable upper and lower joint sections mountable to the thigh and calf respectively of a human leg, the upper joint section comprising a first weight bearing member having a lower first bearing portion, the lower joint section having an upPer second bearing portion, both joint sections having attachment structure means adapted for securement of the joint sections to thigh and calf bones respectively of the leg, both bearing portions having mutually contacting, smooth, substantially frictionless surfaces so that the joint sections rollably and slidably contact each other when under the influence of body weight and while flexing; and transverse retainer means in both joint sections to prevent separation of the joint sections while permitting free relative motion thereof, said joint sections having transverse bores receiving said retainer means so that the latter floats free and is free of load when the bearing surfaces of the joint sections are in contact with each other under the influence of body weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A prosthetic knee joint assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the bearing portions is composed of a plastic material having a smooth, slippery bearing surface to minimize friction between the bearing members when in sliding contact with each other, said plastic material having sufficient resiliency to prevent substantially occurrence of mechanical shocks and impact noises between the joint sections when the joint sections are fully opened and closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A prosthetic joint assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first bearing portion is composed of the plastic material which is resilient enough to absorb mechanical shocks so that the leg extends and flexes shocklessly at the contacting joint sections, the second bearing portion being composed of a rigid material so that the upper joint section rolls and slides silently, smoothly, freely and easily with respect to the lower joint section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A prosthetic joint assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said retainer means comprises a generally cylindrical retainer pin having different diameters at different points, said pin extending through the bores in both joint sections, said bores having diameters larger than the diameters of adjacent points of the pin at all points in the bores to provide free lateralplay between the joint sections, and to permit both flexure and extension of the joint sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A prosthetic knee joint assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of the bearing portions is composed of a plastic material having a smooth, slippery bearing surface to minimize friction between the bearing members when in sliding contact with each other, said plastic material having sufficient resiliency to prevent substantially occurrence of mechanical shocks and impact noises between the joint sections when the joint sections are fully opened and closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
A prosthetic joint assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said retainer means comprises a link and two generally cylindrical retainer pins having portions of different diameters, said link having spaced holes respectively aligned with the bores in the joint sections, said retainer pins respectively extending through the holes and bores in the link and joint sections, said holes and bores having diameters larger than the diameters of all adjacent portions of the retainer pins in the holes and bores to provide free lateral play of the pins between the joint sections and to permit flexure and extension of the joint sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A prosthetic knee joint assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of the bearing portions is composed of a plastic material having a smooth, slippery bearing surface to minimize friction between the bearing members when in sliding contact with each other, said plastic material having sufficient resiliency to prevent substantially occurrence of mechanical shocks and impact noises between the joint sections when the joint sections are fully opened and closed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A prosthetic knee joint assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the bearing portion of one bearing member is cylindrically curved at least in part so that the joint sections flex with an angular motion simulating human condylar knee action.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2400032A
Cited
FR1047640A
Cited
FR1122634A
Cited
US3506982A
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US3638243A
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US3694821A
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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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |