Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A knee joint comprising a patellar component and a femoral component, the patellar component having an anterior surface adapted to be secured within a resection in the patella of a patient, and a posterior surface having a convex portion sized to fit into the intercondylar groove of the femur of the patient; the femoral component having a posterior surface adapted to be secured within a resection in the femur of the patient, and an anterior surface having a concave portion extending across the intercondylar groove, and a pair of generally parallel side edges; the convex portion of the patellar component being engageable with the concave portion of the femoral component, the width of the concave portion of the femoral component between the side edges thereof being substantially greater than the width of the convex portion of the patellar component whereby the patellar component can move from one side of the femoral component to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A knee joint comprising a patellar component and a femoral component, the patellar component having an anterior surface adapted to be secured within a resection in the patella of a patient, and a posterior surface having a convex portion sized to fit into the intercondylar groove of the femur of the patient; the femoral component having a posterior surface adapted to be secured within a resection in the femur of the patient, and an anterior surface having a concave portion extending across the intercondylar groove, and a pair of generally parallel side edges; the convex portion of the patellar component being engageable with the concave portion of the femoral component, the width of the concave portion of the femoral component between the side edges thereof being substantially greater than the width of the convex portion of the patellar component whereby the patellar component can move from one side of the femoral component to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 1 in which the femoral component has a generally J-shaped cross section in a plane which extends through the femoral component parallel to the side edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure of claim 2 in which the superior portion of the concave portion of the femoral component is relatively straight, and the inferior portion of the concave portion of the femoral component is arcuate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 1 in which the side edges of the femoral component extend laterally and medially into the condyles of the femur.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of replacing a patellar-femoral joint with a prosthetic patellar-femoral joint comprising the steps of: resecting the posterior surface of the patella, fitting a patellar prosthetic component to the resected portion of the patella and securing the patellar prosthetic component to the patella, the dimensions of the patellar prosthetic component corresponding generally to the dimensions of the resected portion of the patella and the patellar component having a posterior surface having a convex portion sized to fit into the intercondylar groove of the femur, resecting the anterior surface of the femur from one condyle of the femur to the other condyle, fitting a femoral prosthetic component to the resected portion of the femur and securing the femoral prosthetic component to the femur, the dimensions of the femoral prosthetic component corresponding generally to the dimensions of the resected portion of the femur and the femoral component having an anterior surface having a concave portion extending across the intercondylar groove, and a pair of generally parallel side edges, the posterior surface of the patella and the anterior surface of the femur being resected sufficiently to maintain the moment arm of the tibia substantially constant before and after the patellar and femoral prosthetic components are secured, the convex portion of the patellar component being engageable with the concave portion of the femoral component, the width of the concave portion of the femoral component between the side edges thereof being substantially greater than the width of the convex portion of the patellar component whereby the patellar component can move from one side of the femoral component to the other.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of replacing a patellar-femoral joint with a prosthetic patellar-femoral joint comprising the steps of: resecting the posterior surface of the patella, fitting a patellar prosthetic component to the resected portion of the patella and securing the patellar prosthetic component to the patella, the dimensions of the patellar prosthetic component corresponding generally to the dimensions of the resected portion of the patella and the patellar component having a posterior surface having a convex portion sized to fit into the intercondylar groove of the femur, resecting the anterior surface of the femur from one condyle of the femur to the other condyle, fitting a femoral prosthetic component to the resected portion of the femur and securing the femoral prosthetic component to the femur, the dimensions of the femoral prosthetic component corresponding generally to the dimensions of the resected portion of the femur and the femoral component having an anterior surface having a concave portion extending across the intercondylar groove, and a pair of generally parallel side edges, the posterior surface of the patella and the anterior surface of the femur being resected sufficiently to maintain the moment arm of the tibia substantially constant before and after the patellar and femoral prosthetic components are secured, the convex portion of the patellar component being engageable with the concave portion of the femoral component, the width of the concave portion of the femoral component between the side edges thereof being substantially greater than the width of the convex portion of the patellar component whereby the patellar component can move from one side of the femoral component to the other.