FLEXIBLE SNAP-FIT PROSTHETIC COMPONENT

Abstract

Disclosed herein are flexible prosthetic components that are designed to be snap-fit to bone of a patient. The prosthetic components each have an outer articular surface and an inner bone contacting surface opposing the outer articular surface. The bone contacting surface has an anterior surface and an opposing posterior surface configured to contact corresponding anterior and posterior surfaces of the patient's bone. At least one of the anterior and posterior surfaces includes one or more protrusions extending outwardly therefrom. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the prosthetic components may flex toward and away from one another such that the one or more protrusions may snap-fit into corresponding recesses in the bone. The bone of the patient may be resected to include planar surfaces or resurfaced to include a curved surface corresponding to the respective bone contacting surface of the prosthetic components.

Claims

1. A flexible prosthetic component comprising: an articular surface; and a bone contacting surface opposing the articular surface, the bone contacting surface having an anterior surface and an opposing posterior surface, at least one of the anterior and posterior surfaces having one or more protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the anterior and posterior surfaces may flex toward and away from one another such that the one or more protrusions may snap-fit into corresponding recesses made in resected bone.

2. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein the anterior and posterior surfaces are separated by at least a distal surface.

3. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein the anterior surface is inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the distal surface.

4. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein the posterior surface is acutely angled relative to the distal surface.

5. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein the anterior and posterior surfaces of the bone contacting surface are curved.

6. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 5, wherein the bone contacting surface between the anterior and posterior surfaces is curved.

7. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein a thickness between the bone contacting surface and the articular surface is substantially uniform.

8. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein said flexible prosthetic component is made of PEEK.

9. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein the one or more protrusions on at least one of the posterior and anterior surfaces extend outwardly and inferiorly toward a longitudinal axis of the flexible prosthetic component such that the one or more protrusions may ratchet into the corresponding recesses.

10. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 1, wherein each of the anterior and posterior surfaces have one or more protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, the one or more protrusions configured to snap-fit into corresponding recesses in resected bone.

11. A flexible prosthetic component comprising: an articular surface; and a bone contacting surface opposing the articular surface, the bone contacting surface having an anterior surface and an opposing posterior surface separated by at least a distal surface, wherein a longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the distal surface and transverse to both the anterior and posterior surfaces.

12. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 11, wherein the anterior and posterior surfaces are planar.

13. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 11, wherein an anterior chamfer surface is located between the anterior and distal surfaces.

14. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 13, wherein a posterior chamfer surface is located between the posterior and distal surfaces.

15. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 11, wherein at least one of the anterior and posterior surfaces includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom toward the longitudinal axis.

16. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 11, wherein at least one of the anterior and posterior surfaces have one or more protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, the anterior and posterior surfaces being able to flex toward and away from one another such that the one or more protrusions may snap-fit into corresponding recesses made in resected bone.

17. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 16, wherein the one or more protrusions on at least one of the posterior and anterior surfaces extend outwardly and inferiorly toward the longitudinal axis such that the one or more protrusions may ratchet into the corresponding recesses.

18. The flexible prosthetic component of claim 11, wherein each of the anterior and posterior surfaces have one or more protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, the one or more protrusions configured to snap-fit into corresponding recesses in resected bone.

19. A method for securing a flexible prosthesis component having an articular surface and an opposing bone contacting surface to resected bone, the method comprising: preparing one or more negative engagements in bone that correspond to protrusions extending from at least one bone contacting surface of the flexible prosthesis component; inserting the protrusions at least partially into the negative engagements; applying force to the articular surface to deform the flexible prosthetic component to snap-fit the protrusions into the negative engagements such that the protrusions are fully engaged to the negative engagements.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the flexible prosthetic component includes opposing anterior and posterior bone contacting surfaces each having protrusions extending therefrom that correspond to negative engagements in the resected bone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] A more complete appreciation of the subject matter of the present invention and the various advantages thereof can be realized by reference to the following detailed description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the flexible prosthetic component of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the flexible prosthetic component of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIGS. 4A-C are side elevation views of the flexible prosthetic component of FIG. 1 showing the sequential steps to secure the flexible prosthetic component to resected bone.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a still yet another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component.

[0024] FIG. 8 is side elevation view of the flexible prosthetic component of FIG. 7.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a still yet another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the flexible prosthetic component of FIG. 9.

[0027] FIGS. 11A and 11B are side elevation views of the flexible prosthetic component of FIG. 9 showing the sequential steps to secure the flexible prosthetic component to resurfaced bone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown an embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component depicting a distal femoral component 100. Femoral component 100 has an outer articular surface 104 and an opposing inner bone contacting surface 105. Outer articular surface 104 includes an articular condyle surface having a pair of laterally spaced-apart articular posterior condyle surfaces. The outer articular surface is curved to correspond to the convex curvature of a femoral condyle prior to any degeneration or wear thereof. An articular posterior medial condyle surface 116 and an articular posterior lateral condyle surface 120 are separated by a cut-out for the intercondylar notch 112.

[0029] The inner bone contacting surface 105 opposing the outer articular surface 104 comprises an anterior surface 122, an anterior chamfer surface 106, a distal surface 108, a posterior chamfer surface 114, a posterior medial condyle surface 118, and a posterior lateral condyle surface 124. A longitudinal axis L1, shown in FIG. 2, is perpendicular to distal surface 108 and parallel to a longitudinal axis L2 of anterior surface 122 and a longitudinal axis L3 of posterior surfaces 114, 118.

[0030] Distal surface 108 has two laterally spaced-apart securing posts 110 to aid in the fixation of femoral component 100 to resected bone 10. Protrusions 102 are present on anterior surface 122, and protrusions 126 are present on posterior lateral condyle surface 124 and posterior medial condyle surface 118. These protrusions extend outwardly along axis L4 for the anterior surface and along axis L5 for the posterior lateral condyle surface.

[0031] FIGS. 4A-4C show several side elevation views of sequential steps to snap-fit distal femoral component 100 to resected bone 10. FIG. 4A shows a first step in which an apex surface 127 located between articular surface 104 and bone contacting surface 105 contacts an anterior chamfer resected surface on resected bone 10 and is slid in a proximal direction such that at least some of the protrusions on posterior condyle surface 126 and securing posts 110 on the distal surface 108 are at least partially inserted into corresponding recesses or negative engagements 128 and recess 138 cut in resected femur 10. This step secures the posterior lateral condyle surface 124 and distal surface 108 with resected femur 10 by an interference fit.

[0032] FIG. 4B shows another step, in which application of an external force by hand or specialized instrument elastically deforms flexible femoral component 100 to snap-fit around resected femur 10. As shown in side elevation view of FIG. 4A, the distance between longitudinal axis L2 and L3 of femoral component 100 in a neutral position about a sagittal plane is less than the corresponding dimension of the resected bone 10. The flexible femoral component 100 must consequently be elastically deformed by the application of an external force to wrap around the resected bone 10. Elastic deformation includes material elongation of femoral component 100 and counterclockwise rotations of longitudinal distal surface axis L6 to meet a longitudinal distal resection axis L6′ and axis L2 to L2′. This elastic deformation will align protrusions on anterior surface 102 to engagement features 128 on resected femur, such that these mating parts will snap-fit to anchor distal femoral component 100 to resected bone 10.

[0033] FIG. 4C shows the snap-fitted distal femoral component 100 around the resected bone 10. When the external elastic deformation force is removed, compressive forces acting around the distal femoral component 100 will anchor it to the resected bone 10. In addition to the compressive force created by the flexible distal femoral component 100, the interlocking of engagement features on resected bone 10 with protrusions on posterior surface 126 and protrusions on anterior surface 102 will induce stress on the mating parts and result in a stronger bond.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a side elevation of another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component depicting a distal femoral component 200. Femoral component 200 has an outer articular surface 204 and an opposing inner bone contacting surface 205. Outer articular surface 204 includes an articular condyle surface having a pair of laterally spaced-apart articular posterior condyle surfaces. The outer articular surface is curved to correspond to the convex curvature of the femoral condyle prior to any degeneration or wear thereof. An articular posterior medial condyle surface and an articular posterior lateral condyle surface 220 are separated by a cut-out for the intercondylar notch.

[0035] The inner bone contacting surface 205 opposing the outer articular surface 204 comprises an anterior surface 222, an anterior chamfer surface 206, a distal surface 208, a posterior chamfer surface 214, a posterior medial condyle surface, and a posterior lateral condyle surface 224. The inner anterior and posterior surfaces are separated by distal surface 208. Longitudinal axis L1 is perpendicular to distal surface 208.

[0036] Distal surface 208 has two laterally spaced-apart securing posts 210 to aid in the fixation of the femoral component 200 to resected bone 10. Protrusions 202 are present on anterior surface 222, and protrusions 226 are present on posterior lateral condyle surface 224 and posterior medial condyle surface.

[0037] Anterior surface 222, posterior medial condyle surface, and posterior lateral condyle surfaces 224 are set at acute angles with respect to the distal surface 208. This configuration increases the compressive forces acting on the inner bone contacting surfaces resulting in a tighter bond between the femoral component 200 and the resected bone 10. Procedure to snap-fit femoral component 200 is similar to steps outlined in FIG. 4A-4C.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a side elevation of a yet another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component depicting a distal femoral component 300. Femoral component 300 has an outer articular surface 304 and an opposing inner bone contacting surface 305. Outer articular surface 304 includes an articular condyle surface having a pair of laterally spaced-apart articular posterior condyle surfaces. The outer articular surface is curved to correspond to the convex curvature of the femoral condyle prior to any degeneration or wear thereof. An articular posterior medial condyle surface and an articular posterior lateral condyle surface 320 are separated by a cut-out for the intercondylar notch.

[0039] The inner bone contacting surface 305 opposing the outer articular surface 304 comprises an anterior surface 322, an anterior chamfer surface 306, a distal surface 308, a posterior chamfer surface 314, a posterior medial condyle surface, and a posterior lateral condyle surface 324. Longitudinal axis L1 is perpendicular to distal surface 308 and parallel to longitudinal axis of anterior surface L2 and longitudinal axis of posterior condyle surface L3.

[0040] Distal surface 308 has two laterally spaced-apart securing posts 310 to aid in the fixation of femoral component 300 to resected bone 10. Protrusions 302 are present on anterior surface 322, and protrusions 326 are present on posterior lateral condyle surface 324 and posterior medial condyle surface. Protrusions extend outwardly and inferiorly along axis L8 for the anterior surface and along axis L9 for the posterior lateral condyle surface. When angled protrusions are inserted into matching corresponding recesses in resected bone 10, this mating provides an additional degree of constraint by interlocking prosthesis to bone and thereby negating forces acting directly perpendicular to the anterior or posterior surfaces of femoral component 300. Procedure to snap-fit distal femoral component 300 is similar to steps outlined in FIG. 4A-4C.

[0041] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a still yet another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component depicting a distal femoral component 400. Femoral component 400 has an outer articular surface 404 and an opposing inner bone contacting surface 405. Outer articular surface 404 includes an articular condyle surface having a pair of laterally spaced-apart articular posterior condyle surfaces. The outer articular surface is curved to correspond to the convex curvature of a femoral condyle prior to any degeneration or wear thereof. An articular posterior medial condyle surface 416 and an articular posterior lateral condyle surface 420 are separated by a cut-out for the intercondylar notch 412.

[0042] The inner bone contacting surface 405 opposing the outside articular surface 404 comprises an anterior surface 422, an anterior chamfer surface 406, a distal surface 408, a posterior chamfer surface 414, a posterior medial condyle surface 418, and a posterior lateral condyle surface 424. The inner anterior and posterior surfaces are separated by a distal surface 408. Longitudinal axis L1 is perpendicular to distal surface 408 and parallel to longitudinal axis of the posterior condyle surface L3. Longitudinal axis L2 of the inner anterior surface is set at an obtuse angle to longitudinal axis of distal surface L6.

[0043] All five interior prosthetic surfaces have positive 402 and negative features 426 to aid in the fixation of the femoral component 400 to resected bone 10. Protrusions 402 extending outwardly along axis L4 are present on anterior surface 422. Procedure to snap-fit distal femoral component 400 is similar to steps outlined in FIG. 4A-4C. Protrusion and recess features may also include those prepared so as to allow for a rotation about a single pivot point or different pivot points between the prosthetic component and the resected bone as described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2012/0330429, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0044] FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of a flexible prosthetic component. Distal femoral component 500 has an outer articular surface 504 and an opposing inner bone contacting surface 505. In this embodiment, the inner bone contacting surface 505 is curved to correspond to the convex curvature of an osteoporotic bone or a resurfaced distal femur. Outer articular surface 504 includes an articular condyle surface having a pair of laterally spaced-apart articular posterior condyle surfaces. The outer articular surface is curved to correspond to the convex curvature of the distal femur prior to any degeneration, wear and/or resection thereof. An articular posterior medial condyle surface 516 and an articular posterior lateral condyle surface 520 are separated by a cut-out for the intercondylar notch 512.

[0045] The inner curved bone contacting surface 505 has positive features 502, 526 on the respective anterior and posterior surfaces thereof. The distal femoral component 500 is substantially of uniform thickness such separated by the inner bone contacting surface 505 and the outer articular surface 504. Uniform thickness of the distal femoral component 500 allows for minimal bone removal by femoral resurfacing to snap-fit femoral component over resurfaced bone and to repair the articular surface of the distal femur.

[0046] FIGS. 11A and 11B show side elevation views illustrating sequential steps of one method to snap-fit distal femoral component 500 to resurfaced bone 20 having an articular surface 538. Articular surface 538 may be an osteoporotic bone surface being an irregularly shaped convex surface. In some embodiments, inner bone contacting surface 505 may be shaped to conform to articular surface 538 whether it be a native bone surface that has been at least partially degenerated or resurfaced using standard or robotic instrumentation. FIG. 11A shows a first step in which an apex surface 527 located between the outer articular surface 504 and the bone contacting surface 505 of femoral component 500 contacts an anterior surface of the resurfaced bone 20 such that at least some of the protrusions 502 on the anterior surface of the femoral component 500 are at least partially inserted into corresponding recesses or negative engagements 530 in the resurfaced bone 20. This step preferably secures the anterior surface of the femoral component 500 to the anterior surface of the resurfaced bone 20 by an interference fit.

[0047] FIG. 11B shows another step, in which application of an external force by hand or specialized instrument elastically deforms the flexible femoral component 500 to snap-fit around the posterior surface of the resurfaced femur 20. The bone contacting inner surface area of the femoral component 500, in a neutral position, is slightly smaller than the recipient resurfaced bone 20. The flexible femoral component 500 must consequently be elastically deformed by sliding and stretching the femoral component by the application of an external force to wrap around the resurfaced bone such that protrusions 526 on the posterior surface of the femoral component 500 snap-fit with the corresponding recesses 528 on the resurfaced bone 20. The femoral component 500 of this embodiment is made of substantially uniform thickness to allow for minimal bone removal during bone resurfacing. In other embodiments, the thickness of a flexible prosthetic may be varied to compensate for femoral degeneration. Bone resections, including resurfacing to implant a flexible femoral component 500 to a resected distal femur may include dynamic trialing methods described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2015/0057758, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0048] Flexible snap-fit prosthetics can be made using suitable biocompatible polymers such as polyetherehterketone (“PEEK”). Thin metal constructs can also be used. Material flexibility, rigidity, and strength are key factors for material selection to achieve functionality and benefits described herein.

[0049] Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.