Patent ID: 11865010
Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A femoral component of a knee implant, the femoral component comprising:
a shell region having an anterior end, a posterior end, a lateral end, a medial end, an outer joint articulation surface, an interior surface, and a plurality of strengthening ribs formed directly on the interior surface of the shell region, the interior surface otherwise comprising a smooth surface; and
an intermediate region located adjacent to the interior surface of the shell region, the intermediate region comprising:
a bone interface surface, the bone interface surface includes a plurality of planar portions shaped to accommodate a patient's resected femoral bone, and
a shell interface surface configured to interface the shell region, the shell interface surface configured to accommodate the plurality of strengthening ribs to maintain close contact between the intermediate region and the interior surface of the shell region;

wherein the interior surface of the shell region is a smooth continuous surface arranged and configured to allow stress distribution over a wide area of the shell region;
wherein the intermediate region exhibits a different modulus of elasticity than the shell region;
wherein the plurality of strengthening ribs extend laterally between the lateral end and the medial end, at least one of the plurality of strengthening ribs disposed within a medial condylar region of the shell region, at least one of the plurality of strengthening ribs disposed within a lateral condylar region of the shell region, and at least one of the plurality of strengthening ribs disposed at a junction of the lateral and medial condylar regions, the strengthening rib at the junction extending laterally between the lateral and medial ends before curving anterior-posteriorly along a portion of the medial and lateral condyles.