Patent ID: 7553331
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An internal brace for distraction arthroplasty, comprising: a femoral component for attachment to a medial or lateral side of a patient's femur near the distal end of the femur, said femoral component including an elongated stem the thickness of which tapers outwardly into a relatively short condylar protrusion having a convex lower surface wherein the upper surface of the condylar protrusion conforms generally to the intact condyle of the patient, the length of the elongated stem being at least twice the width of the condylar protrusion, a tibial component for attachment to a medial or lateral side of a patient's tibia near the proximal end of the tibia, said tibial component including an elongated stem the thickness of which tapers outwardly into a relatively short upper tray having a concave upper surface for engaging the convex lower surface of the condylar protrusion so as to enable relative rotation between the two components wherein the lower surface of the upper tray is contoured to match generally the contour of the patient's intact tibial plateau, the length of the elongated stem of the tibial component being at least twice the width of the short upper tray, and means for attaching the elongated stems of the femoral component and the tibial component to the medial or lateral sides of the patient's intact femur and tibia, respectively, without substantially removing or replacing articular cartilage and with the undersurface of the condylar protrusion engaging the upper surface of the tibial tray, the condylar protrusion and upper tray adapted to be positioned partially in the joint between the patient's intact femur and tibia and functioning to distract the joint.