Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments include a mobile bearing tibial tray insert including a medial condyle receiver spaced apart from a lateral condyle receiver, the mobile bearing tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post, where the mobile bearing tibial tray insert is adapted to rotate around a substantially vertical rotational axis offset laterally from the stabilizing post. In addition, the foregoing embodiments may be supplemented by a tibial tray and femoral component to comprise a total knee replacement system. The disclosure also includes exemplary methods for imparting axial rotation to a prosthetic joint, the method comprising shifting the axis of axial rotation between a tibial prosthesis and a femoral prosthesis of a prosthetic knee joint by providing at least one of offsetting a stabilization post associated with a medial-lateral midline of a tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis, increasing the radii of a medial receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis to a greater extent than the radii of a medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis, and increasing conformity between a medial receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis and a medial condyle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation that claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to Patent Cooperation Treaty Application Serial No. PCT/US2006/010431 filed on Mar. 21, 2006, entitled “MOMENT INDUCED TOTAL ARTHROPLASTY PROSTHETIC,” the disclosure and amended disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     RELATED ART 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to implanted prosthetic devices and, more specifically, to implanted prosthetic joints that simulate the natural biomechanics of native mammalian joints. Further exemplary embodiments also encompass methods of inducing moments within an implanted prosthetic joint, as well as implanted prosthetic devices that incorporate induced moments. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Discussion of Related Art 
         [0005]    Previous research studies have documented that the amount of rotation occurring in the knee, during walking and high flexion activities, varies greatly between a natural knee (no prior surgeries and no history of clinical abnormalities) and a surgically revised knee such as those having undergone total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The axial femorotibial rotational pattern of the femur relative to the tibia during flexion of a natural knee induces tibia internal rotation relative to the femur, and tibia external rotation relative to the femur as the knee extends. This internal rotational mechanism results in part from the length and tension within the cruciate and collateral ligaments and anatomic variances in dimensions of the medial and lateral femoral and tibial condyles. 
         [0006]    The exact axial femorotibial rotational pattern after TKA is less clear, but has been shown to vary considerably. Many have hypothesized that decreases in axial rotation after TKA may be related to removal or alteration of the cruciate ligaments and/or failure to exactly duplicate geometry of the medial and lateral femoral and tibial condyles, although most hypothesize that this reduced motion derives from the inability to reproduce correct condylar geometries. 
         [0007]    A multicenter, in vivo, weight-bearing kinematic analysis has demonstrated similar average axial rotational values in fixed versus mobile bearing TKA prosthetics. Controversy exists, however, as to the exact site of axial rotation (superior vs. inferior aspect of the tibial insert) in mobile bearing TKA prosthetics. Many fixed and mobile bearing TKA prosthetics have demonstrated significantly reduced axial rotation, while others have documented that TKA patients often experience a reverse rotation pattern, where the tibia externally rotates about the femur with increasing knee flexion. 
       INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to implantable prosthetic devices simulating the natural biomechanics of native mammalian joints. These exemplary embodiments induce moments within an implantable prosthetic joint to impart rotational movement between joint components. The exemplary embodiments also encompass the joint components themselves that induce moments, as well as methods for inducing moments to impart rotation between complimentary prosthetic components within an implantable joint. 
         [0009]    It is a first aspect to provide a prosthetic tibial insert including medial and lateral receivers for receiving a pair of condyles of a femoral prosthesis, the prosthetic tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post, where the centerline of the stabilizing post is offset from at least one of an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert and a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. 
         [0010]    In a more detailed embodiment of the first aspect, the prosthetic tibial tray rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant about a first axis of rotation, and the first axis of rotation is offset laterally with respect to the stabilizing post. In yet another more detailed embodiment, a posterior aspect of the stabilizing post is not rounded. In a further detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is onset anteriorly from an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In still a further detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset posteriorly from an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a recess adapted to receive a projection from the prosthetic tibial tray implant about which the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a projection adapted to be received by a recess of the prosthetic tibial tray implant about which the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant. In another more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant about a first axis of rotation, the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the femoral prosthesis about a second axis of rotation, and the first axis of rotation is not coaxial with the second axis of rotation. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset medially between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters with respect to the first axis of rotation. 
         [0011]    It is a second aspect to provide a prosthetic tibial insert comprising a prosthetic tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving a pair of condyles of a femoral prosthesis, the prosthetic tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post, where the prosthetic tibial tray insert is adapted to rotate, with respect to a prosthetic tibial tray implant secured a patient&#39;s tibia, around a rotational axis generally perpendicular to the prosthetic tibial tray insert, where the rotational axis is offset laterally from the stabilizing post. 
         [0012]    In a more detailed embodiment of the second aspect, the stabilizing post is offset medially with respect to the rotational axis. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the rotational axis is offset anteriorly from an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In still a further detailed embodiment, the rotational axis is offset posteriorly from an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a recess adapted to receive a projection from the prosthetic tibial tray implant about which the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a projection adapted to be received by a recess of the prosthetic tibial tray implant about which the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant. In another more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant about a first axis of rotation, the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the femoral prosthesis about a second axis of rotation, and the first axis of rotation is not coaxial with the second axis of rotation. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset medially from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert between about 0.1 millimeters to about 20 millimeters. 
         [0013]    It is a third aspect to provide a prosthetic tibial tray insert including lateral and medial condyle receivers for receiving lateral and medial condyles of a femoral prosthesis, the medial condyle receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial femoral condyle than does the lateral condyle receiver with respect to the lateral femoral condyle, the combination of lesser conformity laterally and substantially greater conformity medially creating rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the prosthetic tibial tray insert and the condyles of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0014]    In a more detailed embodiment of the third aspect, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a recess adapted to receive a projection from a prosthetic tibial tray implant so the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant about a first rotational axis, and the first rotational axis is offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a projection adapted to be received by a recess of a prosthetic tibial tray implant so the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant about a first rotational axis, and the first rotational axis is offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In a further detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant about the first rotational axis, the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the femoral prosthesis about the substantially vertical axis, and the first rotational axis is not coaxial with the substantially vertical axis. In still a further detailed embodiment, the substantially vertical axis is offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In a more detailed embodiment, the lateral condyle receiver includes at least one of a convex shape or a sequentially sloped from anterior to posterior shape, and the medial condyle receiver includes a concave shape for receiving a convex medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0015]    It is a fourth aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic; and (b) a tibial tray prosthetic including a prosthetic tibial tray insert rotationally repositionable with respect to the tibial tray about a first rotational axis, the tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving a pair of condyles of the femoral prosthetic,—where the first rotational axis is offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. 
         [0016]    In a more detailed embodiment of the fourth aspect, the first rotational axis is offset laterally between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In yet another more detailed embodiment, a stabilizing post that is offset medially from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert, where the first rotational axis is offset laterally between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the stabilizing post. In a further detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset from an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In still a further detailed embodiment, the femoral prosthetic includes lateral and medial condyles, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes lateral and medial condyle receivers for receiving the lateral and medial condyles of a femoral prosthesis, and the medial condyle receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial femoral condyle than does the lateral condyle receiver with respect to the lateral femoral condyle, and wherein up to 12.5 mm of translation to occurs for the medial condyle with respect to the medial receiver from 20 degrees of knee flexion to maximum knee flexion. In a further detailed embodiment, the medial condyle is larger than the lateral condyle. In yet another further detailed embodiment, a posterior aspect of the stabilizing post offset is either rounded or not rounded. 
         [0017]    It is a fifth aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic; and (b) a tibial tray prosthetic including a prosthetic tibial tray insert, the tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart condyle receivers for receiving a pair of condyles of the femoral prosthetic, where the medial condyle receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial femoral condyle than does the lateral condyle receiver with respect to the lateral femoral condyle, the combination of lesser conformity laterally and substantially greater conformity medially creating rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the prosthetic tibial tray insert and the condyles of the femoral prosthetic, and wherein up to 12.5 mm of translation to occurs for the medial condyle with respect to the medial receiver from 20 degrees of knee flexion to maximum knee flexion. 
         [0018]    In a more detailed embodiment of the fifth aspect, the knee joint further includes a stabilizing post that is offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert, and the stabilizing post is offset medially between about 0.1 millimeters to about 20 millimeters from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the lateral condyle receiver includes at least one of a convex shape or a dual-sloped from anterior to posterior shape, and the medial condyle receiver includes a concave shape for receiving a convex medial condyle of the femoral prosthetic. In a further detailed embodiment, the femoral prosthetic includes a cam to ride upon the stabilizing post, where the cam is shifted to match the shift of the stabilizing post, and a posterior aspect of the stabilizing post to be contacted by the cam is rounded. 
         [0019]    It is a sixth aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthesis adapted to be mounted to a patient&#39;s natural femur; (b) a tibial tray prosthesis adapted to be mounted to the patients&#39; natural tibia; and (c) a prosthetic tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving medial and lateral condyles of the femoral prosthesis, the medial condyle receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial femoral condyle than does the lateral condyle receiver with respect to the lateral femoral condyle, the combination of lesser conformity laterally and substantially greater conformity medially creating rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the prosthetic tibial tray insert and the condyles of the femoral prosthesis, and wherein up to 12.5 mm of translation to occurs for the medial condyle with respect to the medial receiver from 20 degrees of knee flexion to maximum knee flexion. 
         [0020]    In a more detailed embodiment of the sixth aspect, the prosthetic tibial tray insert is adapted to rotate, with respect to the tibial tray prosthesis, around a rotational axis perpendicular to the prosthetic tibial tray insert, where the rotational axis is laterally offset from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the lateral condyle receiver includes at least one of a convex shape or a dual-sloped from anterior to posterior shape, and the medial condyle receiver includes a concave shape, allowing for 12.5 mm of translational laxity from 20 degrees of flexion to maximum knee flexion, for receiving a convex medial condyle of the femoral prosthetic. In a further detailed embodiment, the rotational axis is offset from an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In still a further detailed embodiment, the rotational axis is not coaxial with the substantially vertical axis. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a recess adapted to receive a projection from the tibial tray prosthesis about which the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the tibial tray prosthesis. In a further detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a projection adapted to be received by a recess of the tibial tray prosthesis about which the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the tibial tray prosthesis. In still a further detailed embodiment, the tibial tray prosthesis and the prosthetic tibial tray insert form a fixed bearing prosthetic, and the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a stabilizing post offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthet tibial tray insert includes a stabilizing post is offset medially from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. 
         [0021]    It is a seventh aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral component for mounting to a natural femur; and (b) a tibial component for mounting to a natural tibia, the tibial component including lateral and medial condyle receivers for receiving lateral and medial condyles of the femoral component, the lateral condyle receiver having at least one of a convex shape or a dual-sloped from anterior to posterior shape, the medial condyle receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial femoral condyle than does the lateral condyle receiver with respect to the lateral femoral condyle, the combination of lesser conformity laterally and substantially greater conformity medially, allowing up to 12.5 mm of translational laxity, creating a moment around an axis of rotation to impart horizontal rotation between the tibial component and the condyles of the femoral component. 
         [0022]    In a more detailed embodiment of the seventh aspect, the tibial component includes a tibial tray that is to be mounted to a natural tibia, and the tibial tray insert includes a recess to receive a projection from the tibial tray of the tibial component about which the tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the tibial tray. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the tibial component includes a tibial tray that is to be mounted to a natural tibia, and the tibial tray insert includes a projection to be received by a recess of the tibial tray of the tibial component about which the tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the tibial tray. In a further detailed embodiment, the tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the tibial tray about a second rotational axis, the tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the femoral component along the axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation is eccentric to the second rotational axis. In still a further detailed embodiment, the axis of rotation is offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, the lateral condyle receiver includes at least one of a convex shape or a dual-sloped from anterior to posterior shape, and the medial condyle receiver includes a concave shape for receiving a convex medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a stabilizing post offset medially from a medial-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. 
         [0023]    It is an eighth aspect to provide a mobile bearing prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a tibial prosthesis for implantation into the tibia of a recipient, the tibial prosthesis including a tibial tray and a tibial insert, mounted to the tibial tray, that is rotationally repositionable with respect to the tibial tray to induce a moment about a point of rotation of the tibial tray that is offset laterally from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray, the tibial tray including a medial receiver and a tibial receiver; and (b) a femoral component for implantation into the femur of the recipient, the femoral component including a medial condyle that is received within the medial receiver of the tibial tray, and a lateral condyle that is received within the lateral receiver of the tibial tray. 
         [0024]    In a more detailed embodiment of the eighth aspect, the tibial tray includes a stabilizing post medially offset from the point of rotation of the tibial tray. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the medial receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial condyle than does the lateral receiver with respect to the lateral condyle, the combination of lesser conformity laterally and substantially greater conformity medially creating another moment around an axis of rotation to impart horizontal rotation between the tibial tray and the receivers of the femoral component. In a further detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is medially offset between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the point of rotation of the tibial tray. In still a further detailed embodiment, the lateral receiver includes at least one of a convex shape or a sloped from anterior to posterior shape, and the medial receiver includes a concave shape for receiving a convex medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0025]    It is a ninth aspect to provide a fixed bearing prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a tibial prosthesis to be mounted to a tibia of a recipient, the tibial prosthesis including a medial receiver and a lateral receiver; and (b) a femoral prosthesis to be mounted to a femur of the recipient, the femoral prosthesis including a medial condyle that is to be received by the medial receiver, and a lateral condyle that is to be received by the lateral receiver, where the medial receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial condyle than does the lateral receiver with respect to the lateral condyle, the combination of lesser conformity laterally and substantially greater conformity medially generating a moment about which the tibial prosthesis rotates with respect to the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0026]    In a more detailed embodiment of the ninth aspect, the tibial prosthesis includes a tibial tray and a tibial insert mounted to the tibial tray, the tibial insert including the medial receiver and the lateral receiver. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the lateral receiver includes at least one of a convex shape or a dual-sloped from anterior to posterior shape, and the medial receiver includes a concave shape for receiving a convex medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis. In a further detailed embodiment, at least one of the tibial insert and tibial tray includes a stabilizing post adapted to be contacted by the femoral prosthesis. In yet a further more detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is laterally offset between about 0.1 millimeters to about 20 millimeters from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial insert. In another more detailed embodiment, the posterior aspect of the stabilizing post is rounded to have a concave or convex shape. In still another more detailed embodiment, the femoral prosthesis includes a cam adapted to rotationally ride on the posterior aspect of the stabilizing post, where a topography of the cam is arcuately convex or concave to receive the rounded posterior aspect of the stabilizing post. 
         [0027]    It is a tenth aspect to provide a method of imparting axial rotation to an implantable prosthetic joint, the method comprising generating a moment about an axis of rotation between a femoral component and a tibial component of a prosthetic joint to impart axial rotation between the two components, the act of generating the moment includes substantially increasing conformity between a medial receiver of the tibial component and a medial condyle of the femoral component and substantially decreasing conformity between a lateral receiver of the tibial component and a lateral condyle of the femoral component. 
         [0028]    It is an eleventh aspect to provide a method of imparting axial rotation to an implantable fixed bearing prosthetic knee joint, the method comprising shifting an axis of axial rotation between a tibial prosthesis and a femoral prosthesis of a fixed bearing prosthetic knee joint by providing at least one of: (a) offsetting a stabilization post laterally from a medial-lateral midline of a tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis, the tibial insert providing a bearing surface upon which the femoral prosthesis rides, and (b) substantially increasing conformity between a medial receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis and a medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis in relation to conformity between a lateral receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis and a lateral condyle of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0029]    In a more detailed embodiment of the eleventh aspect, the method includes shifting the axis of axial rotation between the tibial prosthesis and the a femoral prosthesis of the a fixed bearing prosthetic knee joint includes offsetting the stabilization post laterally from the medial-lateral midline of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the method includes shifting the axis of axial rotation between the tibial prosthesis and the femoral prosthesis of the fixed bearing prosthetic knee joint includes substantially increasing conformity between the medial receiver of the tibial insert and the medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis. In a further detailed embodiment, the lateral receiver includes at least one of a convex shape or a dual-sloped from anterior to posterior shape, and the medial receiver includes a concave shape for receiving a convex medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0030]    It is a twelfth aspect to provide a method of imparting axial rotation to an implantable prosthetic joint, the method comprising generating a moment about, an axis of rotation, between a femoral component and a tibial component of a fixed bearing prosthetic joint to impart axial rotation between the two components, the act of generating the moment includes laterally offsetting a stabilizing post associated with at least one of the femoral component and the tibial component from a medial-lateral midline associated with the component that includes the stabilizing post. 
         [0031]    It is a thirteenth aspect to provide a method of imparting axial rotation to an implantable mobile bearing prosthetic knee joint, the method comprising at least one of the following acts: (a) shifting an axis of axial rotation between a tibial prosthesis and a femoral prosthesis of a mobile bearing prosthetic knee joint by offsetting a stabilization post medially from a medial-lateral midline of a tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis; (b) shifting an axis of axial rotation between a tibial tray and a tibial tray insert of a mobile bearing prosthetic knee joint by offsetting a point of rotation between the tibial tray and tibial tray insert laterally from a medial-lateral midline of the tibial tray insert; and (c) shifting an axis of axial rotation between a tibial prosthesis and a femoral prosthesis of a mobile bearing prosthetic knee joint by substantially increasing conformity between a medial receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis and a medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis in relation to conformity between a lateral receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis and a lateral condyle of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0032]    It is a fourteenth aspect to provide a method of imparting axial rotation to an implantable prosthetic joint, the method comprising generating a moment about an axis of rotation between an anteriorly positioned stabilizing post of a tibial prosthesis and a cam of a femoral prosthesis to impart axial rotation between the two prostheses, the act of generating the moment includes at least one of rounding the posterior aspect of the stabilizing post of the tibial prosthesis and concaving the cam of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0033]    It is a fifteenth aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic having a pair of condyles interposed by a cam; and (b) a tibial tray prosthetic including a prosthetic tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving the pair of condyles of the femoral prosthetic, the prosthetic tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post having a rounded posterior aspect interfacing with the cam of the femoral prosthetic to at least partially guide axial rotation of the femoral prosthetic with respect to the tibial tray. 
         [0034]    It is a sixteenth aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic having a pair of condyles interposed by an arcuately concave or convex cam; and (b) a tibial tray prosthetic including a prosthetic tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving the pair of condyles of the femoral prosthetic, the prosthetic tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post having a rounded posterior aspect adapted to interface with the arcuately concave or convex cam of the femoral prosthetic. 
         [0035]    It is a seventeenth aspect to provide a prosthetic tibial tray insert comprising a prosthetic tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving a pair of condyles of a femoral prosthesis, the prosthetic tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post with a rounded, convex posterior aspect adapted to facilitate rotation of the formal prosthesis about a rotational axis, where the stabilizing post is medially offset from a media-lateral centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. 
         [0036]    It is an eighteenth aspect to provide a method of imparting axial rotation to an implantable prosthetic joint, the method comprising generating a moment about an axis of rotation between a tibial prosthetic tray and a tibial prosthetic insert, the act of generating the moment includes laterally offsetting, from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial prosthetic insert, a point of rotation between the tibial prosthetic tray and the tibial prosthetic insert, where the offset is between about 0.1 millimeters to about 20 millimeters. 
         [0037]    It is a nineteenth aspect to provide a mobile bearing posterior stabilized knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic component including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle; and (b) a tibial prosthetic component comprising a tibial tray insert rotationally repositionable about a first rotational axis with respect to a tibial tray, the first rotational axis being laterally offset from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray, the tibial tray also including a post medially offset from the rotational axis of the tibial tray so that the post is medial with respect to the first rotational axis, the tibial tray further including a medial receiver to receive the medial condyle and a lateral receiver to receive the lateral condyle, wherein a posterior aspect of the post is not rounded, wherein conformity between the medial condyle and the condyle receiver is substantially greater than conformity between lateral condyle and the lateral condyle receiver, wherein the lateral condyle receiver is sloped from anterior to posterior, and wherein the femoral prosthetic component interfaces with the tibial prosthetic component to comprise a joint. 
         [0038]    It is a twentieth aspect to provide a mobile bearing posterior stabilized knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic component including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle; and, (b) a tibial prosthetic component comprising a tibial tray insert rotationally repositionable about a first rotational axis with respect to a tibial tray, the first rotational axis being laterally offset from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray, the tibial tray also including a post medially offset from the first rotational axis of the tibial tray so that the post is medial with respect to the first rotational axis, the tibial tray further including a medial receiver to receive the medial condyle and a lateral receiver to receive the lateral condyle, wherein a posterior aspect of the post is not rounded, wherein conformity between the medial condyle and the condyle receiver is substantially greater than conformity between lateral condyle and the lateral condyle receiver, wherein the lateral condyle receiver is sloped from anterior to posterior, and wherein the femoral prosthetic component interfaces with the tibial prosthetic component to comprise a joint. 
         [0039]    It is a twenty-first aspect to provide a fixed bearing posterior stabilized knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic component including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle; and, (b) a tibial prosthetic component including a post laterally offset from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial prosthetic component, the tibial prosthetic component further including a medial receiver to receive the medial condyle and a lateral receiver to receive the lateral condyle, wherein a posterior aspect of the post is rounded, wherein conformity between the medial condyle and the condyle receiver is substantially greater than conformity between lateral condyle and the lateral condyle receiver, wherein the lateral condyle receiver is sloped from anterior to posterior, and wherein the femoral prosthetic component interfaces with the tibial prosthetic component to comprise a joint. 
         [0040]    It is a twenty-second aspect to provide a mobile bearing posterior cruciate retaining knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic component including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle; and (b) a tibial prosthetic component comprising a tibial tray insert rotationally repositionable about a first rotational axis with respect to a tibial tray, the first rotational axis being laterally offset from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray, the tibial tray further including a medial receiver to receive the medial condyle and a lateral receiver to receive the lateral condyle, wherein conformity between the medial condyle and the condyle receiver is substantially greater than conformity between lateral condyle and the lateral condyle receiver, wherein the substantially greater conformity includes translational laxity between the medial condyle and the medical receiver of up to about 12.5 mm of translational laxity at greater than 20 degrees of knee flexion, wherein the lateral condyle receiver is sloped from anterior to posterior, and wherein the femoral prosthetic component interfaces with the tibial prosthetic component to comprise a joint. 
         [0041]    It is a twenty-third aspect to provide a fixed bearing posterior cruciate retaining knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic component including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle; and, (b) a tibial prosthetic component including a medial receiver to receive the medial condyle and a lateral receiver to receive the lateral condyle, wherein conformity between the medial condyle and the condyle receiver is substantially greater than conformity between lateral condyle and the lateral condyle receiver, wherein the substantially greater conformity includes translational laxity between the medial condyle and the medical receiver of up to about 12.5 mm of translational laxity at greater than 20 degrees of knee flexion, wherein the lateral condyle receiver is sloped from anterior to posterior, wherein the medial condyle is substantially larger than the lateral condyle, and wherein the femoral prosthetic component interfaces with the tibial prosthetic component to comprise a joint. 
         [0042]    It is a twenty-fourth aspect to provide a mobile bearing posterior cruciate retaining knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic component including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle; and, (b) a tibia prosthetic component comprising a tibial tray insert rotationally repositionable about a first rotational axis with respect to a tibial tray, the first rotational axis being laterally offset from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray, the tibial tray further including a medial receiver to receive the medial condyle and a lateral receiver to receive the lateral condyle, wherein conformity between the medial condyle and the condyle receiver is substantially greater than conformity between lateral condyle and the lateral condyle receiver, wherein the lateral condyle receiver is sloped from anterior to posterior, wherein the medial condyle is substantially larger than the lateral condyle, and wherein the femoral prosthetic component interfaces with the tibial prosthetic component to comprise a joint. 
         [0043]    It is a twenty-fifth aspect to provide a prosthetic tibial insert comprising: (a) a prosthetic tibial tray insert including medial and lateral receivers for receiving a pair of condyles of a femoral prosthesis, the prosthetic tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post; and (b) a prosthetic tibial tray implant operatively coupled to the tibial tray, where the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant, where the prosthetic tibial tray rotates with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant about a first axis of rotation, and the first axis of rotation is offset laterally with respect to the stabilizing post. 
         [0044]    In a more detailed embodiment of the twenty-fifth aspect, a posterior aspect of the stabilizing post is not rounded. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset at least one of anteriorly and posteriorly from an anterior-posterior centerline of the prosthetic tibial tray insert. In a further detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a recess adapted to receive a projection from the prosthetic tibial tray implant so the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates, about the first axis of rotation, with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant. In still a further detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert includes a projection adapted to be received by a recess of the prosthetic tibial tray implant so the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates, about the first axis of rotation, with respect to the prosthetic tibial tray implant. In a more detailed embodiment, the prosthetic tibial tray insert rotates with respect to the femoral prosthesis about a second axis of rotation, and the first axis of rotation is not coaxial with the second axis of rotation. In a more detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset medially between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters with respect to the first axis of rotation. 
         [0045]    It is a twenty-sixth aspect to provide a prosthetic tibial insert comprising a prosthetic tibial tray insert including lateral and medial condyle receivers for receiving lateral and medial condyles of a femoral prosthesis, the medial condyle receiver has substantially greater conformity to the medial femoral condyle than does the lateral condyle receiver with respect to the lateral femoral condyle, the combination of lesser conformity laterally and substantially greater conformity medially creating rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the prosthetic tibial tray insert and the condyles of the femoral prosthesis, wherein the substantially greater conformity includes translational laxity between the medial condyle and the medical receiver of up to about 12.5 mm of translational laxity at greater than 20 degrees of knee flexion. 
         [0046]    It is a twenty-seventh aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic; and (b) a tibial tray prosthetic including a prosthetic tibial tray insert rotationally repositionable with respect to the tibial tray about a first rotational axis, the tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving a pair of condyles of the femoral prosthetic, the tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post, where the first rotational axis is offset from a medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, and where the stabilizing post is offset from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert. 
         [0047]    In a more detailed embodiment of the twenty-seventh aspect, the femoral prosthetic includes a cam that is adapted to ride upon the stabilizing post of the tibial tray insert, and the cam is offset to correspond to the offset of the stabilizing post from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the cam is offset medially from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, and the cam is offset to the same extent as the offset of the stabilizing post from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert. In a further detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset medially between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, and the rotational axis is offset laterally between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the stabilizing post. In still a further detailed embodiment, the rotational axis is offset laterally between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, and the stabilizing post is offset medially between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the rotational axis. 
         [0048]    It is a twenty-eighth aspect to provide an implantable prosthetic knee joint comprising: (a) a femoral prosthetic including a cam and a pair of condyles; and (b) a tibial tray prosthetic including a fixed bearing prosthetic tibial tray insert, the tibial tray insert including medial and lateral spaced apart receivers for receiving the pair of condyles of the femoral prosthetic, the tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post, where the stabilizing post is offset from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, and where the cam is offset to correspond to the offset of the tibial tray insert. 
         [0049]    In a more detailed embodiment of the twenty-eighth aspect, the stabilizing post is offset laterally from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, and the cam is offset to the same extent as the offset of the stabilizing post from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the stabilizing post is offset laterally between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert, and the cam is offset laterally between about 0.1 millimeters to about 30 millimeters from the medial-lateral centerline of the tibial tray insert. 
         [0050]    It is a twenty-ninth aspect to provide a prosthetic femoral component of a prosthetic knee joint comprising a prosthetic femoral component including a pair of spaced apart condyles and a cam interposing the condyles, the cam being offset from a medial-lateral centerline of the femoral component, where the cam is adapted to contact a stabilizing post of a tibial prosthetic assembly. 
         [0051]    In a more detailed embodiment of the twenty-ninth aspect, the cam is offset laterally from the medial-lateral centerline of the femoral component. In yet another more detailed embodiment, the cam is offset medially from the medial-lateral centerline of the femoral component. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0052]      FIG. 1  is a free body diagram of a cylinder, B, contacting a platform, A; 
           [0053]      FIG. 2  is a diagram representing the curvature of a femoral condyle as a linear segment and showing the amount of the linear segment correspondingly contacted during flexion of the knee joint; 
           [0054]      FIG. 3  is an overhead view of a prior art posterior stabilized mobile bearing total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert having the polyethylene post aligned over the center of rotation; 
           [0055]      FIG. 4  is an overhead view of a prior art fixed bearing posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert having the polyethylene post located along the medial-lateral midline of the polyethylene insert; 
           [0056]      FIG. 5  is an overhead view of a prior art posterior cruciate retaining total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert; 
           [0057]      FIG. 6  is a rear, profile view of a first exemplary moment induced mobile bearing posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty prosthetic in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 7  is an overhead view of a first exemplary moment induced mobile bearing posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 8  is a plot of polyethylene rotation versus time for a prior art polyethylene tibial insert having the post and the rotation point in the center of the polyethylene, and the new moment induced posterior stabilized mobile bearing total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert showing substantially greater rotation; 
           [0060]      FIG. 9  is a rear profile view of a first exemplary moment induced fixed bearing posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0061]      FIG. 10  is an overhead view of a first exemplary moment induced fixed bearing posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0062]      FIG. 11  are medial and lateral profile views of exemplary changes in medial condyle conformity and increased lateral condyle posterior slope for the exemplary prosthetic inserts of the present invention; 
           [0063]      FIG. 12(   a ) is a pictorial representation of a prior art lateral femoral condyle PCR TKA prosthetic having a rounded convex shape; 
           [0064]      FIG. 12(   b ) and  FIG. 12(   c ) are pictorial representations of an exemplary MITKA PCR prosthetic having femoral radii for the lateral condyle being flatter, in contact with either a convex or sloped downward in the posterior direction tibial component. 
           [0065]      FIG. 13  is an overhead view of a first exemplary moment induced mobile bearing posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty prosthetic insert in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0066]      FIGS. 14(   a ) &amp; ( b ) are pictorial profile representations of an exemplary MITKA posterior cruciate retaining TKA having increased conformity between the medial condyle and the medial receiver of the tibial insert at varying degrees of knee flexion; 
           [0067]      FIGS. 14(   c ) &amp; ( d ) are pictorial profile representations of an exemplary MITKA posterior cruciate retaining TKA having an increased sloped between the lateral condyle and the tibial insert at varying degrees of knee flexion; 
           [0068]      FIGS. 14(   e ) &amp; ( f ) are pictorial profile representations of an exemplary MITKA posterior cruciate retaining TKA with a lateral convex shape along which the lateral condyle rides at varying degrees of knee flexion; 
           [0069]      FIG. 15  is a 3-D overhead, perspective view of a prior art MITKA prosthetic cam/post mechanism with flat leading surfaces; 
           [0070]      FIG. 16  is an elevated perspective view of an exemplary MITKA posterior stabilized prosthetic insert; and 
           [0071]      FIG. 17  is an elevated perspective view of an exemplary MITKA posterior stabilized prosthetic device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0072]    The exemplary embodiments described and illustrated below encompass methods of inducing moments within an implanted prosthetic joint, as well as implantable prosthetic joints and components thereof inducing moments. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments discussed below are exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiments as discussed below may include optional steps, methods, and features that one of ordinary skill should recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the claims. 
         [0073]    Basic principals governing the laws of mechanics are taken from Newton&#39;s Laws: (A) every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it; (B) the relationship between an object&#39;s mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F, is F=ma; and, (C) for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The above laws of mechanics pertain to external forces applied to a system, however, when an in-plane force is applied to an object that has the ability to move, and if the applied force is greater than the resistive force (gravity, friction, etc.), the object will begin to move. Throughout knee flexion, whether during gait or into deep flexion, the cruciate ligaments of a natural knee force the tibia to internally rotate, levering the femur with respect to the tibia. It has been documented that the absence of the cruciate ligaments leads to a decrease in axial rotation. 
         [0074]    For total knee arthroplasty (TKA) prosthetics, three primary forces may be exerted thereupon: (1) applied forces, which are produced by muscles passing across the knee joint; (2) bearing surface contact forces occurring between the femur and the tibia at the contact points and between the femur and the patella at the contact points; and, (3) constraint forces produced by ligaments resisting the active forces. However, the incidence and magnitude patterns of normal axial rotation of a knee prosthesis is governed by, and can only be induced to rotate by introducing moment arms with respect to active forces to cause rotation. In an exemplary system, a vector V has a distance D, with a line of action passing through a starting point P of the vector V. The moment M of the vector V about point P is characterized by Equation #1: M=R×V; where R is the position vector from point P to a second point along the vector V. 
         [0075]    Before a moment analysis can be conducted for any TKA prosthetic, an understanding of the forces acting on the knee, both magnitude and direction, should be clearly determined and understood. The most effective method for deriving muscle, bearing surface and ligament forces, simultaneously, is through mathematical modeling techniques. It has been demonstrated that, with a proper understanding of knee mechanics, it is possible to derive equations to determine in vivo forces. Although it is important to know the magnitude of the forces applied at the knee, it is equally important to determine the direction of those applied forces. Proper direction of contact forces acting at the femorotibial and patellofemoral interfaces will ensure proper summation of the moments about a chosen point. Therefore, it is important to determine the direction of the velocity of the point on the femur, point FT, in contact with the tibia, which will allow for the determination of the direction of the bearing surface contact force occurring between points FT and TF, which is the point on the tibia in contact with the femur. 
         [0076]    In a natural knee, like any mechanical system that has an) two objects in contact, three possible conditions could occur, which lead to vastly different conditions at the contact point between the two objects. These three conditions are: (1) pure rolling; (2) pure slipping; and, (3) a combination of rolling and slipping. 
         [0077]    Referencing  FIG. 1 , an exemplary free-body diagram  100  includes a round cylinder (Body A)  102  with radius R moving with respect to a generally planar platform (Body B)  104  that is fixed in the Newtonian reference frame. In this simple example, two reference frames are defined for each object  102 ,  104 , where the “A 2 &gt;” and “B 2 &gt;” directions are opposite of gravity. The point of contact between the objects  102 ,  104  is mutually defined by two points: point AB on the platform  104 , and point BA on the cylinder  102 . Three other points P 1 , P 2 , P 3  are equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the cylinder  102 , with the longitudinal center being identified by point BO. Point P 1  is spaced a distance R in the A 1 &gt; direction and a distance R in the A 2 &gt; direction from point BA. Point P 2  is spaced from point BA a distances R in the −A 1 &gt; direction and R in the A 2 &gt; direction. Point P 3  is spaced a distance  2 R in the A 2 &gt; direction, from point BA. 
         [0078]    Under pure rolling conditions, we can assume the velocity vector V_BO_A&gt;=A 1 &gt;, where: the radius R=1; and, the angular velocity of the cylinder ω, relative to the reference frame for the platform around the A 3 &gt; axis, is equal to −A 3 &gt;. One can then determine the velocity for points P 1 , P 2 , P 3  and BO, which are determined using Equations #2-#5: 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=V   —   BO   —   A&gt;+ω   —   B   —   A&gt;×P   —   BO   —   P 1&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;+ A 3&gt;× A 1&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;− A 2&gt;  Equation #2 
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;=V   —   BO   —   A&gt;+ω   —   B   —   A&gt;×P   —   BO   —   BA&gt;   
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;+− A 3&gt;×− A 2&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;− A 1&gt;=0&gt;  Equation #3 
         [0000]      V —   P 2 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;+ A 2&gt;  Equation #4 
         [0000]      V —   P 3 —   A&gt;= 2  A 1&gt;  Equation #5 
         [0000]    Therefore, under pure rolling conditions, the velocity of point BA must equal the velocity of point AB. Since the platform  104  is “fixed” and not moving in the Newtonian reference frame, all points on the platform have a velocity equal to zero. This simple analysis shows that the velocity of point BA, on the cylinder  102 , is equal to zero, under pure rolling conditions. 
         [0079]    Under pure slipping conditions, the velocities for this same system, shown in  FIG. 1 , are different for each point along the cylinder  102 . A practical way to describe pure slipping would be a car on ice. If the friction coefficient were equal to zero, the tires would spin, but the car would remain stationary. Therefore, in the knee, under pure slipping the V_BO_A&gt;=0&gt;, and similar to our example shown in  FIG. 1 , the Radius=1, ω=−A 3 &gt;. Then the velocities for points BA, P 1 , P 2 , and P 3  are determined using Equations #6-#9: 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=V   —   BO   —   A&gt;+ω   —   B   —   A&gt;×P   —   BO   —   P 1&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;= 0&gt;+− A 3&gt;× A 1&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=−A 2&gt;  Equation #6 
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;=V   —   BO   —   A&gt;+ω   —   B   —   A&gt;×P   —   BO   —   BA&gt;   
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;= 0&gt;+− A 3&gt;×− A 2&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   BA A&gt;=−A 1&gt;  Equation #7 
         [0000]      V P2 —   A&gt;=A 2&gt;  Equation #8 
         [0000]      V —   P 3 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;  Equation #9 
         [0000]    Therefore, under pure slipping, the velocity of point BA is equal to −A 1 &gt;, and the direction of the velocity is opposite in direction to posterior femoral rollback of the femoral condyles in a knee. Although it has been assumed that the velocity vector of the contact point between the femoral condyles and the tibial plateau would be in the posterior direction, under pure slipping, the correct direction of the velocity vector is in the anterior direction during flexion and in the posterior direction during extension. Although pure rolling and pure slipping have been described, it can be assumed that, under in vivo conditions, “only” pure rolling or “only” pure slipping conditions cannot occur. 
         [0080]    Referencing  FIG. 2 , a circumferential distance  200  of a prosthetic femoral condyle  202  can be represented by a flat line  204 . Under pure rolling conditions, the prosthetic femoral condyle  202  would follow the flat line  204  path, which is much greater in distance than an anterior/posterior dimension of a prosthetic tibial insert (not shown). Previous analyses have documented that the amount of anterior posterior motion for a natural knee can range between 10 to 25 mm for the lateral condyle and, for a TKA prosthetic, this motion could be 10 mm in the anterior direction or 15 mm posterior. Thus, in a TKA prosthesis, the most dominant motion occurring at the contact point between the femoral condyle  202  and the tibial insert is slipping. 
         [0081]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , an analysis can be conducted to determine the velocities on the cylinder  102  at the bearing surface interface BA, AB when both slipping and rolling are present. In this analysis, we can assume V_BO_A&gt;=A 1 &gt;, radius R=1, and the angular velocity of the cylinder ω=− 2 A 3 &gt;. Therefore, the velocities for points P 1 , P 2 , P 3  and BA can be determined using Equations #10-#13: 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=V   —   BO   —   A&gt;+   —   B   —   A&gt;×P   —   BO   —   P 1&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;+−2 A 3&gt;× A 1&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   P 1 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;−2 A 2&gt;  Equation #10 
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;=V   —   BO   —   A&gt;+ω   —   B   —   A&gt;×P   —   BO   —   BA&gt;   
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;+−2 A 3&gt;×− A 2&gt; 
         [0000]      V —   BA   —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;−2 A 1&gt;=− A 1&gt;  Equation #11 
         [0000]      V —   P 2 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;+2 A 2&gt;  Equation #12 
         [0000]      V —   P 3 —   A&gt;=A 1&gt;−2 A 2&gt;=3 A 2&gt;  Equation #13 
         [0082]    Under all three conditions (slipping, rolling, or a combination), an important piece of information is the velocity of point BA. During pure rolling, the velocity of point BA is equal to zero, but under pure slipping and a combination of rolling and slipping, in our examples, this velocity is not equal to zero. Under pure slipping the direction of the velocity BA is in the −A 1 &gt;direction, opposite of the direction of posterior femoral rollback of the femoral condyles. During a combination of rolling and slipping, the direction of this velocity vector, V_BA_N&gt;, in our example is in the −A 1 &gt;, which is, again, in the opposite direction of contact point BA on AB. The magnitude of V_BA_N&gt; can change, depending on the velocity of BO and the angular velocity of body B in the Newtonian reference frame, but the magnitude will always be in the −A 1 &gt; direction. Therefore, it is disadvantageous to design a total knee arthroplasty prosthesis assuming that the forces at point BA on AB during knee flexion are in the A 1 &gt; (posterior direction) direction. Instead, one should design a total knee arthroplasty prosthesis with the forces being applied in the −A 1 &gt; direction (anterior direction) during knee flexion and in the A 1 &gt; direction during knee extension, similar to the direction of velocity vector acting at this point. Also, it should be noted, that during flexion the velocity of the contact point BA is equal to zero, under pure rolling and is in the anterior direction (−A 1 &gt;) under pure slipping. Therefore, during knee flexion, V_BA_N&gt; is not in the posterior direction. 
         [0083]    At present, all known TKA prosthetics are designed for equal distribution of forces at the contact points between the femoral components and the tibial components. Therefore, these TKA prosthetics do not incorporate moments to create axial rotation. During surgery, the goal of the surgeon is to create equal tension gaps between the femoral condyles and the tibial insert/plateau. If the amount of force acting between the medial condyle and the tibial insert is equal to the force acting between the lateral condyle and the tibial insert, it could be expected that the femoral components will not achieve axial rotation relative to the tibial insert because the medial and lateral condyle distances from the center of the tibial insert are also the same. If two forces act on a system and both forces are equal in magnitude and the moment arms to those forces, from a fixed point, are equal, then the moment of this system would be equal to zero. 
         [0084]    Referencing  FIG. 3 , a typical posterior stabilized mobile bearing TKA prosthetic  300  accommodates five main contact forces: (1) the medial condyle force  302  in the vertical direction (F N   M ); (2) the medial condyle force  304  in the anterior/posterior direction (F T   M ); (3) the lateral condyle force  306  in the vertical direction (F N   L ); (4) the lateral condyle force  308  in the anterior/posterior direction (F T   L ); and (5) the force  310  applied by the cam on the post (F P ). Point O represents the rotation point of the polyethylene insert  312  relative to the tibial implant (not shown) about which moments are summated. Also included is the distance r 1  between point O to the medial condyle contact force, and the distance r 2  between point O to the lateral condyle. 
         [0085]    If the moments are summated for the mobile bearing TKA prosthetic  300 , around point O, in the T 3 &gt;direction (perpendicular to the T 1 &gt; and T 2 &gt; directions), the moment equation is represented by Equation #14: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;= I·α·T 3&gt;  Equation #14 
         [0000]    We can assume that the angular acceleration ( a ) of the polyethylene insert  312  relative to the tibial implant component in the T 3 &gt; direction is negligible, and can be set equal to zero. Therefore, with this presumption in place, Equation #14 can be refined into Equation #15: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0 =0 in the T 13 &gt; direction. 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=− r   1   ·T 2&gt;× F   T   M   ·l 1&gt;+ r   2   ·T 2&gt;× F   T   L   ·T 1&gt;  Equation #15 
         [0000]    Where the following information is known, the distance r 1 =r 2 =r, and the forces F M =F L =F, Equation #15 can be further simplified into Equation #16: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=− rF (− T 3&gt;)+ rF (− T 3&gt;), 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=0.  Equation #16 
         [0000]    As shown by Equation #16, if the distances r 1 , r 2  from the rotation point O of a mobile bearing TKA prosthetic  300  are the same to the medial and lateral condyles, the sum of the moments is equal to zero. Thus, the polyethylene insert  312  does not rotate about the tibial component. An in vivo analysis of the mobile bearing TKA prosthesis  300  evidenced that 7/9 subjects experienced less than 2.0 degrees of axial rotation. 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a typical fixed bearing TKA prosthetic  400  includes a tibial insert  402  (typically polyethylene) mounted to a tibial implant component (typically a metallic tibial tray, which is not shown). Unlike the mobile bearing posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic  300  of  FIG. 3 , the tibial insert  402  is fixed to the tibial implant component so that the insert does not rotate with respect to the tibial implant component. The forces acting on the fixed bearing posterior stabilized insert  402  are similar to those forces defined for the mobile bearing posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic  300  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0087]    Summation of moments acting on the fixed bearing polyethylene insert  402  can be conducted around the defined point O. The primary difference between the point O of  FIG. 4 , and point O of  FIG. 3 , is that the chosen point O does not represent a rotation point in  FIG. 4 , but rather a fixed physical point on the tibial insert  402  in the center of the post in the T 2 &gt; direction. Summating the moments around point O is represented by Equation #14: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;= I·α·T 3&gt;  Equation#14 
         [0000]    Similar to the mobile bearing TKA prosthetic  300  of  FIG. 3 , we can assume that the angular acceleration (α) of the femur relative to the tibial insert  402  in the T 3 &gt; direction is small, and can be set equal to zero. Therefore, with this presumption in place, Equation #14 can be refined into Equation #15: 
         [0000]      ΣM 0 =0 in the T 3 &gt; direction.  Equation #15 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=− r   1   ·T 2&gt;× F   T   M   ·T 1&gt;+ R   2   ·T 2&gt;× F   T   L   ·T 1&gt;, 
         [0000]    Where the following information is known, the distance r 1 =r 2 =r, and the forces F M =F L =F, Equation #15 can be further simplified into Equation #16: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=− rF· (− T 3&gt;)+ rF (− T 3&gt;) 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=0  Equation #16 
         [0088]    If the polyethylene post  404  is located in the center of the tibial insert  402 , in the T 1 &gt; and T 2 &gt; directions, then the sum of the moments, in the T 3 &gt; direction, for the contact forces applied by the femoral component on the tibial insert is equal to zero. Previous in vivo analyses of TKA prosthetics have determined that all TKA prosthetics achieve less axial rotation than a natural knee, while a significant number of TKA recipients are able to achieve less than two degrees of axial rotation of the resulting knee joint and approximately ⅓ of these recipients experience a reverse axial rotation pattern, opposite that of a natural knee. 
         [0089]    Referencing  FIG. 5 , a posterior cruciate retaining TKA prosthetic  500  (whether mobile or fixed bearing) allows for posterior cruciate ligament retention, without the presence of a cam/post mechanism  404  found in the posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic  400  of  FIG. 4 . The absence of the cam/post mechanism in a posterior cruciate retaining TKA prosthetic  500  leads to an analysis very similar to those for a posterior stabilized TKA prosthetics discussed above. Since the cam/post mechanism for present day posterior stabilized TKA prosthetics is in the center of the tibial insert, the cam/post force does not exert a moment. Therefore, when the cam/post mechanism does not induce rotation, the moment analysis for a mobile bearing posterior cruciate TKA prosthetic  500  will be similar to the moment analysis of a mobile bearing posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic  300  (see  FIG. 3 ), and the moment analysis for a fixed bearing posterior cruciate retaining TKA prosthetic  500  will be similar to a fixed bearing posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic  400  (see  FIG. 4 ), except for the resistive force of the posterior cruciate ligament. In other words, the sum of the moments for the contact forces applied by the femoral component on the tibial insert is equal to zero for these posterior cruciate retaining TKA prosthetics  500 . 
         [0090]    Referencing  FIG. 6 , an exemplary posterior stabilized mobile bearing Moment Induced Total Knee Arthroplasty (MITKA) prosthetic insert  600  is mounted to a prosthetic tibial stem  606 , which is preferably implanted into a patient&#39;s tibia (not shown). The insert  600  includes a post  602  offset in the medial direction from the medial-lateral midline  608  of the insert  600  providing an axis of rotation  605  between the insert and a femoral component (not shown), and an axis of rotation  604  between the tibial stem  606  and the insert  600  that is shifted in the lateral direction from the medial-lateral midline  608 . 
         [0091]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a moment analysis of the exemplary MITKA prosthetic insert  600  includes summating the moments, around the point of rotation, O, in the T 3 &gt; direction. The moment equation is represented by Equation #17: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=− r   1   ·T 2&gt;× F   T   M   ·T 1&gt;− r   3   ·T 2&gt;× F   P   ·T 1&gt;+ r   2   ·T 2&gt;× F   T   L   ·T 1&gt;  Equation #17 
         [0000]    Where the following information is known, the distance r 1 =2r, r 2 =r 3  =r, and the forces F T   M =F T   L =F P =F, Equation #17 can be further simplified into Equation #18: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=−2 rF· (− T 3&gt;)− rF· (− T 3&gt;)+ rF· (− T 3&gt;) 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=2 rF·T 3&gt;+ rF·T 3&gt;− rF·T 3&gt; 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=2 rF·T 3&gt;  Equation #18 
         [0092]    In this exemplary moment summation, the moment induced by the exemplary MITKA prosthetic insert  600  is equal to 2rF, in the clockwise direction (looking down), leading to normal axial rotation of the tibial insert. 
         [0093]    Unlike present day mobile bearing posterior stabilized TKA prosthetics  300  (see  FIG. 3 , for example), the tibial insert  600  for the MITKA knee will rotate in the clockwise direction (looking down) as a result of creating a distance between the rotation point O to the post  602  of the tibial insert  600  (distance represented by r 3 ), increasing the distance from the rotation point O to the medial condyle contact force F T   M  (distance represented by r 1 ), and decreasing the distance from the rotation point O to the lateral condyle contact force F T   L  (distance represented by r 2 ), allowing for the lateral condyle to move more posterior, similar to a natural knee. 
         [0094]    The amount of offset created between the post  602  and the rotation point O of the MITKA prosthetic insert  600  leads to increased axial rotation of the tibial insert relative to the tibial implant component (not shown) in the clockwise direction (T 3 &gt; direction). An exemplary mathematical model has determined that a 3 mm shift of the post  602  in the medial direction from the centerline in the medial-lateral direction and a 3 mm shift of the rotation point O in the lateral direction from the centerline in the medial-lateral direction leads to 5 to 13 degrees of normal axial rotation, depending on the weight of the patient, the balancing of the knee, and the amount of force applied by the cam on the post (see  FIG. 8 ). A second analysis was conducted using the exemplary mathematical model where the post  602  was shifted 6 mm in the medial direction and the rotation point O was shifted 6 mm in the lateral direction. The results for this analysis revealed the amount of normal axial rotation of the polyethylene increased to a range of 10 to 22 degrees of normal axial rotation, again, depending on the weight of the patient, the balancing of the knee, and the amount of force applied by the cam on the post. A third analysis, where the post  602  was shifted 10 mm in the medial direction and the rotation point O was shifted 10 mm in the lateral direction lead to normal axial rotation of the polyethylene ranging between 20 to 35 degrees, in the clockwise direction. Greater shifts in the medial and lateral direction are also within the scope of the disclosure, such as, without limitation, 0.01 to 20 millimeters of medial or lateral shift. 
         [0095]    Referencing  FIG. 9 , an exemplary posterior stabilized fixed bearing Moment Induced Total Knee Arthroplasty (MITKA) prosthetic insert  900  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a cam/post mechanism  902  shifted in the lateral direction from the medial-later center  904  of the tibial insert. It is to be understood that the corresponding cam of the femoral component would be likewise shifted in the lateral direction to accommodate the shifted tibial post. 
         [0096]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a moment analysis of the exemplary fixed bearing PS MITKA prosthetic  900  insert includes summating the moments, around point of rotation O, in the T 3 &gt; direction. The moment equation is represented by Equation #19: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=− r 1. T 2&gt;× F   T   M   ·T 1&gt;+ r 2· T 2&gt;× F   T   L   ·T 1&gt;  Equation #19 
         [0000]    Where the following information is known, the distance r 1 =2r, r 2 =r, and the forces F T   M =F T   L =F, Equation #19 can be further simplified into Equation #20: 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=−2 rF· (− T 3&gt;)+ rF· (− T 3&gt;), 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;=2 rF·T 3&gt;− rF·T 3&gt; 
         [0000]      Σ M   0   ·T 3&gt;= rF·T 3&gt;  Equation #20 
         [0000]    In this exemplary moment summation, the moment induced by the exemplary MITKA prosthetic insert  900  is equal to rF, in the clockwise direction (looking down), leading to normal axial rotation of the femur relative to the tibial insert. 
         [0097]    The amount of offset created between the post  902  and the rotation point O of the MITKA prosthetic insert  900  leads to increased axial rotation of the tibial insert relative to the tibial implant component (not shown) in the clockwise direction (T 3 &gt; direction). An exemplary mathematical model has determined that a 3 mm shift of the post  902  in the lateral direction from the centerline in the medial-lateral direction leads to a femoral component rotation in the range of 2 to 8 degrees, depending on the weight of the patient, the balancing of the knee, and the amount of force applied by the cam on the post. If the post  902  is shifted 6 mm in the lateral direction, the amount of femoral component rotation increased to a range of 5 to 13 degrees, and if the post  902  was shifted 10 mm in the lateral direction, the amount of axial rotation again increased to a range of 9 to 25 degrees. Greater shifts in the medial and lateral direction are also within the scope of the disclosure, such as, without limitation, 0.01 to 20 millimeters of medial or lateral shift. 
         [0098]    As discussed previously, the cam/post mechanism can be used in a posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic to generate rotation by creating a moment arm from the rotation point to the post of a mobile bearing TKA, or by shifting the post laterally, increasing the moment arm from the post to the medial condyle shear force. In the posterior cruciate retaining TKA, moments are primarily induced by offsetting the rotation point and building up conformity between the femoral radii and the concave tibial insert radii. 
         [0099]    Referencing to  FIG. 11 , an exemplary MITKA posterior cruciate retaining (PCR) fixed bearing prosthetic insert  1100  in accordance with the present disclosure includes a medial receiver  1104  and a lateral receiver  1106  that arc adapted to receive the medial and lateral condyles, respectively, of a femoral prosthesis (not shown). In order to rotate the tibial insert  1100  clockwise (looking down), the insert  1100  includes greater conformity between the medial condyle and the medial receiver  1104  on the medial side of the tibial insert. In this exemplary embodiment  1100 , the radii of the medial receiver  1104  is greater than the radii of the medial condyle, allowing for anterior/posterior translation to occur between the medial condyle and the medial receiver. Increased conformity between the medial receiver  1104  and the medial condyle leads to an increased shear force applied by the medial condyle on the medial receiver of the polyethylene insert, causing a clockwise moment to occur, especially if the superior surface of lateral side of the tibial insert  1100  is either flat or convex in shape, coupled with a flatter shape for the lateral condyle of the femoral prosthesis. 
         [0100]    Referencing  FIGS. 12 and 13 , an exemplary MITKA mobile bearing PCR prosthetic insert  1200  includes the rotation point  1202  (and rotational axis) moved in the lateral direction with respect to the center  1204  of the tibial implant baseplate (not shown) using the contours between the insert  1200  and the femoral condyles  1206 ,  1208 . On the lateral side, the lateral femoral condyle  1206  is flatter (similar to the shape of a canoe) and the lateral receiver  1208  of the tibial insert is either sloped downward in the anterior-to-posterior direction (see  FIG. 12(   b )) or convex (see  FIG. 12(   c )). On the medial side, the medial femoral condyle includes greater conformity with the medial receiver  1210  on the medial side of the tibial insert  1200 . Therefore, as the shear force between the femoral condyles and the tibial insert increases, the amount of shear force will be greater on the medial side and induce a clockwise rotation of the tibial insert due to: (1) the increased conformity; and (2) the moment arm from the rotation point to the medial shear force being greater than the moment arm from the rotation point to the lateral condyle force. 
         [0101]    One of the main goals for achieving increased weight-bearing flexion for a total knee arthroplasty is the ability to move the lateral condyle in the posterior direction. In the normal knee, this can be achieved through axial rotation or translation of both condyles. Since, in the normal knee, the medial condyle does not move more than 10 mm in the posterior direction and on average, this amount is less than 5 mm, the lateral condyle achieves posterior contact through femorotibial axial rotation. Moments are introduced in the MITKA so that normal axial rotation could occur and the lateral condyle can achieve greater posterior contact with increasing knee flexion. This inducement of moments is more easily accomplished with a posterior stabilized TKA, where the cam/post force could be used to drive rotation in the clockwise direction or to lever the medial condyle force with respect to the post. In the posterior cruciate ligament retaining TKA, the ability to induce moments is more involved. The MITKA posterior cruciate ligament retaining knee uses increased conformity between the medial condyle and the medial receiver of the polyethylene insert. Also, an increased radius of curvature for the lateral condyle (canoe shaped) allows the lateral condyle contact point to move in the posterior direction within the first 30 degrees of knee flexion. Therefore, the goal of achieve posterior contact with the lateral condyle, with increasing knee flexion can be accomplished in MITKA posterior cruciate ligament retaining TKA through the introduction of moments and by changing the geometrical shapes of the femoral condyles. In this manner, the axis of rotation between the MITKA mobile bearing PCR prosthetic insert  1200  and the femoral prosthetic can be shifted from the medial-lateral centerline of the insert  1200  (and also from the anterior-posterior centerline), while the axis of rotation between the MITKA mobile bearing PCR prosthetic insert  1200  and the tibial prosthetic tray (not shown) can be shifted from the medial-lateral centerline of the insert  1200  (and also from the anterior-posterior centerline of the insert  1200 ). 
         [0102]    Although the increased conformity between the medial condyle and the receiver in medial aspect of the tibial polyethylene insert and the flatter lateral condyle, contacting either a posterior sloped or convex shaped lateral aspect of the polyethylene insert has been previously described herein for a posterior cruciate retaining TKA, these design features can be used in any TKA prosthetic type. The above mentioned design changes could be used in a PS TKA type to increase axial rotation and could be used in an anterior and posterior cruciate retaining TKA type to ensure normal axial rotation. 
         [0103]    In the exemplary prosthetic inserts of the present disclosure, the amount of medial condyle conformity with respect to the medial receiver of the tibial insert may play a significant role. An additional factor that may play a significant role in axial rotation, leading to an increase or decrease in the amount of axial rotation described herein, is condylar balancing at the time of surgery. It is to be understood that the mathematical models referenced in the aforementioned discussion incorporated medial and lateral condyle flexion gaps, during intra-operative ligament balancing, that were equal, leading to the medial condyle contact force being equal to the lateral condyle contact force. If the medial condyle contact force is greater than the lateral condyle contact force, the amount of normal axial rotation would increase over those values predicted by the above-referenced mathematical model. In contrast, if the lateral condyle contact force is greater than the medial condyle contact force, the amount of axial rotation would fall below those values predicted by the model. 
         [0104]    Referencing  FIG. 14 , the exemplary MITKA posterior cruciate retaining TKA prosthetic includes increased conformity between the medial condyle and the medial receiver of the tibial (polyethylene) insert in order to induce a clockwise moment of the femur relative to the tibia (normal axial rotation) (see  FIGS. 14(   a ) &amp; ( b )). Also, the lateral condyle will achieve greater posterior motion due to the flatter condylar geometry (canoe shaped) at full extension leading a rapid change of the contact position from full extension to 30 degrees of knee flexion. This posterior change of the contact position for the lateral condyle may be further assisted by the increased posterior slope of the polyethylene insert (see  FIGS. 14(   c ) &amp; ( d )) or the convex shape of the polyethylene insert (see  FIGS. 14(   e ) &amp; ( f )). 
         [0105]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , all cam/post mechanisms in present-day TKA prosthetics  1400  include flat surfaces. These flat surfaces lead to the hypothesis that the contact areas would be large, thereby leading to less stress applied by the cam  1402  onto the post  1404 . Unfortunately, if rotation of the femoral component (the cam)  1402  occurs with respect to the tibial insert (the post)  1404  in a fixed bearing posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic, the opposite is true and the contact area  1406  between the femoral cam and the tibial post becomes very small. A primary concern for decreased contact areas between the flat cam  1402  on a flat post  1404  is edge loading, leading to high stresses that lead to premature tibial insert failure at the post. 
         [0106]    Referencing  FIGS. 16 and 17 , an exemplary MITKA posterior stabilized TKA prosthetic device  1500  in accordance with the present disclosure includes a tibial insert  1502  with a tibial post  1504  having a rounded posterior surface  1506 . This rounded posterior surface  1506  of the post  1502  is adapted to interact with a rounded femoral cam  1508  of a femoral prosthetic component  1510 . The radius R for the rounded posterior surface  1506  of the post  1504  and the rounded cam  1508  are the similar, but the chosen value of R for the MITKA fixed bearing posterior stabilized prosthetic device  1500  will depend on the amount of rotation desired. If the MITKA posterior stabilized prosthetic device  1500  is designed to incorporate minimal femorotibial axial rotation, then the value for R will be higher than the value for R if the MITKA posterior stabilized prosthetic device  1500  is designed for greater axial rotation. 
         [0107]    While the aforementioned exemplary MITKA posterior stabilized prosthetics have been explained using a tibial component with an integral post that is adapted to interface with a cam of the femoral prosthetic component, it is also within the scope of the disclosure to incorporate the post into the femoral component and the cam into the tibial insert. Likewise, while the aforementioned exemplary prosthetics have been explained using a tibial component with an integral post adapted to interface with a cavity within the tibial insert, it is also within the scope of the disclosure to incorporate the post into the tibial insert, where the post would be correspondingly received by a cavity within the tibial implant. 
         [0108]    While the aforementioned exemplary MITKA mobile bearing POR prosthetics have been explained by shifting the post and point of rotation between the insert and tibial component, it should be understood that one might only shift the post or only shift the point of rotation to create the moments discussed herein. An exemplary embodiment would include a POR prosthetic device having a post aligned along the medial-lateral midline, while the point of rotation between the insert and tibial component (tray) would be offset from the medial-lateral midline. Conversely, an exemplary POR prosthetic device may have its point of rotation aligned along the medial-lateral midline, while the post would be offset from the medial-lateral midline. 
         [0109]    It is also within the scope of the disclosure to shift of the contact point of the post or point of rotation anteriorly or posteriorly. Mobile bearing prior art prosthetic knee inserts have always had the point of rotation centered along the medial-lateral midline and along the anterior-posterior midline. By shifting the contact point of the post or point of rotation from the prior art centered position, moments are introduced if the point of contact of the post and point of rotation are not coaxial. 
         [0110]    Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the exemplary inserts of the instant disclosure are adapted for use in prosthetic knee joints comprising tibial and femoral components. The plethora of tibial implants and femoral implants that the exemplary embodiments of the instant disclosure may be incorporated with, or used in place of, defies an exhaustive listing. 
         [0111]    Following from the above description and exemplary embodiments, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that changes may be made to such embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.