Patent Publication Number: US-10322004-B2

Title: Femoral prosthesis with lateralized patellar groove

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/845,522, filed on Sep. 4, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/819,528, filed on May 13, 2013, which is a U.S. national Stage Filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/EP2011/004556, filed on Sep. 9, 2011 and published on Mar. 15, 2012 as WO2012/031774 A1, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/381,803, filed on Sep. 10, 2010, the benefit of priority of each of which is claimed hereby and each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to orthopaedic prostheses and, more particularly, to femoral prosthetic components with enhanced patello-femoral articulation characteristics. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Orthopaedic prostheses are commonly utilized to repair and/or replace damaged bone and tissue in the human body. For example, a knee prosthesis may include a femoral component which replaces the articular surface of one or both of the natural femoral condyles, and/or the natural femoral sulcus. The femoral sulcus (also referred to as a patellar or trochlear groove) articulates with the patella during flexion and extension of the knee. 
     In some partial knee arthroplasty (PKA) procedures, natural bone may only be resected in the area of the patellar groove, and a prosthetic femoral sulcus component may be inserted in place of the resected bone for articulation with a natural or prosthetic patella. In a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure, anterior, distal, and posterior portions of the natural femur are resected. A knee prosthesis including distal and posterior condyles, joined together by an anterior patellar flange, is then installed in place of the resected bone. In a TKA procedure, the patellar flange includes a prosthetic patellar groove. 
     A common goal of PKA and TKA procedures is to reproduce natural knee kinematics using the associated prosthetic components and, more generally, to produce kinematic characteristics of the knee prosthesis that promote favorable patient outcomes including minimized pain, enhanced biomechanical efficiency, reproduction of intact knee Patello-Femoral (PF) and Tibio-Femoral (TF) kinematics, short recovery times, decreased risk of joint subluxation, and long prosthetic component surface lives. To these ends, substantial design efforts have focused on providing prosthetic components which account for differences in natural bone structure and joint kinematics among various patient groups, such as gender, ethnicity, patient size, and the like. Other considerations which figure into the design and function of prosthetic knee components include balancing of soft tissue (i.e., ligaments, tendons and the like) near the prosthetic components, special articulation characteristics of the knee such as internal/external rotation and femoral lateral rollback, and hyperextension and deep flexion considerations, for example. 
     Design efforts have included producing “asymmetric” femoral components for knee prostheses, in which a particular asymmetry of the component seeks to provide enhanced articular PF and TF characteristics. With respect to a patellar groove of such asymmetric components, a groove angled laterally upward with respect to a femoral mid-plane axis has previously been employed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides an alternative prosthetic femoral component for an orthopaedic prosthesis with a canted patellar groove adapted for optimal patella/component interaction, in which the component is configurable with a medial or lateral cant depending upon the method of implantation. 
     The femoral component defines a distal “component transverse plane,” which is a plane tangent to the distal-most points of the component condyles. 
     In a “mechanical” implantation, the component transverse plane is substantially normal to the mechanical femoral axis of the femur after the component has been implanted. Where the femoral component is configured to be “mechanically oriented” in this manner, the component has a medially canted patellar groove. 
     On the other hand, an “anatomic” implantation is one in which, after the component has been implanted, the component transverse plane is substantially parallel to an “anatomic” transverse plane. The anatomic transverse plane is perpendicular to the anatomic axis of the femur from a sagittal view, and is inclusive of a line connecting the distal-most points of the natural femoral condyles before resection. Where the femoral component is configured to be “anatomically oriented” in this way, the component has a non-canted or slightly laterally canted patellar groove. 
     The term “perpendicular,” as used herein to describe the relationship between a plane and a line or axis, implies only a two-dimensional relationship in which the line forms a right angle to the plane from a particular perspective. Thus, an axis may he perpendicular to a plane in one perspective (i.e. as viewed when facing a sagittal plane), but may be angled from another perspective (i.e., as viewed when facing a coronal plane). In contrast, the term “normal,” as used herein to describe the relationship between a plane and a line or axis, implies a three-dimensional relationship in which the line forms a right angle to the plane from all perspectives. 
     The present disclosure is based on the general concept of orienting the patellar groove of the femoral component such that a reproduction of the natural femur morphology as well as of the natural knee PF and TF kinematics is sought, and that at the same time the implantation method, i.e. “mechanical” or “anatomic”, is taken into account. Specifically, the implantation method-dependent orientation of the patellar groove according to the present disclosure aligns the femoral component advantageously with the femoral head of the femur. In particular, a patellar axis (as defined below) may be approximately oriented such that the patellar axis lies in a plane which goes through the femoral head, in particular thereby at least approximately intersecting the geometric center of the femoral head. Stated another way, the patellar axis “aims” or “points” toward the center of the femoral head. In order to achieve this aim, the orientation of the patellar groove, and in particular the cant of a suitably defined patellar axis, may be chosen depending on the respective method of implantation. 
     In use, a component having a patellar axis adapted to point toward the center of femoral head  7  is implanted upon an appropriately resected surface, in which the choice of component and the choice of resection technique cooperate to ensure that the patellar axis will be properly oriented (e.g., within plus-or-minus 2 to 3 degrees) toward the center of head  7 . To find the center of femoral head  7 , the surgeon may move the patient&#39;s leg through a wide range of motion, while palpating the femoral head through the skin. Based on the detected movement of femoral head  7 , the surgeon can estimate the size and location of femoral head  7  and therefore can estimate the location of the center of femoral head  7 . Alternatively, a surgeon may use pre-operative imagine (discussed above) to visually estimate the location of the center of femoral head  7 . 
     By providing a femoral component made in accordance with the present disclosure and implanting such femoral component as described herein, it is possible for the first time for such femoral components to compensate for the effect of the so-called “external rotation” of the femur (external rotation being a phenomenon that is well-known in the art). More particularly, the patellar groove of a femoral component may be oriented with respect to the femoral head, taking into account the implantation method intended for that femoral component, such that the femoral component accommodates the “external rotation” of the femur. Advantageously, this accommodation promotes natural PF and TF knee kinematics. 
     In the illustrated embodiments of the disclosure, the varus/valgus angle, or “knee inclination” measured in a coronal plane, is taken to be equal to the internal/external rotation angle of the knee, as measured in a transverse plane. Moreover, the femoral prosthesis and associated bone resections may cooperate to preserve this angular equality throughout the range of flexion, such that the femoral component promotes balanced ligament tension throughout the range of motion. 
     In one form thereof, the present invention provides a femoral component adapted to mount to a femur, the femur defining a mechanical axis and an anatomic axis, the component having a bone-contacting surface and an opposed articulation surface, the component further having proximal, distal, anterior and posterior portions, the component comprising: a pair of condyles including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle, each of the condyles defining respective distal-most points and posterior-most points; a patellar groove proximate the anterior portion of the component; a transverse plane tangent to each of the distal-most points of the condyles; a coronal plane perpendicular to the transverse plane and tangent to at least one of the posterior-most points of the condyles; a sagittal plane perpendicular to the transverse plane and disposed between the lateral condyle and the medial condyle, the sagittal plane inclusive of a distal-most point of the patellar groove, the sagittal plane including a component midline that is normal to the transverse plane and inclusive of the distal-most point of the patellar groove, the patellar groove defining a medially canted patellar axis when viewed from an anterior side of the component, the patellar axis medially diverging from the component midline as the patellar axis extends proximally to define a medially canted angle between the patellar axis and the component midline. 
     In another form thereof, the present invention provides a femoral component adapted to mount to a femur, the femur having a mechanical axis, an anatomic axis and medial and lateral condyles defining distal-most points, an anatomic transverse plane tangent to the distal-most points of the medial and lateral condyles of the femur, the component having a bone-contacting surface and an opposed articulation surface, the component comprising: a pair of condyles including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle, each of the condyles defining respective distal-most points when the component is mounted to the femur, the condyles further defining respective posterior-most points when the component is mounted to the femur; a transverse plane inclusive of a line connecting the distal-most points of the condyles, the transverse plane oriented to be parallel with the anatomic transverse plane when the component is mounted to the femur; a coronal plane perpendicular to the transverse plane and tangent to at least one of the posterior-most points of the condyles; a sagittal plane perpendicular to the transverse plane and bisecting the component, the sagittal plane defining a component midline in the coronal plane, the component midline equidistant from a lateral edge of the lateral condyle and a medial edge of the medial condyle; and a patellar groove defining a laterally canted patellar axis when viewed from an anterior side of the component, wherein the patellar axis laterally diverges from the component midline as the patellar axis extends proximally to define a laterally canted angle between the patellar axis and the component midline, the laterally canted angle between about zero degrees and about 4 degrees. 
     In yet another form thereof, the present invention provides a set of femoral components adapted to mount to a femur having an anatomic axis and a mechanical axis, the femur having lateral and medial condyles with respective distal-most points before resection, the femur defining a mechanical transverse plane normal to the mechanical axis and an anatomic transverse plane tangent to each of the distal-most points, the set comprising: a first femoral component having a first lateral condyle, a first medial condyle opposite the first lateral condyle, such that a path from the first lateral condyle toward the first medial condyle defines a medial direction, and a first anterior flange joining the first lateral condyle to the first medial condyle, the first anterior flange defining a medially canted patellar groove extending in the medial direction as the medially canted patellar groove extends proximally; and a second femoral component having a second lateral condyle, a second medial condyle opposite the second lateral condyle, such that a path from the second medial condyle toward the second lateral condyle defines a lateral direction, and a second anterior flange joining the second lateral condyle to the second medial condyle, the second anterior flange defining a laterally canted patellar groove extending in the lateral direction as the laterally canted patellar groove extends proximally. 
     In still another form thereof, the present invention provides a femoral component adapted to be mounted to a femur according to a mechanical implantation method or according to an anatomic implantation method, the femur defining a mechanical axis and an anatomic axis, the component having a bone-contacting surface and an opposed articulation surface, the component further having proximal, distal, anterior and posterior portions, the component comprising: a pair of condyles including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle, each of the condyles defining respective distal-most points and posterior-most points; a patellar groove proximate the anterior portion of the component; a transverse plane tangent to each of the distal-most points of the condyles; a coronal plane perpendicular to the transverse plane and tangent to at least one of the posterior-most points of the condyles; a sagittal plane perpendicular to the transverse plane and disposed between the lateral condyle and the medial condyle, the sagittal plane inclusive of a distal-most point of the patellar groove, the sagittal plane including a component midline that is normal to the transverse plane and inclusive of the distal-most point of the patellar groove, the patellar groove defining a medially canted patellar axis when viewed from an anterior side of the component, the patellar axis medially diverging from the component midline as the patellar axis extends proximally to define a medially canted angle between the patellar axis and the component midline, or the patellar groove defining a laterally canted patellar axis when viewed from an anterior side of the component, the patellar axis laterally diverging from the component midline as the patellar axis extends proximally to define a laterally canted angle between the patellar axis and the component midline, the medially or laterally canted patellar axis lying in a plane which intersects a femoral head of the femur, in particular which approximately intersects a center of the femoral head of the femur, when the femoral component is properly mounted to the femur according to the mechanical implantation method or the anatomic implantation method, respectively. 
     In yet another form thereof, the present invention provides a method of implanting a femoral component onto a distal end of a femur, the method comprising: determining the location of a center of a femoral head of the femur, resecting the distal end of the femur to create a resected distal surface; providing a femoral component comprising a patellar groove proximate an anterior portion of the component, the patellar groove defining a patellar axis when viewed from an anterior side of the component; and implanting the femoral component onto the resected distal surface such that the patellar axis is oriented toward the center of the femoral head, such that the patellar axis substantially intersects the center of the femoral head. 
     In yet another form thereof, the present invention provides a method of implanting a femoral component onto a distal end of a femur, the method comprising: determining the alignment and orientation of a mechanical axis of the femur; providing a femoral component, the component comprising: a pair of condyles including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle each defining respective distal-most points; a patellar groove proximate an anterior portion of the component, the patellar groove defining a patellar axis as viewed from an anterior side of the component; and implanting the femoral component such that the patellar axis defines a medially canted angle between the patellar axis and the mechanical axis, as projected onto a coronal plane. 
     In still another form thereof, the present invention provides a method of implanting a femoral component onto a distal end of a femur, the method comprising: determining the alignment and orientation of an anatomical axis of the femur; locating the distal-most points of anatomic femoral condyles of the femur; identifying an anatomic transverse plane that is i) perpendicular to the anatomical axis of the femur from a sagittal view and ii) inclusive of a line connecting the distal-most points of the anatomic femoral condyles; providing a femoral component, the component comprising: a pair of condyles including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle each defining respective distal-most points; a patellar groove proximate an anterior portion of the component, the patellar groove defining a patellar axis as viewed from an anterior side of the component; and implanting the femoral component such that the patellar axis forms a laterally canted angle with respect to a line normal to the anatomic transverse plane, as projected onto a coronal plane. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a femoral component in accordance with the present disclosure, illustrating the planes of an implant coordinate system; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the femoral component shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a trochlear groove projected in a sagittal plane to form a patellar curve; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a femoral component adapted to be aligned with a mechanical transverse plane in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a femoral component adapted to be aligned with an anatomic transverse plane in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation view of a femur, illustrating mechanical and anatomic transverse planes in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6A  is an elevation view of a femur with an attached femoral component, with the femur in an extension position; and 
         FIG. 6B  is an elevation view of the femur and femoral component of  FIG. 6A , with the femur in a flexion position. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to he construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. Introduction 
     The present disclosure provides a prosthetic femoral component for use in an orthopaedic knee prosthesis. The prosthetic femoral component defines a transverse plane tangent to the distal-most points of the prosthesis condyles, referred to herein as the “component transverse plane.” The component may be implanted in a “mechanical orientation,” in which the component transverse plane is substantially parallel to a plane normal to the mechanical axis of the femur, referred to herein as the “mechanical transverse plane.” Femoral components mounted in a mechanical orientation include medially canted patellar grooves, such that the patellar groove diverges medially from a midline bisecting the component as the groove extends proximally. 
     Alternatively, the component may be implanted in an “anatomical orientation,” in which the component transverse plane is substantially parallel to an anteroposterior plane contacting both distal-most points of the natural femoral condyles, referred to herein as the “anatomic transverse plane.” Femoral components mounted in an anatomic orientation include either i) laterally canted patellar grooves, such that the patellar groove diverges laterally from a midline bisecting the component as the groove extends proximally, or ii) non-canted grooves, such that the patellar groove does not diverge either medially or laterally from the midline of the component. 
     In addition to the medial or lateral cant of the patellar groove, the groove may also be “shifted” medially or laterally, as described in detail below. More particularly, the point of intersection of the projection of the patellar groove in a coronal plane (referred to herein as the “patellar axis,” as discussed below) with the component transverse plane may be shifted medially or laterally from the component-bisecting midline. This medial or lateral “shift” of the patellar groove can be made independently of the medial or lateral cant of the patellar groove angle. 
     Advantageously, patellar grooves of femoral components made in accordance with the present disclosure may provide enhanced articular characteristics, including minimized patient discomfort in the anterior knee after knee arthroplasty, minimized risk of patella subluxation during extension and flexion of the knee, and prolonged service life of the prosthetic femoral component and natural or prosthetic patella. 
     2. Definitions and Lexicon 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , femoral component  10  resides within implant coordinate system ICS including sagittal plane SP, transverse component plane TP C  and coronal plane CP. For purposes of the present disclosure, implant coordinate system ICS is referenced to femur F ( FIG. 5 ) such that planes TP C , SP and CP may be considered fixed in their respective orientations and positions relative to femur F in the manner described below, irrespective of movements in other parts of a patient&#39;s body. Transverse plane TP C , coronal plane CP, and sagittal plane SP generally correspond to anatomic transverse, coronal and sagittal planes respectively, but are not necessarily coplanar with same. The specific orientations of planes TP C , CP, SP are defined according to the discussion herein. 
     Component transverse plane TP C  is tangent to the distal-most points of condyles  12 ,  14  of femoral component  10 , and extends generally mediolaterally and anteroposteriorly. Transverse plane TP C  is perpendicular to anatomic axis AA of femur F when component  10  is properly mounted to femur F (as described below). Moreover, the distal-most points of condyles  12 ,  14 , taken in the abstract, will generally correspond to the distal-most points of condyles  12 ,  14  with respect to anatomic axis AA when femoral component  10  is mounted to femur F. 
     While it is contemplated that a surgeon has some flexibility in the manner and method with which femoral component  10  is implanted onto femur F, the actual distal-most points of condyles  12 ,  14  after component implantation will only vary slightly. For example, the surgeon is limited in making a posterior cut on femur F by the extent to which natural femoral condyles  3 ,  4  extend posteriorly past the femoral cortex, because the surgeon will traditionally seek to avoid resection of any portion of the femoral shaft. An anterior cut is similarly limited, and is typically nearly parallel to the posterior cut. Finally the distal cut is typically performed to resect no more bone than necessary. In view of these physical constraints on the resection of femur F, any variability in the actual distal-most points of condyles  12 ,  14  arising from surgeon discretion during implantation of femoral component  10  will have a negligible effect on the overall medial or lateral cant and/or shift. In the illustrated embodiment, transverse plane TP C  is parallel with bone-contacting surface  13  of component  10  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), though it is contemplated that surface  13  may have any angular arrangement. 
     Moreover, a surgeon will recognize, with a high degree of certainty and precision, which points on a prosthetic femoral component will correspond to the distal-most and posterior-most points after implantation. Taken in conjunction with a surgical technique proposed by manufacturers of such components, the location of distal-most and posterior-most points on the component can be determined even more exactly. 
     Coronal plane CP is generally perpendicular to transverse plane TP C  and sagittal plane SP, and is anteroposteriorly positioned to be coincident with at least one posterior-most point on condyles  12 ,  14  of component  10  ( FIG. 2 ). Coronal plane CP is parallel to anatomic axis AA (described below) of femur F, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . When component  10  is properly mounted to femur F (as described below), coronal plane CP generally corresponds to the posterior-most points of the (formerly unresected) natural condyles  3 ,  4  of femur F. 
     It is contemplated that coronal plane CP may be defined as an anatomic coronal plane CP or a mechanical coronal plane CP. The anatomic coronal plane CP is tangent to both posterior-most points of condyles  3 , 4  in a natural knee, and is tangent to the posterior-most points of condyles  12 ,  14  in a knee which has component  10  implanted. The anatomic plane is therefore inclusive of articular line L A  ( FIG. 6A ) when the knee is articulated to a 90-degree flexion orientation. The mechanical coronal plane CP is tangent to only one of condyles  3 ,  4  (or condyles  12 ,  14 ) when the knee is flexed to 90-degrees, and is parallel to transverse tibial plane TP T . As described below, transverse tibial plane TP T  is a transverse plane fixed with respect to tibia T and parallel to mechanical transverse plane TP M  when femur F is in the extension position. 
     Sagittal plane SP is generally perpendicular to transverse plane TP C  and is mediolaterally positioned to bisect condyles  12 ,  14 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , sagittal plane SP forms midline L M , which is equidistant from the edges of condyles  12 ,  14  and is normal to component transverse plane TP C . When component  10  is properly mounted to femur F (as described below), condyles  3 ,  4  are also substantially bisected by sagittal plane SP, so that sagittal plane SP is generally coincident with the “top” or proximal-most point  5  of patello-femoral groove  6  ( FIG. 5 ) of femur F, as viewed in coronal plane CP. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , natural femur F defines mechanical axis MA and anatomical axis AA. Mechanical axis MA extends from the center of femoral head  7  to the center of the knee joint and is the weight bearing axis of femur F. Anatomical axis AA extends along the longitudinal axis of shaft  8  of femur F. A surgeon may find anatomical axis AA by, e.g., obtaining pre-operative images (such as CT scans, magnetic resonance imagining, X-rays or the like) and estimating the longitudinal axis of the shaft of femur F based on sight and appearance. During a surgical procedure, a surgeon may find anatomical axis AA by inserting an intramedullary rod into the intramedullary canal of femur F. Once the rod is so inserted, the axis of the rod is substantially coincident with the axis of femur F. To find mechanical axis MA, a surgeon may again use preoperative images to estimate the location of axis MA by sight. Alternatively, the surgeon may use a rod-based system in conjunction with manipulation of the leg to find axis MA. One exemplary rod-based system and method for finding a mechanical femoral axis is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/695,804, filed Jan. 28, 2011 and entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE EXTRAMEDULLARY LOCATION OF THE MECHANICAL AXIS OF A FEMUR, which is commonly assigned with the present application, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     Once either mechanical axis MA or anatomical axis AA is determined, a surgeon may infer the location of the other by the knowledge that angle Θ ( FIG. 5 ) separating axes MA, AA is typically about 6 degrees, as viewed in a coronal plane (e.g., the plane of  FIG. 5 ). 
     Femur F defines two transverse planes, each of which is referenced to different anatomical structures defined by femur F. Mechanical transverse plane TP M  is normal to mechanical axis MA of femur F. In the illustrated embodiment, mechanical transverse plane TP M  is coincident with distal-most point  2  of condyle  4 , though other vertical locations are contemplated. 
     The other transverse plane of femur F is anatomic transverse plane TP A , which includes a line extending from distal-most point  1  of lateral condyle  3  to distal-most point  2  of medial condyle  4  and is perpendicular to coronal plane CP. As noted below, coronal plane CP is parallel to anatomic axis AA of femur F, so that anatomic transverse plane TP A  is perpendicular to anatomic axis AA from a sagittal perspective. Alternatively, anatomic transverse plane TP A  may be defined as a plane tangent to distal-most points  1 ,  2  of condyles  3 ,  4 . For the above methods of defining plane TP A , distal-most points  1 ,  2  may be defined as the distal-most points on an undamaged femur F. In yet another alternative, transverse plane TP A  may be defined as having a fixed angle with mechanical transverse plane TP M , with the fixed angle chosen to render plane TP A  nearly tangent to distal-most points  1 ,  2  for a statistically substantial portion of the patient population (i.e., based on analysis of empirical patient data). 
     In an exemplary embodiment, resection of femur F may leave a distal resected surface parallel to mechanical transverse plane TP M  to facilitate a “mechanical orientation” of component  10  after implantation. Such a “mechanical” resection allows the use of a femoral component with uniform thickness between distal bone-contacting surface and the articular surfaces of both medial condyle  12  and lateral condyle  14 . On the other hand, resection of femur F may leave a distal resected surface parallel to anatomic transverse plane TP A . Such “anatomic” resection facilitates an “anatomic orientation” of a component having similarly constant condylar thickness. However, it is contemplated that any resection may be used with a femoral component made in accordance with the present disclosure, as required or desired for a particular design. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 5 , femur F defines anatomic varus/valgus angle α within the context of implant coordinate system ICS. For purposes of the present disclosure, anatomic varus/valgus angle α is the angle between mechanical transverse plane TP M  and anatomic transverse plane TP A . Angle α forms a basis for, establishing and/or categorizing variation among natural femurs, particularly within respective gender populations. The variation of anatomic varus/valgus angle α is a factor in determining the degree of medialization or lateralization of patellar femoral groove  16  in femoral component  10 . 
     Turning back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , femoral component  10  includes patellar groove  16 , which defines patellar axis  18  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and patellar curve  20  ( FIG. 2 ). Patellar axis  18  and patellar curve  20  are projections of a “valley line” formed along the “deepest” part of the valley-like concavity formed by patellar groove  16 , i.e., the line formed by the points within patellar groove  16  that are furthest from the outside surface of component  10 . This “valley line” is projected onto coronal plane CP to create patellar axis  18 , and onto sagittal plane SP to create patellar curve  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , patellar axis  18  has a generally linear profile, though it is contemplated that patellar axis  18  may be non-linear as required or desired for a particular design. Patellar axis  18  may be medially or laterally canted and/or shifted, as discussed in detail herein, for particular applications. In an exemplary embodiment, described below, the location and orientation of patellar axis  18  may be varied for gender- and/or ethnicity-specific applications. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , patellar curve  20  has a generally “J” shape including distal-most point  22 , which is the point having a minimum elevation E from component transverse plane TP C  to patellar curve  20  when femoral component  10  is mounted to femur F. Distal-most point  22  defines anteroposterior distance D A , which is the distance from point  22  to the anterior-most point on femoral component  10 . Similarly, distal-most point  22  defines anteroposterior distance D P , which is the distance from point  22  to the posterior-most point on femoral component  10  (i.e., coronal plane CP in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 ). 
     3. Femoral Component Construction 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , femoral component  10  includes medial condyle  12 , lateral condyle  14  and anterior flange  15 . A plurality of bone-contacting surfaces, including distal bone-contacting surface  13 , are formed along the inner periphery of component  10 . Disposed generally opposite the bone-contacting surfaces, at the exterior periphery of component  10  are articular surfaces. For example, condyles  12 ,  14  include distal and posterior articular surfaces for articulation with a natural tibia or prosthetic tibial component. These articular surfaces can have any geometry and shape as required or desired for a particular application. 
     Anterior flange  15  includes patellar groove  16 , which forms the anterior articular surface of component  10  for articulation with a natural or prosthetic patella. Patellar groove  16  extends from a generally anterior and proximal starting point to a generally posterior and distal terminus. Patellar groove  16  is adapted to articulate with a natural patella or prosthetic patellar component during the early stages of knee flexion, after which the patella articulates with the inner surfaces of condyles  12 ,  14  near intercondylar fossa  24 . For purposes of the present disclosure, the posterior and distal end of patellar groove  16  generally coincides with the anterior terminus of intercondylar fossa  24  formed between medial and lateral condyles  12 ,  14 . Because a natural or prosthetic patella articulates with the inner surfaces of condyles  12 ,  14  in deep flexion, however, patellar groove  16  may be said to extend into the distal portion of femoral component  10  near intercondylar fossa  24 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, femoral component  10  further includes fixation pegs  26  and posterior cam  28  in accordance with a “posterior stabilizing” femoral component design. However, it is contemplated that these structures may be eliminated or modified as required or desired for a particular application such as, for example, a “cruciate retaining” femoral component design with no posterior cam. 
     Femoral component  10  has several potential configurations to accommodate and account for natural variation among femurs of different patients. Such variations may arise from different bone sizes and geometries, and correspondingly different natural knee articulation characteristics, among patients of different gender, size, age, ethnicity, build or the like. In addition, the configuration of femoral component  10 , and particularly of patellar groove  16 , may be varied to account for and/or correct varus or valgus deformities in a particular patient. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , femoral component  10  includes patellar groove  16  which may define either medially canted female patellar axis  18 A or medially canted male patellar axis  18 B, depending on whether femoral component  10  is configured for use with a male or female patient. Medially canted female patellar axis  18 A defines angle β F  with respect to component midline L M  (described above), while medially canted male patellar axis  18 B defines angle β M  with respect to component midline L M . As shown in  FIG. 3  and described above, axes  18 A,  18 B are “medially canted” in that they diverge medially from component midline L M  as these axes  18 A,  18 B extend proximally. The embodiment of femoral component  10  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is appropriate for a “mechanical” component orientation, i.e., where component transverse plane TP C  is substantially parallel to and/or coincident with mechanical transverse plane TP M  ( FIG. 5 ) after femoral component  10  is implanted. In an exemplary embodiment of such a “mechanical implantation,” femur F may be prepared to receive femoral component  10  by resecting at least the distal portions of natural condyles  3 ,  4  to form a resected surface substantially parallel to mechanical transverse plane TP M . However, it is contemplated that the resected surfaces of femur F may have any orientation relative to mechanical transverse plane TP M , with the bone-contacting surfaces of component  10  (such as distal bone-contacting surface  13 ) adjusted to effect the desired mechanical orientation of component  10  after implantation. 
     For a female patient with a mechanically oriented femoral component  10  ( FIG. 3 , and as described above), femoral component  10  includes patellar groove  16  defining female medially canted patellar axis  18 A forming angle β F  with component midline L M  in coronal plane CP. In an exemplary embodiment, angle β F  may be any angle between as little as about 3° and as much as about 7°. In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 3 , β F  is about 6.8°. Advantageously, a value of about 6.8° for angle β F  provides an optimized patella/femur interaction between a natural or prosthetic patella and patellar groove  16  for a large population of female patients. 
     For a male patient with a mechanically oriented femoral component  10  ( FIG. 3 ), femoral component  10  includes patellar groove  16  defining male medially canted patellar axis  18 B, which forms angle β M  between male medially canted patellar axis  18 B and component midline L M . In an exemplary embodiment, angle β M  is generally smaller than the corresponding angle β F  for a female patient, though male medial cant angle β M  may also be as little as about 3° and as much as about 7°. In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 3 , β M  is about 4.5°. Similarly to the value of 6.8° for angle β F , a value of 4.5° for angle β M  provides an optimized patella/femur interaction between a natural or prosthetic patella and patellar groove  16  for a large population of male patients. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , for an anatomically oriented femoral component  10 , male and female components made in accordance with the present disclosure may have the same patellar axis/mechanical axis angle. In  FIG. 4 , femoral component  10  is configured to be implanted on to femur F in an anatomic orientation (i.e., “anatomically implanted”), and includes patellar groove  16  defining laterally canted patellar axis  18 C. Laterally canted patellar axis  18 C is angled such that axis  18 C diverges laterally from component midline L M  as axis  18 C extends proximally. 
     A gender-neutral or “universal” angle β U  may be formed between laterally canted patellar axis  18 C and component midline L M  when femoral component  10  is configured for an anatomic implantation. The universality of angle β U  is made possible because a desirable articulation profile between a natural or prosthetic patella and patellar groove  16  of femoral component  10  has been found to be relatively angle-independent for both male and female patients. More particularly, the optimal angle between axis  18  and mechanical axis MA is only slightly variable for males versus females (as discussed in detail below), with the variation being small enough to enable femoral component  10  to have the same laterally canted patellar axis for both male and female components without compromising the fit, function or other advantages conferred by pairing laterally canted patellar axis  18 C of femoral component  10  with an anatomical orientation upon implantation of component  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, β U  may be as little as 0° (i.e., patellar groove  16  defines a patellar axis  18 C that is parallel to, or coincident with, component midline L M ) and as much as 4°, for example. In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 4 , β U  is about 2°. 
     The gender neutrality of component  10  with a laterally canted patellar groove  16  is related to anatomic varus/valgus angle α. As discussed above, angle α is the angular disparity between mechanical transverse plane TP M  and anatomic transverse plane TP A , and is measured in an extension orientation of the knee. Thus, referring to  FIG. 5 , angle α can be thought of as the angle between a line tangent to the articular surfaces of condyles  3 ,  4  (which, in extension, are also distal-most points  1 ,  2 ) and mechanical transverse plane TP M . 
     However, α is also a relevant angular value throughout flexion of the knee when component  10  is mounted to femur F in an anatomic orientation. Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 6A , articular line L A  forms angle α with transverse tibial plane TP T , which is a transverse plane fixed to tibia T and parallel to mechanical transverse plane TP M  when femur F is in the extension position. Articular line L A  is tangent to the articular surfaces of condyles  12 ,  14  at the articular interface between component  10  and tibia T (or a tibial component, not shown) at a given degree of flexion. In extension, articular line L A  is coincident with component transverse plane TP C , as shown in  FIG. 6A . As the knee flexes, articular line L A  shifts posteriorly along the articular surfaces of condyles  12 ,  14 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , for example, articular line L A  has shifted to the posterior-most points of femoral component  10  as the knee has flexed to approximately 90 degrees. However, the angle between articular line L A  and transverse tibial plane TP T  remains unchanged (i.e., equal to angle α). This lack of angular change throughout flexion has been found to mimic articulation characteristics of the natural knee. Moreover, the anatomic implantation of femoral component  10  cooperates with the slight lateral cant of patellar axis  18 C to render component  10  gender neutral. 
     In view of the general concept underlying the present disclosure and as explained above, it may be noted that the anatomic varus/valgus angle α is at least roughly related to certain values of the cant angles as disclosed herein and which have found to be advantageous. Specifically, it has been found that the average sum of an advantageous medial cant angle (e.g. approximately between 3 degrees and 7 degrees) and an advantageous lateral cant angle (e.g. approximately between zero degrees and 4 degrees) corresponds roughly to an anatomic varus/valgus angle α. Exemplary embodiments of femoral component  10  include medially or laterally canted patellar grooves  18 A,  18 B,  18 C which correspond to one such average sum equal to about 7 degrees. These exemplary components represent an ideal prosthesis/anatomy match that is expected to correspond to the largest possible proportion of anatomic structures found among patient populations. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , patellar curve  20  includes distal-most point  22  defining elevation E between component transverse plane TP C  and distal-most point  22 . In addition, distance D A  is defined between distal-most point  22  and the anterior face of anterior flange  15 , while posterior distance D P  is defined between distal-most point  22  and the posterior face of medial and/or lateral condyles  12 ,  14 . 
     It is contemplated that other characteristics of femoral component  10  may vary depending on whether femoral component  10  is adapted for an anatomic or mechanical implantation. For example, it is contemplated that elevation E may be smaller for femoral component  10  adapted for anatomic implantation ( FIG. 4 ) as compared to femoral component  10  adapted for mechanical implantation ( FIG. 3 ). Further, anterior flange  15  of femoral components  10  adapted for anatomic implantation may be less high and less broad, i.e. generally smaller, when viewed from an anterior side (as in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), as compared to femoral components adapted for mechanical implantation. 
     In addition to the medial or lateral cant of patellar axis  18  (which may be one of patellar axes  18 A,  18 B and  18 C, as noted above), patellar axis  18  may also be medially or laterally shifted or “translated” on anterior flange  15  of femoral component  10 . For example, referring to  FIG. 3 , male medially canted patellar axis  18 B defines lateral shift distance D L , which is the distance, as measured in coronal plane CP, between component midline L M  and the point where medially canted axis  18 B intersects component transverse plane TP C . In an exemplary embodiment, lateral shift distance D L  may be between 0 and about 4 mm, for example, depending upon the desired location of axis  18 B and on the particular characteristics of femoral component  10 , such as implant size, implant thickness, and the like. Although lateral shift distance D L  is illustrated with respect to male medially canted patellar axis  18 B of femoral component  10 , it is contemplated that other configurations of femoral component  10  may have other configurations of patellar axis  18  that are laterally shifted to define lateral shift distance D L , i.e., medially canted patellar axis  18 A or laterally canted patellar axis  18 C. 
     On the other hand, the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 4  includes laterally canted patellar axis  18 C defining medial shift distance D M , which is the distance, as measured in coronal plane CP, between component midline L M  and the point where laterally canted axis  18 C intersects anatomic transverse plane TP A . In an exemplary embodiment, medial shift distance D M  may be between 0 mm and about 4 mm, for example, depending upon the desired location of axis  18 C and on the particular characteristics of femoral component  10  such as implant size, implant thickness, and the like. Similar to lateral shift distance D L , medial shift distance D M  may be defined by any of medially canted or laterally canted patellar axes  18 A,  18 B, or  18 C. 
     Although femoral component  10  is described above as being a single component having several varying configurations, it is contemplated that a set or kit of femoral components  10  may be provided for use in either a mechanical or anatomic orientation of component  10  after implantation thereof. Each kit may include a plurality of implant sizes for various different sizes of femur F, as may be encountered in various individual patients. In the case of femoral component  10  adapted for use in a mechanical implantation, a first full set or kit may be provided for female patients, while a second full set or kit may be provided for male patients. These two gender-specific kits are provided because femoral component  10  is configured differently for male and female patients when mechanically oriented (i.e., femoral component  10  includes either male medially canted patellar axis  18 A or female medially canted patellar axis  18 B, as shown in  FIG. 3  and discussed above). 
     On the other hand, where femoral component  10  has lateralized patellar axis  18 C adapted for use in an anatomic implantation, a single kit may be provided for both male and female patients. This single, gender-neutral kit of anatomically oriented components will generally include a larger number of components as compared to a gender-specific kit of mechanically-oriented component, because the gender-neutral kit will include a wider range of component sizes to accommodate the size disparities between male and female femur populations. 
     Advantageously, femoral components made in accordance with the present disclosure may be provided as kits or sets which are gender specific, particularly where a mechanical implantation is intended, while also integrating any number of other technologies and features now known or later discovered. Moreover, a patellar groove in accordance with the present disclosure may be integrated into a wide range of other existing femoral component designs, such that the components offer the benefits of a medially canted or laterally canted patellar groove  16  as described above, while also providing other unique features, articular characteristics and/or kinematic profiles. Thus, the patello-femoral benefits and advantages, discussed above, may be obtained for a wide variety of patient populations while also benefitting from other orthopaedic technologies such as particular condyle designs, component affixation designs and methods, advanced materials, and the like. 
     Also advantageously, femoral components  10  are adapted to be implanted in mechanical and anatomic orientations, respectively, to substantially reproduce or mimic the natural kinematic profile of healthy femur/patella interaction in a natural knee. As described below, analysis of healthy patient patellar grooves and other characteristics of healthy patient femurs confirms that a medially canted patellar axis, used in conjunction with a mechanical implantation of femoral component  10 , can be used to achieve enhanced articular characteristics (such as, for example, patello-femoral articular characteristics) in a knee prosthesis. Similarly, this analysis further confirms that enhanced articular characteristics can be gained from the use of femoral components having a laterally canted patellar axis in conjunction with an anatomic implantation of femoral component  10 . In each case, femoral components made in accordance with the present disclosure have been found to produce desirable articular characteristics while using a patellar groove that is canted and/or oriented in a manner contrary to conventional wisdom in the art of orthopaedic femoral prostheses. 
     Advantageously, the enhanced patello-femoral joint articulation provided by femoral component  10  may include, among other benefits: minimized anterior knee pain following a TKA procedure; maintenance of appropriate tension in the retinaculum, thereby minimizing risk to same during surgical procedures; promotion of appropriate/optimum intraoperative surgical decisions regarding the relative size and geometry of the lateral femoral condyle; minimization or elimination of external rotation of the femoral component with respect to the femur; minimized risk of patella subluxation during articulation of the knee prosthesis, particularly at extreme extension and extreme flexion ranges of motion; and greater longevity of components in the knee prosthesis, such as femoral component  10 , a natural or prosthetic patella and/or a tibial component, for example. 
     Yet another advantage of femoral component  10  in accordance with the present disclosure is that the articulation between a natural or prosthetic patella and patellar groove of femoral component  10  facilitates femoral lateral rollback in deep flexion. 
     A procedure to mount femoral components  10  with medially canted patellar axes  18 A or  18 B to femur F will now be described. Prior to resection of femur F, the alignment and orientation of mechanical axis MA and anatomical axis AA for femur F is determined and noted. A resection is performed using conventional methods and instruments. In an exemplary embodiment, the resection creates a distal cut surface normal to mechanical axis MA (and, concomitantly, parallel to mechanical transverse plane TP M ), though other cut geometries may be used. Corresponding anterior, posterior, anterior chamfer and/or posterior chamfer cuts are also made as necessary. 
     The surgeon then provides femoral component  10  for implantation onto femur F. As used herein, “providing” femoral component  10  refers to procurement thereof, such as from a kit or operating-room container or storage receptacle. Prior to the step of providing component  10 , the surgeon may or may not be involved with acquisition from the manufacturer, receipt of shipments, inventorying, or other procurement activities occurring outside the operating room environment. 
     Femoral component  10  having one of medialized groove  18 A or  18 B (depending on the gender of the patient, as described herein) is then mounted to femur F so that component transverse plane TP C  is parallel to and/or coincident with mechanical transverse plane TP M . The fixation of femoral component  10  to femur F is accomplished using conventional fixation methods and structures, such as bone cement, bone-ingrowth material and/or fixation pegs  26 , for example. A prosthetic patellar component may also be implanted to cooperate with femoral component  10 , or the natural patella may be retained for such articulation. Range of motion may be analyzed, including observation and analysis of patello-femoral kinematic and articular characteristics. When the surgeon is satisfied with the location and placement of femoral component  10  and any other associated components of the knee prosthesis, surgery is completed in accordance with conventional methods. 
     The procedure to mount femoral components  10  with laterally canted patellar axes  18 C to femur F is similar to the corresponding procedure for components  10  with medially canted patellar axes  18 A,  18 B described above. However, rather than selecting component  10  with medially canted axes  18 A,  18 B and implanting such component  10  so that component transverse plane TP C  is parallel to and/or coincident with mechanical transverse plane TP M , component  10  is selected with laterally canted patellar axis  18 C and is implanted such that component transverse plane TP C  is parallel to and/or coincident with anatomic transverse plane TP A , as described above. 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.