Patent Abstract:
A prosthesis for replacing an articulating portion of bone is provided. The prosthesis can include an adaptor operable to replace a portion of the bone. The prosthesis can further include a sleeve coupled to the adaptor. The sleeve can define an offset coupling axis. The prosthesis can also include an articulating portion operable to replace the articulating portion of the bone. The sleeve can be positionable to couple the articulating portion to the offset coupling axis at a predetermined orientation.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to implants, and particularly to a method and apparatus for a knee implant. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Many portions of the human anatomy naturally articulate relative to one another. Generally, the articulation between the portions of the anatomy is substantially smooth and without abrasion. This articulation is allowed by the presence of natural tissues, such as cartilage and strong bone. 
         [0004]    Over time, however, due to injury, stress, degenerative health issues and various other issues, articulation of the various portions of the anatomy can become rough or impractical. For example, injury can cause the cartilage or the boney structure to become weak, damaged, or non-existent. Therefore, the articulation of the anatomical portions is no longer possible for the individual. 
         [0005]    At such times, it can be desirable to replace the anatomical portions with a prosthetic portion such that normal or easy articulation can be reproduced. A distal end of a femur naturally articulates with respect to a tibia to form a knee joint. After injury or other degenerative processes, the distal end of the femur and the tibia and can become rough or damaged. Therefore, it can be desirable to replace the distal end of the femur and the tibia with a prosthesis. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A prosthesis for replacing an articulating portion of bone. The prosthesis can include an adaptor operable to replace a portion of the bone. The prosthesis can further include a sleeve coupled to the adaptor. The sleeve can define an offset coupling axis. The prosthesis can also include an articulating portion operable to replace the articulating portion of the bone. The sleeve can be positionable to couple the articulating portion relative to the offset coupling axis at a predetermined orientation. 
         [0007]    Provided is a prosthesis for replacing an articulating portion of bone. The prosthesis can include an adaptor operable to replace a portion of the bone. The adaptor can define an offset coupling axis. The prosthesis can also include an articulating portion operable to replace the articulating portion of the bone. The articulating portion can be adapted to be coupled to the offset coupling axis. The adaptor can be composed of a porous metal material. 
         [0008]    A prosthesis for replacing an articulating portion of bone is further provided. The prosthesis can include an adaptor operable to replace a portion of the bone. The adaptor can include a surface, an apex and at least one sidewall. The sidewall can couple the surface to the apex. The prosthesis can further include an articulating portion operable to replace the articulating portion of the bone. The articulating portion can be adapted to be coupled to the adaptor. The prosthesis can also include at least one augment coupled to at least a portion of the sidewall of the adaptor. The adaptor and the augment can be composed of a porous metal material. 
         [0009]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a knee implant according to the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of the knee implant of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  1 A- 1 A of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the knee implant of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the knee implant of  FIG. 1  engaged with a selected portion of the anatomy; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a first alternative knee implant according to the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a second alternative knee implant according to the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the knee implant of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of the knee implant of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an environmental view of a first procedure for coupling the knee implant to the selected portion of the anatomy; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an environmental view of a second procedure for coupling the knee implant to the selected portion of the anatomy; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an environmental view of a third procedure for coupling the knee implant to the selected portion of the anatomy; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an environmental view of a fourth procedure for coupling the knee implant to the selected portion of the anatomy; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third alternative knee implant according to the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view of the third alternative knee implant of  FIG. 8 , taken along line  8 A- 8 A of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the third alternative knee implant of  FIG. 8 , taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 , illustrating the third alternative knee implant engaged with a selected portion of the anatomy; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an environmental view of a first procedure for coupling the third alternative knee implant of  FIG. 8  to the selected portion of the anatomy; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10A  is a front view of the knee implant of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is an environmental view of a second procedure for coupling the third alternative knee implant of  FIG. 8  to the selected portion of the anatomy. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. Although the following description is related generally to a prosthesis that can be positioned in a prepared portion of the anatomy, such as in a tibia or a femur, it will be understood that the prosthesis, as described and claimed herein, can be used with any appropriate surgical procedure. In addition, it should be noted that the knee implant of the present disclosure can be used in a revision knee implant procedure. Therefore, it will be understood that the following discussions are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0029]    As will be discussed in more detail herein, a knee implant assembly  6  is taught. With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A and  2 , the knee implant assembly  6  can include a femoral component  8  and a tibial component  10 , each of which can include an articulating portion. In one exemplary teaching, the tibial component  10  can include an articulating or mating portion  12  and an adaptor assembly  16 . It should be noted that as the knee implant assembly  6  can be used with any suitable knee prosthesis, such as a cruciate retaining knee prosthesis, for example, the AGC® Total Knee System™, a posterior stabilized knee prosthesis, for example, the AGC® Tradition High-Post Knee System™, or a hinged knee prosthesis, for example, the Orthopaedic Salvage System™, all provided by Biomet, Inc. of Warsaw, Ind., the mating portion  12  and femoral component  8  can be configured as needed for the particular surgical application. The tibial component  10  can also include a stem  18  and an augment system  20  both of which can be coupled to the adaptor assembly  16 . The mating portion  12  of the tibial component  10  can enable the femoral component  8  to articulate with respect to the tibial component  10 . 
         [0030]    With particular reference to  FIG. 2 , the femoral component  8  can be any generally known suitable femoral component  8 , and thus, the femoral component  8  need not be discussed in great detail herein. Briefly, however, the femoral component  8  can include an articulating portion or body  22 . The body  22  can be adapted to secure to a distal end of a femur  26  to enable the femur  26  to articulate with the tibial component  10 . The body  22  can include a first condylar portion  28 , a second condylar portion  30  and an intercondylar portion  32 . The first condylar portion  28  can define a first femoral bearing surface  34 , while the second condylar portion  30  can define a second femoral bearing surface  36 . The intercondylar portion  32  can couple the first condylar portion  28  to the second condylar portion  30  and can define an intercondylar recess  37 . The intercondylar recess  37  can rotatably couple the body  22  to the mating portion  12  of the tibial component  10 , and can define an throughbore  35  ( FIG. 2B ) as will be discussed in greater detail below. Further detail regarding the femoral component  8  is outside the scope of the present disclosure but an exemplary femoral component  8  is disclosed in greater detail in commonly assigned United States patent entitled “Floating Bearing Knee Joint Prosthesis With A Fixed Tibial Post,” filed on Dec. 6, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,972,039, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0031]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , and with additional reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the mating portion  12  can include a bearing member  38  and a tray  40 . The bearing member  38  can include a first bearing surface  42  and a second bearing surface  44 . The first bearing surface  42  can generally include a first bearing portion  46 , a second bearing portion  48  and an intermediate portion  50  to enable the femoral component  8  to articulate with the bearing member  38 . Generally, the first bearing portion  46  can be configured to engage and articulate with the first femoral bearing surface  34  of the first condylar portion  28  and second bearing portion  48  can be configured to engage and articulate with the second femoral bearing surface  36  of the second condylar portion  30 , as is generally known and discussed in greater detail herein. 
         [0032]    The intermediate portion  50  can be positioned between the first bearing portion  46  and the second bearing portion  48 . The intermediate portion  50  can interface with the intercondylar recess  37  of the femoral component  8 . The intermediate portion  50  can comprise a guide post  52 , as in the case of posterior stabilized knee prosthesis ( FIG. 2 ), or can be a slightly raised protrusion  52   a , as in the case of a cruciate retaining knee prosthesis ( FIG. 2A ). Alternatively, the intermediate portion  50  can comprise a guide post  52   b  with a throughbore  54  for receipt of a pin  55  ( FIG. 2B ) to couple the bearing portion  38  to the femoral component  8 , through the throughbore  35  as in the case of a hinged knee prosthesis. 
         [0033]    The bearing member  38  can be formed of any suitable material, such as a surgical grade, low friction, low wearing polymeric material, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Further detail regarding the bearing member  38  is outside the scope of the present disclosure but an exemplary bearing member  38  is disclosed in greater detail in commonly assigned United States patent entitled “Floating Bearing Knee Joint Prosthesis With A Fixed Tibial Post,” filed on Dec. 6, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,972,039, previously incorporated by reference herein. The second bearing surface  44  of the bearing member  38  can be generally smooth and planar. The second bearing surface  44  can be coupled to, rotatable about the tray  40 , or can slideably engage the tray  40 , as is generally known in the art. 
         [0034]    The tray  40  can include a first surface  56 , a second surface  58  and a mating portion or projection  60 . The tray  40  can be composed of a biocompatible metal or metal alloy, such as cobalt-chromium-molybdenum, titanium, or titanium alloy. The first surface  56  can be configured to mate with the second bearing surface  44  of the bearing member  38  and can be generally planar. The first surface  56  can have a high polish to slideably engage the second bearing surface  44  of the bearing member  38 . It should be understood, however, that the tray  40  could engage the bearing member  38  through any appropriate fashion, and could alternatively be coupled to the bearing member  38  similar to the AGC® Total Knee System™, provided by Biomet, Inc. of Warsaw, Ind. The second surface  58  of the tray  40  can be configured to mate with the adaptor assembly  16  and can also be generally planar. The second surface  58  can be coupled to or can define the mating projection  60 . 
         [0035]    Generally, the mating projection  60  can be integrally formed with the tray  40 , however, the mating projection  60  could be coupled to the tray  40  through any appropriate technique, such as the use of bio-compatible mechanical fasteners and/or adhesive. The mating projection  60  can generally be configured to mate with the adaptor assembly  16 , and can include at least one or a plurality of grooves  62 . The grooves  62  can provide channels for receipt of a bio-compatible adhesive to couple the tray  40  to the adaptor assembly  16 , as will be discussed in greater detail herein. It will be understood that although the mating projection  60  is shown as cylindrical, the mating projection  60  could be any desired shape, such as starred, rectangular, square, oval, or any other polygonal shape, and alternatively, the mating projection  60  could be keyed to mate with the adaptor assembly  16 . Alternatively, it should be noted that the tray  40  could define an aperture (not shown) for receipt of a mechanical fastener, such as a bolt, screw or the like, to couple the tray  40  to the adaptor assembly  16 . 
         [0036]    The adaptor assembly  16  can include an adaptor  64  and a sleeve  66 . The sleeve  66  can be configured to receive the mating projection  60  of the tray  40  to couple the tray  40  to the adaptor assembly  16 , as will be discussed in greater detail herein. The adaptor  64  can include a first portion or surface  68 , sidewalls or a base portion  70  and an apex or second surface  72 . With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , and with additional reference to  FIG. 3A , the adaptor  64  can be generally conical in shape and symmetric about a centerline C, however, any suitable shape, such as cylindrical, could be employed. The adaptor  64  can be composed of a porous metal material, but any other suitable bio-compatible material, such as titanium, could be employed. Exemplary porous metal materials and exemplary methods for making porous metal may be found in co-pending applications, U.S. Ser. No. (11/357,929, filed Feb. 17, 2006), entitled “Method and Apparatus for Forming Porous Metal Implants”, and U.S. Ser. Nos. (11/111,123 filed, Apr. 21, 2005; Ser. No. 11/294,692, filed Dec. 5, 2005; and Ser. No. 11/357,868, filed Feb. 17, 2006), each entitled “Method and Apparatus for use of Porous Implants,” all assigned to Biomet Manufacturing Corp. of Warsaw Ind., and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0037]    The first surface  68  of the adaptor  64  can be configured to mate with the second surface  58  of the tray  40 , and can be generally planar. The first surface  68  can define a bore  74  for receipt of the sleeve  66 . It should be noted that although the bore  74  is shown as cylindrical, the bore  74  can have any desired shape, such as starred, rectangular, square, or any other polygonal shape, and alternatively could be keyed to mate with the sleeve  66 . The bore  74  can have a diameter D and a depth T. The bore  74  can have a centerline C 1  which can be concentric to the centerline C of the adaptor  64 . The diameter D of the bore  74  can generally be slightly larger than a diameter D 1  of the sleeve  66  so that the sleeve  66  can be slideably coupled to the bore  74 , as will be discussed in greater detail herein. Generally, the first surface  68  can be integrally formed with the base portion  70 ; however, the first surface  68  and base portion  70  could also be coupled together via bio-compatible mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives. 
         [0038]    The base portion  70  can be configured to mate with a portion of the anatomy, such as the tibia  24 . Generally, the base portion  70  can define a base  76  and tapered sidewalls  78  which can extend from the base  76  for a selected distance X into the tibia  24 . It will be understood that the taper on the sidewalls  78  and the distance X to which the sidewalls  78  extend can be selected based on the particular application, such that a variety of configurations of the sidewalls  78  can be employed with a variety of different tibias  24 . Further, a width W of the base  76  can be varied as necessary to correspond to the particular anatomy. The base  76  can include at least one or a plurality of apertures  80  to couple the augment system  20  to the adaptor  64 , as will be discussed in greater detail herein. The sidewalls  78  can generally taper to the second surface  72 . 
         [0039]    The second surface  72  of the adaptor  64  can be generally planar, and can be configured to mate with a portion of the anatomy, such as the tibia  24 . The second surface  72  can define a bore  82 . It should be noted that although the second surface  72  is shown as forming a platform  84  about the bore  82 , the second surface  72  could alternatively comprise an apex defining just the bore  82 . Generally, a centerline C 2  of the bore  82  can be concentric to the centerline C of the adaptor  64 . The bore  82  can define a tapered surface  86 , which can be configured to couple the stem  18  to the adaptor  64 , through a frictional lock, such as a Morse taper, as will be discussed herein. It should be noted, however, that any suitable technique could be used to couple the stem  18  to the adaptor  64 , such as bio-compatible mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives. In addition, as will be discussed herein, the bore  82  can generally be configured to receive any type of stem  18  employed to couple the adaptor assembly  16  to the portion of the anatomy, such as the tibia  24 . 
         [0040]    The sleeve  66  can be slideably and rotatably received in the bore  74  of the first surface  68  of the adaptor  64 . The sleeve  66  can be coupled to the bore  74  through any appropriate technique, such as a slip fit, taper fit or press fit, so long as the sleeve  66  is positionable within the bore  74 . Generally the sleeve  66  can be cylindrical, and can have a centerline C 3  which can be concentric to the centerline C of the adaptor  64 . It should be noted that although the sleeve  66  is shown as cylindrical, the sleeve  66  could have any desired shape, such as such as oval, starred, rectangular, square, or any other polygonal shape, and alternatively, the sleeve  66  could be keyed to mate with the bore  74  of the adaptor  64 . The sleeve  66  can be composed of a bio-compatible metal or metal alloy, such as titanium, titanium alloy, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum or the like. 
         [0041]    The sleeve  66  can include a first surface  88  and a second surface  90 . The first surface  88  can define an offset coupling axis, which can include a bore  92 . The bore  92  can be cylindrical and can have a centerline C 4  which can be offset from the centerline C of the adaptor  64 . The bore  92  can be configured to receive the mating projection  60  of the tray  40 , to couple the tray  40  to the adaptor assembly  16 . It will be understood that although the bore  92  is shown as cylindrical, the bore  92  could be any desired shape, such as starred, rectangular, square, oval, or any other polygonal shape, and alternatively, could be keyed to mate with the mating projection  60  of the tray  40 . 
         [0042]    The bore  92  can be sized larger than the mating projection  60  to enable the receipt of a bio-compatible adhesive material, such as a bio-compatible cement B. The biocompatible adhesive material can be received into the bore  92  with the mating projection  60  disposed within the bore  92  to affix the tray  40  to the adaptor assembly  16 . Alternatively, the bore  92  could be threaded for receipt of a mechanical fastener, such as a screw or bolt, to couple the tray  40  to the sleeve  66  (not shown). It should also be noted that the sleeve  66  as described herein is optional and the tray  40  could be coupled to an offset coupling axis defined in the bore  74  of the adaptor  64  (not shown). The adaptor assembly  16  can be coupled to the stem  18  and the augment system  20 . 
         [0043]    The stem  18  can include a first end  94  and a second end  96 . The first end  94  of the stem  18  can be coupled to the adaptor assembly  16  and the second end  96  can be coupled to a portion of the anatomy, such as the tibia  24 . The stem  18  can be composed of any suitable bio-compatible material, such as a bio-compatible metal or metal alloy. It should be understood, however, that the stem  18  as described herein, is merely exemplary, as various stems could be employed with the adaptor assembly  16  as is generally known in the art. 
         [0044]    The first end  94  of the stem  18  can generally include a tapered surface  98  configured to engage the tapered surface  86  of the bore  82  of the adaptor  64  to couple the stem  18  to the adaptor  64 . The tapered surface  86  can generally frictionally lock the stem  18  to the adaptor  64 , and can comprise a Morse taper, however any other technique could be used to couple the stem  18  to the adaptor  64 , such as mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives. The first end  94  can be coupled to the second end  96 , and could also be integrally formed with the second end  96 . The second end  96  of the stem  18  could have any suitable configuration as necessary to mate with the anatomy, and further, the second end  96  of the stem  18  can be offset from the first end  94  of the stem  18  if desired (not shown). The second end  96  of the stem  18  can include ribs  99  to facilitate the engagement of the stem  18  with the anatomy. It will be understood, however, that the ribs  99  are optional. 
         [0045]    The augment system  20  can be coupled to the base  76  of the base portion  70  of the adaptor  64 . It should be noted that the augment system  20 , as disclosed herein, can be used with any suitable knee implant assembly and further the knee implant assembly  6  can be implemented without the augment system  20  if desired. Generally, the augment system  20  can include at least one or a plurality of augments  100  which can be mechanically fastened to at least a portion of the sidewalls or base portion  70  of the adaptor  64  via at least one or a plurality of bio-compatible fasteners  102 . It should be understood, however, that the augment  100  could be coupled to the base portion  70  of the adaptor  64  through any other suitable technique, such as the use of a bio-compatible adhesive or the like. 
         [0046]    The augment  100  can be composed of a suitable bio-compatible material, such as a metal or metal alloy, and can be composed of a porous metal material, previously incorporated by reference herein. The augment  100  can be any shape required for the particular portion of the anatomy, such as semi-circular, rectangular or the like. If a fastener  102  is employed to couple the augment  100  to the anatomy, then the augment  100  can define at least one throughbore  104  for receipt of the fastener  102 . 
         [0047]    With additional reference now to  FIG. 4 , in order to couple the knee implant assembly  6  to the anatomy, the tibia  24  and femur  26  (not shown) can be resected and prepared as is generally known in the art. Then, the femoral component  8  can be coupled to the femur  26 , as is generally known in the art. Then, the adaptor  64  can be coupled to the stem  18  and then the stem  18  can be press-fitted into a first bore  110  formed in the tibia  24 . With additional reference to  FIG. 5 , if the augment system  20  is employed, the augment system  20  can be coupled to the adaptor  64  prior to the adaptor  64  being coupled to the stem  18 . 
         [0048]    In order to couple the augment  100  to the adaptor  64 , the base  76  of the adaptor  64  can be drilled (not shown) to form the aperture  80 . Then, the fastener  102  can be inserted through the throughbore  104  of the augment  100  and into the aperture  80  of the adaptor  64  to couple the augment  100  to the adaptor  64 . After the desired number of augments  100  are coupled to the base  76  of the adaptor  64 , the sleeve  66  with the most appropriate offset can be selected and the sleeve  66  can then be coupled to the adaptor  64 . With additional reference to  FIG. 6 , the adaptor assembly  16  can then be coupled to the stem  18 , such that the tapered surface  86  of the bore  82  of the adaptor  64  can engage the tapered surface  98  of the first end  94  of the stem  18  to couple the stem  18  to the adaptor  64 . 
         [0049]    After the adaptor assembly  16  is coupled to the stem  18 , the stem  18  and adaptor assembly  16  can be inserted into the tibia  24 , with the stem  18  being inserted into the first bore  110  such that the adaptor assembly  16  engages the second bore  112 . Then, the mating portion  12  can be coupled to the adaptor assembly  16 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Generally, the bearing member  38  can be coupled to the first surface  56  of the tray  40  before the tray  40  is coupled to the adaptor assembly  16  (not specifically shown). Then, once the bearing member  38  is coupled to the tray  40 , the sleeve  66  can be rotated as necessary within the adaptor  64  to properly align the tray  40 , or to provide the best coverage of the tibia  24 . 
         [0050]    Once the offset bore  92  of the sleeve  66  is properly aligned, the bio-compatible cement B can be inserted into the bore  92  of the sleeve  66 . Then, the mating projection  60  of the tray  40  can be inserted into the offset bore  92  of the sleeve  66 . The insertion of the mating projection  60  into the offset bore  92  can cause the cement to flow around the grooves  62  of the mating projection  60  to assist in securing the tray  40  to the adaptor assembly  16  (as best shown in  FIG. 2 ). Once the tray  40  is coupled to the adaptor assembly  16 , the intercondylar recess  37  of the femoral component  8  can be mated with or coupled to the intermediate portion  50  of the bearing member  38  such that the first femoral bearing surface  34  and second femoral bearing surface  36  of the femoral component  8  are aligned with the first bearing portion  46  and the second bearing portion  48  of the bearing member  38 . 
         [0051]    With reference now to  FIGS. 8 ,  8 A and  9 , an alternative knee implant assembly  6   a  is shown. The alternative knee implant assembly  6   a  can include a femoral component  8   a  and a tibial component  10   a . In the alternative knee implant assembly  6   a , the adaptor assembly  16 , stem  18  and augment system  20  can be coupled to the distal end of the femur  26  to form the femoral component  8   a . The tibial component  10   a  can include an articulating or mating portion  12   a  to enable the femoral component  8   a  to articulate with respect to the tibial component  10   a.    
         [0052]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 8 , the femoral component  8   a  can include an articulating portion or body  22   a , the adaptor assembly  16 , the stem  18  and the augment system  20 . As the adaptor assembly  16 , stem  18  and augment system  20  are substantially similar to the adaptor assembly  16 , stem  18  and augment system  20  described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-7 , they will not be described in detail with regard to the femoral component  8   a . It should be noted, however, that the augment system  20  of the femoral component  8   a  can generally include at least two augments  100 , with at least one augment  100  per condylar surface  200  of the femur  26  (as best shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0053]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 8-10A , the body  22   a  of the femoral component  8   a  can include a post  202  coupled a surface  204  of the intercondylar portion  32  to couple the body  22   a  to the adaptor assembly  16 . The post  202  can be configured to couple the femoral component  8   a  to the adaptor assembly  16 . Generally, the post  202  can be sized to be received into the offset coupling axis or offset bore  92  of the sleeve  66 . It will be understood that although the post  202  is shown as cylindrical, the post  202  can have any desired shape such as starred, oval, rectangular, square, or any other polygonal shape, and alternatively could be keyed to mate with the offset bore  92  of the sleeve  66 . 
         [0054]    The post  202  can include at least one or a plurality of grooves  206  to assist in coupling the post  202 , and thus the body  22   a , to the sleeve  66  of the adaptor assembly  16 . The post  202  can be coupled to the bore  92  of the sleeve  66  through the use of a bio-compatible adhesive, such as the bio-compatible cement B. Alternatively, the body  22   a  could be coupled to the sleeve  66  via a bio-compatible mechanical fastener, such as a bolt or a screw, which could extend through a throughbore (not shown) in the body  22   a  to threadably engage threads (not shown) formed in the bore  92  of the sleeve  66 . 
         [0055]    The tibial component  10   a , and the mating portion  12   a  of the alternative knee implant assembly  6   a , can be any generally known suitable tibial component  10   a  and mating portion  12   a , like the tibial component of the AGC® Total Knee System™, or the AGC® Tradition High-Post Knee System™, or the Orthopaedic Salvage System™, all provided by Biomet, Inc. of Warsaw, Ind. Alternatively, the tibial component  10   a  could be the tibial component  10  as described with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . 
         [0056]    With additional reference to  FIG. 11 , in order to couple the alternative knee implant assembly  6   a  to the anatomy, the tibia  24  and femur  26  (not shown) can be resected and prepared as is generally known in the art. In order to couple the femoral component  8   a  to the femur  26 , the adaptor  64  can be coupled to the stem  18  and then the stem  18  can be press-fit into a first bore and a second bore formed in the femur  26  (not specifically shown). If the augment system  20  is employed, prior to insertion into the anatomy, the augments  100  and the most appropriate sleeve  66  can be coupled to the adaptor assembly  16 , as discussed previously herein. Then, the sleeve  66  can be rotated until the offset bore  92  is in the desired orientation for mating the femoral component  8   a  with the tibial component  10   a.    
         [0057]    Once the sleeve  66  is properly aligned, the bio-compatible cement B can be placed into the offset bore  92  and then the post  202  of the body  22   a  can be inserted into the offset bore  92  to couple the body  22   a  to the adaptor assembly  16 . After the body  22   a  is coupled to the adaptor assembly  16 , the adaptor assembly  16  can be coupled to the stem  18 , and then the stem  18  and adaptor assembly  16  can be inserted into the first bore and the second bore formed in the femur  26  (not specifically shown). Generally, when the adaptor  64  is coupled to the stem  18 , the body  22   a  becomes properly engaged with the femur  26 , and the tibial component  10   a  can then be coupled to the tibia  24 , as is generally known in the art. 
         [0058]    The description of the teachings herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the teachings are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0