Patent ID: 7338529

Claim:
A prosthetic implant comprising: a femoral component operable to replace at least a portion of a patient's natural femur; a tibial component operable to replace at least a portion of a patient's natural tibia, said tibial component having a superior tibial component surface; a bearing operable to provide engagement between said femoral component and said tibial component having: a superior bearing surface operable to articulate with said femoral component; and an inferior bearing surface operable to cooperate with said superior tibial component surface; and a wear reduction device located at at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface and operable to reduce wear upon at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface, said wear reduction device is coplanar with at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface; wherein said wear reduction device is a ceramic insert seated within a recess located at least one of said superior tibial component surface and said inferior bearing surface.