Zimmer Gmbh

Zimmer Technology, Inc.

Shaun R Cronin

Calie B Grey

Mary S S Wentorf

Scott E Dykema

Jeff Blaylock

Stephen M Howell

Edward R Yager

David B Willard

Peter E Darrigan

Christopher M S Meek

John Edward Meyers

Adam M Griner

Vincent A Webster

Rebecca Parrott

Bart C Benedict

Brad Wheeler

Buddy E Kaczewzki

Sampath Kumar Haranahally Kalachar

Vijayraj Nangli

Mary SS Wentorf

Methods and instruments for performing a kinematically-aligned total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are disclosed. Goals of the kinematically-aligned TKA can include restoration of (1) the femoral and tibial joint lines to the patient's natural joint line, (2) the patient's Hip-Knee-Ankle alignment to their constitutional alignment prior to developing osteoarthritis and (3) restoration of the patient's natural soft tissue laxity and envelope. A shim block assembly can be used in resecting the distal medial and lateral condyles to account for cartilage wear on the distal condyles from osteoarthritis. The shim block assembly can include a plurality of shims, and each shim can be attachable to or integral with a reference block. At least one of the plurality of shims can have a medial portion with a thickness different from a thickness of a lateral portion of the shim. The shims need not be joined together as a single medial/lateral component but may be independent of one another. A particular shim can be selected for use based on matching the medial and lateral thicknesses with a determined wear of cartilage on the distal medial and lateral condyles.

Instruments and methods in performing kinematically-aligned total knee arthroplasty

An orthopedic knee prosthesis is provided including a tibial baseplate component having a distal, bone-contacting surface with one or more fixation structures extending distally therefrom, in which the fixation structures are asymmetrically arranged within the baseplate periphery.

Tibial baseplate with asymmetric placement of fixation structures

An orthopedic tibial prosthesis includes a tibial baseplate with features designed for use with small-stature knee-replacement patients. The tibial prosthesis may include a shortened tibial keel, tibial keel fins which define a large angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the keel, and/or tibial keel fins which extend along less than the entire longitudinal extent of the keel.

Asymmetric tibial components for a knee prosthesis

An orthopedic tool for loosening the connection between orthopedic components. In one embodiment, the orthopedic tool includes a housing and a wedge. The housing has a head, an upper portion, a lower portion, and an opening between the upper and lower portions. The wedge is positioned at least partially between the upper portion and the lower portion of the housing and is actuatable to move toward the head of the housing. When at least a portion of the head of the housing is placed in mating engagement with the junction between two assembled orthopedic components, advancement of the wedge towards the head results in separation of the upper portion and lower portion of the housing. Thus, as the wedge is advanced toward the head, the upper and lower portions of the housing are separated, which results in corresponding separation of the assembled orthopedic components.

Orthopedic tool for altering the connection between orthopedic components

An orthopaedic tibial prosthesis includes a tibial baseplate with features designed for use with small-stature knee-replacement patients. The tibial prosthesis may include a shortened tibial keel, tibial keel fins which define a large angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the keel, and/or tibial keel fins which extend along less than the entire longitudinal extent of the keel.

An orthopaedic knee prosthesis is provided including a tibial baseplate component having a distal, bone-contacting surface with one or more fixation structures extending distally therefrom, in which the fixation structures are asymmetrically arranged within the baseplate periphery.

A device () used during a medical procedure to engage a cross-section of a bone is disclosed herein. The device is selectively expandable to correspond to the cross-section of the bone. Once the device is properly sized, the device is used as a sizing tool to select the proper size of an implant or as a surgical guide for preparing the bone with a surgical instrument, for example.

Expandable arthroplasty plates

An assembly system configured to seat a first orthopedic component having either a male taper or a female taper with a second orthopedic component having the other of a male taper or a female taper. In one embodiment, the assembly system includes a taper seating connector having a fastener and a bushing moveable retained on the fastener. The fastener may be connected to the first orthopedic component and the bushing may be positioned adjacent the second orthopedic component. The corresponding tapers on the first and second orthopedic components may be configured to secure the first and second orthopedic components together. Thus, by exerting a sufficient force on the bushing, the bushing will move along the fastener, transferring the force to the second orthopedic component. In this manner, the corresponding tapers of the first and second orthopedic components may be seated.

Growing community of inventors

Warsaw, IN, United States of America

Shaun R Cronin