System and Method for Profiling an Anatomic Patella

The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for knee arthroplasty. More specifically, the present invention relates to preparing an anatomic patella during arthroplasty of the knee joint.

Total knee arthroplasty involves preparing the bone of a distal femur and proximal tibia each to receive an implant prosthetic component. Presently accepted practice prefers maintenance of the natural patella as opposed to patella replacement.

It has been proven clinically that the anatomical patella, when not resurfaced, forms a soft tissue layer which distorts patellar tracking against the trochlear groove of a femoral prosthesis. Interoperatively, a practitioner retracts the patella and removes bone from the posterior of the patella resulting in a rounded shape. This reshaping of the anatomical patella allows it to move along the patellar track of the femoral component. However, this visual method of patellar bone removal usually leaves an uneven posterior surface and can results in subluxation of the patella.

The prior art is deficient in providing method and apparatus for profiling an anatomic patella to positively track the femoral component and thereby help to maintain positive ligament balance.

According to the present invention, a system for profiling an anatomic patella is provided comprising a tool including a handle portion and a grinding surface operatively connected to the handle. The grinding surface defines a concave domed shape for forming a corresponding, or complementary, domed surface to a posterior surface of the anatomic patella. Guide means is provided for connecting the tool in mating engagement with the patella about the grinding surface, guiding the grinding surface to a predetermined medial portion of the patella, so that as the tool is moved, the patella is shaped to match an articulating surface of the femoral prosthesis.

The present invention further provides a method of profiling the anatomic patella, the method including the steps of connecting a guide member about the anatomic patella, guiding a grinding tool through the guide member and positioning a concave grinding surface of the tool against a posterior medial portion of the patella and grinding the medial portion into a hemispherical dome shape corresponding to the articulating surface of the patellar groove of the femoral component.

One advantage of the subject invention is that, during total knee arthroplasty, the anatomic patella can be profiled to positively track the femur component and thereby help to maintain positive ligament balance. Another advantage of the invention is that the interoperative patella profiling procedure is mechanically guided to grind the medial portion of the patella to precisely compliment to articulating surface of the femoral prosthesis. A still further advantage of the invention is that the patella profile in accordance with the invention will exhibit greater longevity as compared to patellas profiled according to the prior art techniques.

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following Detailed Description when considered in connection with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the grinding tool made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 1, broken away to show an abrasive surface of the grinding tool; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing a pair of guide means clamped about an anatomic patella positioned adjacent the grinding tool of the present invention.

A system for profiling an anatomic patella is generally indicated at 10 in the FIGS. The system generally includes a grinding tool, generally shown at 12, and a grinding tool guide, generally shown at 13. The grinding tool 12 includes a handle portion 14 defining a longitudinal axis 16 of the tool. The handle 14 preferably includes an adapter 18 for attachment to a power device (not shown) for driving the rotation of the tool 12 about the axis 16. Alternatively, the handle 18 can be adapted for gripping manually by a practitioner to actuate the grinding operation.

The grinding tool 12 further includes an annular flanged portion 20 extending radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis 16. A neck portion 22 extends along the longitudinal axis 16 of the tool 12 from the flange portion 20 opposite the handle portion 14. The neck portion 22 includes an end grinding surface 24 which includes grinding teeth 26 for cutting or abraiding extending therefrom. The grinding surface 24 is a concave, hemispherical dome shape. The radius (curvature) which describes the dome shape complements the matching patella track formed in the femoral component (not shown) being implanted. In this manner, a surface is made on the patella conforming to the geometry of the prosthetic surface along which the patella tracks.

The flange portion 20 includes an abutment surface 28. The neck portion 22 is contiguous with and extends axially from the abutment surface 28.

The tool guide 13 includes a pair of patella clamp members 30,32. Member 30 is a substantially annular member including a substantially annular inner surface 34 having an end portion 36. Clamping means clamp the members 30,32 together so as to sandwich the patella therebetween and position the annular surface 34 about the medial portion of the patella so as to define a passageway having the medial portion of the patella positioned at its end. Member 32 can be of various shapes but preferably is a shape matching the shape of the other guide member 30.

The means for clamping members 30,32 together can take various forms. For example, the preferred means for clamping the member together is a state of the art patella clamp having a clamping end for engaging the patella on one side and receiving and guiding the grinding tool on the other side. It is critical that the clamping mechanism not interfere with the inner surface 34 of the clamping member 30.

In use, the guide members 30,32 are clamped about the anatomic patella 37 as shown in FIG. 3. The guide member 30 is positioned so as to expose the medial portion 38 of the inner aspect of the patella 37 within the passageway defined by the inner surface 34 of the member 30. The neck portion 22 of the grinding tool 12 is inserted in mating engagement with the inner surface 34 of the guide member 30 such that the guide member 30 guides the grinding tool 12 through the guide member 30 and positions the concave grinding surface 24 of the grinding tool 12 against the medial portion 38 of the anatomic patella 37. The surface of the patella 37 is then ground into a hemispherical dome shape to match the articulating (patellar track) surface of a femoral prosthetic component (not shown). Thusly, the intermedial aspect of the anatomic patella is made to positively track an implant, the dome surface causing positive tracking even where there is tilting between the patella and the femoral implant. This positive profiling of the anatomic patella should cause a decrease in pain to the patient while allowing soft tissue growth about the patella thus enhancing tracking along the patellar track surface of the femoral prosthetic component. An advantage of the subject resurfacing system and method is that positive function is maintained as well as ligament balance.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.