Modular bone implant, tools, and method

Abstract

Modular bone implants, means of assembly, and their method of use are presented.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A tibial component of a knee prosthesis comprising:
 a tray having top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface configured to abut a cut end of a tibia, said top surface configured to receive a polyethylene bearing;   an elongate keel having a top end and a bottom end, said keel and said tray cooperating to define a male/female junction having a longitudinal junction axis and a non-circular cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis,   said non-circular cross-section of said male/female junction sized and shaped to align said tray and said keel in at least one predetermined, non-rotatable, fixed relationship when said tray and said keel are fully assembled.   
     
     
         38 . The tibial component of  claim 37  wherein said male/female junction defines a taper-lock connection. 
     
     
         39 . The tibial component of  claim 37  wherein said male/female junction comprises:
 a boss extending from one of said tray and said keel; and 
 a boss receiving bore formed in one of said tray and keel, said boss and said boss receiving bore being coaxial along said longitudinal junction axis when said tray and said keel are fully assembled. 
 
     
     
         40 . The tibial component of  claim 39  wherein said boss extends downwardly from said bottom surface of said tray and said boss receiving bore extends downwardly into said top end of said keel. 
     
     
         41 . The tibial component of  claim 39  wherein said boss and said boss receiving bore define a single predefined rotational alignment when said keel is assembled to said tray. 
     
     
         42 . The tibial component of  claim 39  wherein said boss and said boss receiving bore define a positive frictional engagement when said keel is assembled to said tray. 
     
     
         43 . The tibial component of  claim 42  wherein said boss and said boss receiving bore define one of a press-fit and a locking taper when said keel is assembled to said tray. 
     
     
         44 . The tibial component of  claim 37 , further comprising a stem including a top end and a bottom end, said top end of said stem received in said bottom end of said keel. 
     
     
         45 . The tibial component of  claim 37  wherein at least one of said top surface and said bottom surface of said tray defines a planar surface. 
     
     
         46 . The tibial component of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a rotational alignment pin extending from one of said tray and said keel; and   a pin receiving bore located on the other of said tray and said keel, wherein said rotational alignment pin prevents said male/female junction from seating unless the rotational alignment pin is aligned with the pin receiving bore.   
     
     
         47 . The tibial component of  claim 37  wherein said rotational alignment pin and said pin receiving bore are coaxial about an alignment axis parallel to said longitudinal junction axis. 
     
     
         48 . A tibial component of a knee prosthesis comprising:
 a tray having top and bottom surfaces;   a keel having a top end and a bottom end, said keel and said tray cooperating to forming a male/female junction when said keel is assembled to said tray, said male/female junction comprising:
 a boss extending from one of said tray and said keel; and 
 a boss receiving bore formed in said other of said tray and said keel, said boss and said boss receiving bore coaxial about a longitudinal junction axis when said keel is assembled to said tray, said boss and said boss receiving bore defining complimentary non-circular cross-sectional shapes perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said non-circular cross-sectional shapes cooperating to form a positive engagement that contemporaneously resists relative rotation between said tray and said keel about said longitudinal junction axis when said keel is assembled to said tray, 
   whereby said tray is in a fixed rotational orientation with respect to said keel when said keel is assembled to said tray.   
     
     
         49 . The tibial component of  claim 48  wherein said boss and said boss receiving bore define a single predefined rotational alignment when said keel is assembled to said tray. 
     
     
         50 . The tibial component of  claim 48  wherein said boss and said boss receiving bore define a positive frictional engagement when said keel is assembled to said tray. 
     
     
         51 . The tibial component of  claim 50  wherein said boss and said boss receiving bore define one of a press-fit and a locking taper when said keel is assembled to said tray. 
     
     
         52 . The tibial component of  claim 48 , further comprising a stem including a top end and a bottom end, said top end of said stem received in said bottom end of said keel. 
     
     
         53 . The tibial component of  claim 52  wherein said top end of said stem includes a threaded bore, the tibial component further comprising a bolt passing through said tray and said keel into said threaded bore of said stem to fasten said stem to said tray. 
     
     
         54 . The tibial component of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 a rotational alignment pin extending from one of said tray and said keel; and   a pin receiving bore located on the other of said tray and said keel, wherein said rotational alignment pin prevents said male/female junction from seating unless the rotational alignment pin is aligned with the pin receiving bore.   
     
     
         55 . The tibial component of  claim 54  wherein said rotational alignment pin and said pin receiving bore are coaxial about an alignment axis parallel to said longitudinal junction axis. 
     
     
         56 . The tibial component of  claim 54  wherein the non-circular complimentary non-circular cross-sectional shapes defined by said boss and said boss receiving bore cooperates with the rotational alignment pin to facilitate aligning the tray and keel in a predetermined fixed relationship for assembly.