Prosthesis for replacement of cartilage

摘要

A cartilage replacement or repair prosthesis comprises a layer of streamlined elastomer elements, preferably in the form of spheres, supported in a matrix material so that the radially opposed surfaces of the spheres are positioned on opposite surfaces of the layer and make contact with the opposed surfaces of the femur and tibia and the forces exerted between these bones extend through the streamlined elements. The matrix material has a substantially lower resistance to deformation than the spheres to control the position of the spheres relative to one another without significantly restraining their load-responsive deformation under forces exerted between the femur and tibia. The layer, with its elastomeric inserts, is sufficiently thin and flexible to allow it to be rolled for arthroscopic insertion into a knee joint.

主权项

1. A replacement prosthesis for all or part of the natural cartilage in a mammalian joint, comprising:
a pad formed as a spaced array of a single layer of streamlined elastomeric elements with diametrically opposed points on each of the elements being disposed on opposed surfaces of the pad, the streamlined elastomeric elements having a first resistance to deformation; and a matrix contacting each of the streamlined elements at points between said diametrically opposed points so as to retain the streamlined elements in position relative to one another under the loading of the joint, the matrix having a second resistance to deformation which does not exceed about one sixth of the streamlined elements so that the matrix does not significantly influence the deformation characteristics of the streamlined elements under loading.