Conceptual Design for Condylar Guiding Features of a Total Knee Replacement

Abstract

This study investigates the design requirements for guiding features that can be incorporated into the shapes of the femoral condyles and the tibial component geometry of a knee replacement system without occupying the intercondylar space of the joint so that the cruciates can be spared and still produce more physiological motions. A conceptual design for a surface-guided knee is introduced to induce effective guiding both in flexion and extension by novel features incorporated in the shape of the lateral condyle. This design can accommodate preservation of either of the cruciates while deficiencies in the functions of the other are compensated by contributions of the articular geometry in guiding the motion and stabilizing the joint. The preliminary kinematic tests on a prototype demonstrated viability of the features in guiding motion under compression.