DESCRIPTION

Field of application

The present invention refers to devices, equipment, instruments and the like for patellar resurfacing under mini-invasiveness conditions so as not to cause discomfort in specific patients, and a good visual control by the operator so as to allow - at any stage and time - the assessment of the surgery plan in an extremely accurate manner.

More in detail, the finding regards systems for patellar resurfacing with specific geometries for the univocal coupling with the anatomic structure of the single patients, said systems, consisting in at least one device with a first portion which is coupled in a univocal manner to the articular face of the patella, at least one second part or main support portion provided so that said shape-constraint coupling with the aforementioned first part is maintained, and patella forceps (conventional or unconventional) .

State of the art

Equipment, devices, systems, instruments and the like of the aforementioned type jare mutually described in literature and widely used daily.

These known systems doubtlessly have improved surgery techniques, but these historical advantages are still associated to a considerable number of drawbacks including those regarding the fact that they are still too invasive and thus causing discomfort to the patient to name but a few. Actually, this lead to a close relation between the invasiveness of the equipment (conventional, especially if not up to the state of the art) and the frequency and seriousness of the discomfort on the patients. Another considerable drawback lies in the ensuing poor visibility of the bone of the patient during the positioning of the patellar guide which often jeopardizes the critical aspect of obtaining good results in terms of accuracy and repeatability. Prior art

As mentioned previously, the literature regarding knee arthroprosthesis and in particular patellar resurfacing is quite extensive and complex, a major part of it is still under assessment especially in the USA, UE and CN and solely the most significant and available cases among those mentioned hereinafter shall be mentioned regardless of the chronological order of occurrence thereof.

The International patent application PCT/US2007/001624 filed on

19.01.2007 and Published as WO2007/097854 describes arthroplasty devices comprising a guide body (Jig) configured to be aligned to the surface of a bone, and a positioning component configured to provide a visible, audible or tactile indication when said guide body is aligned with the bone surface. In different embodiments said Jig may comprise a rod, and the guide body may comprise an opening while the positioning component comprises a projection which extends through the guide body.

The International Patent Application PCT/US2008/0781443 filed on

29.09.2008 and Published as WO2009/ 045960 regards a femoral cutting block which allows the operator to check whether the positioning of said block was carried out correctly. -For such purpose the block, is provided with a first guide (conventional) and with a second guide which extends - at the rear part - from the front body and which defines a window between the guides which have a first and a second tab which is engaged with the distal front and rear surfaces. The femur is used as the support base for the alignment of the knee ligaments.

In Patent US n° 7,534,263 (filed on 02. 12.2004 corresponding to

WO2006/060795 and EP 1833387) claims a guide for engaging the surface of a patella, said guide comprising a mould having a first surface configured to be adapted to the surface of said patella, which is thus specific for each patient, has an ad hoc opening substantially at the centre of said guide (but, regardless this, it may have an insignificant eccentricity). The aforementioned mould has a plurality of openings. In said patent EP 1833387 (page 40) the fact is highlighted that the relative description contains 18 patent references and 12 non-patent literature references. Thus, it is difficult to mention, not even briefly, the 30 paragraphs of possible interest among these 30 prior art documents.

Summary of the invention

5 The first object of the present invention is to provide a device for patellar resurfacing, not having the previously mentioned drawbacks, in particular having invasiveness such as not to cause discomfort to the patient.

Still another object is that of allowing, at any stage and time, the 10 assessment of the surgery plan in an extremely accurate manner and without the possibility of evident errors due to the optimal visibility guaranteed by the system.

The device according to the invention is characterised by:

- a base for supporting the ligaments defined by the patella;

15 - a bearing framework IN which incorporates a cutting slot Tpg;

- a guide G2 for the lower support of said ligaments; and

- an upper support guide G l , which is generally made in a single piece with said framework IN.

Brief description of . the drawings

-20_ The various aspects_ and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of the represented embodiments (given by way of non-limiting example) in the reference drawings wherein:

- figures 1 , 2, 3 and 5 are schematic views of tools according to the invention. More in particular, figure 1 is the schematic representation of

25 the ligaments (isolated from any support) in perspective top view; figure

2 is a top perspective view of a support of the lower part of said ligaments; fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the major component of the device according to the invention which is a resection guide G l in which there is an upper coupling guide.

30 - figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the three components of figures 1 , 2 and 3, and lastly - figure 5 is the view of the compacted device of the framework of fig. 3 and of the lower support guide associated thereto.

Detailed description of the invention

By way of outlining the ideas clearly, the patellar resurfacing device according to the invention, comprises as components: - a lower support guide G2; - an upper support guide G l ; and - a framework IN.

Solely by way of example, said patellar resurfacing device may comprise a patella Pa with patellar cutting Tp, schematically represented in the top perspective view of fig 1 , in which Fs and Fi indicate the upper and lower surfaces thereof.

Fig. 2 represents the lower support guide G2 which comprises the central arm DEMO (fig. 2) having - at one end - the lower concave support Bp and - on the other end - the connection Co with forceps.

Fig. 3 represents the upper support guide G l which comprises the resection device, the arms B,B for connecting to the bone through simple shape-coupling, the perforation /marking guide Gf for implant positioning reference, and the bone resection cutting slot Tpg. Also the upper support guide Gl comprises - at one end thereof - a connection for the coupling with patella forceps.

In fig. 4 the aforementioned components (G l- upper support guide; the bone connection arms B,B, the patellar ligaments Pa and the lower support guide G2) are represented detached by explosion. The same components are represented combined and compacted by close assembly, as indicated in fig. 5.

Characteristically, the patellar resurfacing according to the invention is articulated in a first coupling - in a univocal manner - of a part of the device to the articular face of the patella, and in a second portion thereof, mainly a support portion, provided so that the first shape-constraint coupling with the guide is maintained.

Contingently conventional patella forceps (not represented) may also be used which allows relatively constraining the upper support guide G l and the lower support guide G2. Typically, the resection guide is provided with a plurality of holes, besides a "slot", for directly receiving at least one cutting blade.

Advantageously the perforation guide part is not fixed, but it may assume different positions with respect to the centre of the articular face.

The invention has been described with particular reference to the embodiments represented in the drawings; however, it may be subjected to all replacements, additions and the like which for being within reach to a man averagely skilled in the art shall be deemed included and/ or falling within the independent claims.