Minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is disclosed which closely matches the end of a bone of a joint after that bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool in the minimally invasive orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints

Abstract

A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is described which closely matches the end of a bone of a joint after that bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool in the minimally invasive orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints. The original ligament tensions and the varus and valgus alignments of the joint are preserved and the marrow cavities of bones are not invaded avoiding the dangers of blood clots, heart attacks, and other complications.

1 . A surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic stamped from a sheet metal form of an orthopedic metal alloy, selected from a group of orthopedic metal alloys which includes stainless steel orthopedic alloys, cobalt-chrome orthopedic alloys, and titanium orthopedic alloys, and which said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic is formed so as to closely match the surface of the end of a bone of a joint after that said bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool intended for use in the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of the bone ends in hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis can be affixed onto the said resurfaced bone end by means of mechanical attachments using bone glue as a bonding agent and to fill the space between the said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis and its said resurfaced bone end, thereby becoming a new fully supported wear surface for that said resurfaced bone end, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is able to have an orthopedic prosthetic meniscus affixed to its surface which is distal from its said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       2 . The combination as set forth in  claim 1  where in the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis has a thickness between 0.030 of an inch and 0.300 of an inch. 
   
   
       3 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of grooved mounting pins which are spin-welded to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       4 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of threaded mounting bolts welded to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       5 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       6 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of screws extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       7 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting tabs which are welded to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis and extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       8 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting tabs formed from the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are bent toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       9 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has an peripheral edge which is bent away from the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end which is used to further retain an artificial meniscus affixed to that said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis. 
   
   
       10 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has mounting tabs bent away from the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end which are used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus. 
   
   
       11 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has holes punched into it which are used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus. 
   
   
       12 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis also has orthopedic metal alloy granules, thermally fused onto its surface which is distal from the said resurfaced bone end, which are used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus. 
   
   
       13 . The combination as set forth in  claim 2  where in the said mechanical attachments consist of mounting pins riveted to the said minimally-thick sheet metal orthopedic prosthesis which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end and which has an orthopedic woven metal screen, spot welded to its surface which is distal from the said resurfaced bone end, which is used to further retain it to an artificial meniscus. 
   
   
       14 . A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis which is cast from a suitable orthopedic metal alloy selected from a group of orthopedic metal alloys which includes stainless steel orthopedic alloys, cobalt-chrome orthopedic alloys, and titanium orthopedic alloys, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis has integral mounting pins which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end, and which said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic is formed so as to closely match the surface of the end of a bone of a joint after that said bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool intended for use in the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of the bone ends in hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis can be affixed onto the said resurfaced bone end by means of its integral mounting pins using bone glue as a bonding agent and to fill the space between the said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis and its said resurfaced bone end, thereby becoming a new fully supported wear surface for that said resurfaced bone end, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is able to have an orthopedic prosthetic meniscus affixed to its surface which is distal from its said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       15 . The combination as set forth in  claim 14  where in the said minimally-thick cast metal orthopedic prosthesis has a minimum thickness of 0.030 of an inch and a maximum thickness of 0.300 of an inch. 
   
   
       16 . A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis which is forged A minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis which is cast from a suitable orthopedic metal alloy selected from a group of orthopedic metal alloys which includes stainless steel orthopedic alloys, cobalt-chrome orthopedic alloys, and titanium orthopedic alloys, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis has integral mounting pins which are extended toward the proximal surface of the said resurfaced bone end, and which said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic is formed so as to closely match the surface of the end of a bone of a joint after that said bone end has been minimally reshaped and resurfaced by an orbital or lineally oscillating orthopedic resurfacing tool intended for use in the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of the bone ends in hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other joints, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis can be affixed onto the said resurfaced bone end by means of its integral mounting pins using bone glue as a bonding agent and to fill the space between the said surface-matching minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis and its said resurfaced bone end, thereby becoming a new fully supported wear surface for that said resurfaced bone end, and which said minimally-thick orthopedic prosthesis is able to have an orthopedic prosthetic meniscus affixed to its surface which is distal from its said resurfaced bone end. 
   
   
       17 . The combination as set forth in  claim 16  where in the said minimally-thick cast metal orthopedic prosthesis has a minimum thickness of 0.030 of an inch and a maximum thickness of 0.300 of an inch.
 While the invention here in described in the specifications and illustrated in the drawings are in reference to the knee joint, it is to be understood that this invention applies to the orthopedic surgical repair and reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and other anatomical joints. It will be further understood to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements there of without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention and that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the description of the appended claims.