Method and system for patella tendon realignment

Abstract

A method and system provide and use a patellar implant. The patellar implant includes a superior portion, an inferior portion opposite to the superior portion, and an anterior portion. The superior portion being configured to reside below a patellar tendon and to elevate and/or tilt the patellar tendon. The inferior portion is configured to be seated in proximity to a tibia. The anterior portion is between the superior portion and the inferior portion. The anterior portion is placed in proximity to a patella. In one aspect, the method includes inserting the implant beneath the patellar tendon and between the patella and a position at which the patellar tendon is affixed to the tibia. In this aspect, the method also includes affixing the implant.

1 . A patellar implant comprising:
 a superior portion including a substantially convex portion, configured to reside below a patellar tendon, and to at least one of elevate and tilt the patellar tendon;   a inferior portion opposite to the superior portion configured to be seated in proximity to a tibia; and   an anterior portion between the superior portion and the inferior portion for placement in proximity to a patella.   
   
   
       2 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  wherein the superior portion includes a substantially convex portion configured to the at least one of elevate and lift the patellar tendon. 
   
   
       3 . The patellar implant of  claim 2  wherein the inferior portion includes a substantially concave portion corresponding to the substantially convex portion. 
   
   
       4 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the superior portion and the inferior portion includes the at least one through hole therein. 
   
   
       5 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  wherein the at least one through hole includes at least one of a suture hole and a screw hole. 
   
   
       6 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  further including:
 at least one affixation device configured to hold the patellar implant in a position.   
   
   
       7 . The patellar implant of  claim 6  wherein the at least one affixation device further includes at least one of at least one spike, a plurality of beads, at least one surface configured for tissue attachment, and a coating, the at least one spike being coupled with the inferior portion, the plurality of beads being configured for bony ingrowth and coupled with the inferior portion, the at least one surface being coupled with at least one of the superior portion and the inferior portion, and the coating residing on a surface and being configured for at least one of the bony ingrowth and tendon attachment. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a posterior portion between the superior portion and the inferior portion configured for placement in proximity to a location at which the patellar tendon attaches to the tibia; and   a plurality of lateral surfaces between the superior portion and the inferior portion the plurality of lateral surfaces terminating at the posterior portion and the anterior portion.   
   
   
       12 . The patellar implant of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the superior portion and the inferior portion is tapered such that the plurality of lateral surfaces are wider at to the anterior portion than at the posterior portion. 
   
   
       13 . The patellar implant of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the superior portion and the inferior portion is at an angle such that a first portion of the plurality of lateral surfaces are wider than a second portion of the plurality of lateral surfaces opposite to the first portion. 
   
   
       14 . The patellar implant of  claim 11  wherein a first portion of the plurality of lateral surfaces are at an angle with respect to a second portion of the plurality of surface, the angle being greater than zero and less than ninety degrees. 
   
   
       15 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  wherein the superior portion includes a first material and the inferior portion includes a second material different from the first material. 
   
   
       16 . The patellar implant of  claim 15  wherein the first material includes at least one of plastic, polyethylene, and polyetheretherketone and wherein the second material includes at least one of stainless steel, titanium, synthetic bone, and cobalt chrome. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  wherein the inferior portion is configured to reside on the tibia. 
   
   
       19 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  wherein the tibia includes a fresh surface cut therein and wherein the inferior portion is configured to fit the fresh surface. 
   
   
       20 . The patellar implant of  claim 1  wherein the patellar implant has a height, a length, a width, and a tilt, and wherein the patellar implant is adjustable to configure at least one of the height, the length, the width, and the tilt. 
   
   
       21 . The patellar implant of  claim 20  further comprising:
 at least one additional layer configured to be affixed to at least a portion of the at least one of the superior portion and the inferior portion, the at least one additional layer for adjusting at least one of the height, the length, the width, and the tilt of the patellar implant.   
   
   
       22 . The patellar implant of  claim 20  wherein at least one of the superior portion and the inferior portion further includes:
 a plurality of nested sections, a section of the plurality of sections seated within, adjacent to, and movable with respect to another of the plurality of sections, for adjusting at least one of the height, the length, the width, and the tilt of the patellar implant.   
   
   
       23 . A patellar implant comprising:
 a superior portion including a substantially convex portion, a first edge, and at least one substantially flat portion between the convex portion and the first edge, the superior portion configured to reside below a patellar tendon and to at least one of elevate and tilt the patellar tendon;   an inferior portion opposite to the superior portion and including a substantially concave portion corresponding to the substantially convex portion, at least one planar portion and a second edge, the at least one planar portion residing between the substantially concave portion and the second edge, the inferior portion configured to be seated in proximity to a tibia;   an anterior surface between the superior portion and the inferior portion for placement in proximity to a patella;   a posterior surface between the superior portion and the inferior portion for placement in proximity to a location at which the patellar tendon attaches to the tibia;   a plurality of tapered lateral surfaces between the superior portion and the inferior portion and terminating at the anterior portion and the posterior portion; and   at least one of the superior portion and the inferior portion including at least one affixation device configured to affix the patellar implant.   
   
   
       24 . A method for repositioning a patellar tendon comprising:
 inserting an implant beneath the patellar tendon between a patella and an attachment position of the patellar tendon to a tibia, the implant including a superior portion, an inferior portion, and an anterior portion, the superior portion being configured to at least one of elevate and tilt the patellar tendon, the inferior portion opposite to the superior portion and configured to be seated in proximity to the tibia, the anterior portion between the superior portion and the inferior portion for placement in proximity to a patella; and   affixing the implant.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the affixing further includes:
 affixing the implant to at least one of the tibia and the patellar tendon.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the affixing includes at least one of screwing the implant to the tibia, utilizing at least one affixation spike, suturing to the patellar tendon, and allowing for bony ingrowth to the implant, the implant including at least one of at least one through hole therein, at least one spike coupled with the inferior portion, a plurality of beads configured for the bony ingrowth and coupled with the inferior portion, a surface of the inferior portion configured for tibia attachment, and a surface of the superior portion configured for tendon attachment. 
   
   
       27 - 32 . (canceled)