Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of orthopaedic implants; and more particularly to a tibial liner for a knee replacement system and a knee replacement system with enhanced mobility and longevity.
BACKGROUND
Generally, a knee replacement system includes three major components namely, a femoral implant, a tibial implant and a patellar implant. The tibial implant includes a tibial liner and a tibial base plate, as key components. The tibial liner acts as an interface between the femoral implant and the tibial base plate. The existing tibial liner is designed to provide an articulation surface to the femoral implant and to absorb some of the stresses generated during daily physical activities. The current tibial liner designs often face challenges in effectively managing the distribution of loads and minimizing wear over extended periods. The tibial liners are generally made of materials, such as Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) or Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene (HXLPE). Such materials offer good wear resistance, however face significant challenges in effectively managing load distribution and minimizing long-term wear. This can lead to several issues in the knee replacement system, such as concentrated stress points, limited shock absorption, friction and wear, reduced mobility, and the like. The traditional tibial liner designs lack the ability to provide even load distribution thus, resulting in areas of high stress that can accelerate wear and potentially lead to implant failure. Moreover, the existing tibial liner designs may not adequately absorb the shocks and stresses generated during various physical activities, potentially causing discomfort for patients and increasing the risk of implant loosening. Additionally, the inability to effectively manage friction between the articulating surfaces can result in increased wear rates, potentially shortening the lifespan of the implant. Thus, there exists a technical problem of an inefficient tibial liner design lacking the ability to adequately absorb shocks and stresses from daily activities resulting in excessive wear, uneven load distribution, and risks of implant loosening or dislocation.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the conventional tibial liner designs.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure provides a tibial liner for a knee replacement system and a knee replacement system with enhanced mobility and longevity. The present disclosure provides a solution to the existing problem of an inefficient tibial liner design lacking the ability to adequately absorb shocks and stresses from daily activities resulting in excessive wear, uneven load distribution, and risks of implant loosening or dislocation. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in prior art, and provide an improved tibial liner for a knee replacement system and a knee replacement system with enhanced mobility and longevity.
The object of the present disclosure is achieved by the solutions provided in the enclosed independent claims. Advantageous implementations of the present disclosure are further defined in the dependent claims.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a tibial liner for a knee replacement system, comprising a tibial liner body having an articulating surface and a lattice structure enclosed within the tibial liner body comprising a plurality of lattice unit cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in the lattice structure, where each lattice unit cell is repeated to form the lattice structure and is deformable to provide controlled deformation under load to the tibial liner.
The disclosed tibial liner effectively absorbs shocks and stresses generated from everyday physical activities by virtue of having the lattice structure enclosed within the tibial liner body. The lattice structure acts as a cushioning mechanism for absorbing shocks and stresses generated during daily activities like walking, running, or jumping. The lattice structure further reduces wear and tear between knee implant components, and enhances their longevity. Furthermore, the lattice structure promotes even load (i.e., physiological load) distribution and reduces the risk of implant failure and wear rate. Additionally, the deformable nature of the lattice unit cells allows for controlled deformation, providing a cushioning effect that enhances mobility and reduces the risk of implant loosening or dislocation. By combining aforementioned features, the tibial liner provides an improved functionality and durability, and ultimately benefiting patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a knee replacement system, comprising a femoral component, a tibial base plate and a tibial liner positioned between the femoral component and the tibial base plate, the tibial liner comprising a tibial liner body having an articulating surface and a lattice structure enclosed within the tibial liner body comprising a plurality of lattice unit cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in the lattice structure, where each lattice unit cell is repeated to form the lattice structure and is deformable to provide controlled deformation under load to the tibial liner.
The knee replacement system achieves all the advantages and technical effects of the tibial liner of the disclosure.
It is to be appreciated that all the aforementioned implementation forms can be combined.
All steps which are performed by the various entities described in the present application as well as the functionalities described to be performed by the various entities are intended to mean that the respective entity is adapted to or configured to perform the respective steps and functionalities. It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative implementations construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a tibial liner for a knee replacement system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view from top of a tibial liner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a lattice unit cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a top view of a lattice unit cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a lattice unit cell, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a tibial liner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 7 illustrates a knee replacement system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a tibial liner for a knee replacement system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic representation of a tibial liner 100 for a knee replacement system. The tibial liner 100 comprises a tibial liner body 102 having an articulating surface 104 and a lattice structure (not shown here) enclosed within the tibial liner body 102.
The tibial liner 100 refers to a prosthetic component used in knee replacement systems that is placed between a patient’s tibial bone (referring to a tibial baseplate of the knee replacement system) and a femoral bone (referring to a femoral component of the knee replacement system), providing a smooth articulating surface and facilitating proper movement and function of the knee joint. In an implementation scenario, the tibial liner 100 can be manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique. The additive manufacturing technique, commonly known as 3D printing, is a process used to create three-dimensional objects by successively adding material layer by layer, based on a digital model. The tibial liner 100 can be made up of any biocompatible medical grade material used in the additive manufacturing technique. Examples of the biocompatible medical grade material may include, but are not limited to, Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene (HXLPE) including vitamin E infused versions, Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), ceramics, super alloys, and the like. In said implementation scenario, the tibial liner 100 is made of UHMWPE biocompatible material. In another implementation scenario, the tibial liner 100 can be manufactured using subtractive manufacturing technique, for example, a machining technique, which includes removing material from a workpiece to achieve the desired shape, size, and finished surface. Examples of the tibial liner 100 may include, but are not limited to, a tibial liner Cruciate Retaining (CR), a tibial liner Posterior Stabilized (PS), a tibial liner Ultra Congruent (UC), a tibial liner Primary Cruciate Knee (PCK), a Uni tibial liner for uni-compartmental knee replacement, and the like. The tibial liner 100 is used for primary knee replacement.
The tibial liner body 102 is designed to be attached to a tibial base plate (i.e., a part of tibial implant) and provides the articulating surface 104 to glide against, shown and described in detail, for example, in FIG. 7. The term "articulating surface" refers to a portion of the tibial liner body 102 that comes into contact with the femoral component, allowing for smooth movement and articulation during knee flexion and extension and internal and external rotation.
The tibial liner 100 has a specialized structure (i.e., the lattice structure) enclosed inside the tibial liner body 102, shown and described, for example, in FIG. 2. The specialized structure provides a cushioning effect to manage a load (e.g., a physiological load) and stresses received from a human body due to some form of physical activity. The use of additive manufacturing allows the precise fabrication of this specialized structure within the tibial liner 100. The tibial liner 100 acts as a buffer between metal or ceramic components of the knee implant, and absorb shocks and stresses generated during daily activities, like walking, running or jumping. The utilization of the tibial liner 100 reduces wear and tear between various components of the knee implant and friction as well, resulting in an enhanced mobility of the knee joint as well as reduced the risk of loosening or dislocation of the knee implant.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view from top of a tibial liner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is described in conjunction with elements from FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-sectional view 200 from top of the tibial liner 100 comprising the tibial liner body 102 and a lattice structure 202 enclosed within the tibial liner body 102. The lattice structure 202 comprises a plurality of lattice unit cells 204.
The tibial liner 100 comprises the tibial liner body 102 having the articulating surface 104 and the lattice structure 202 enclosed within the tibial liner body 102 comprising the plurality of lattice unit cells 204 arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in the lattice structure 202, where each lattice unit cell is repeated to form the lattice structure 202 and is deformable to provide controlled deformation under load to the tibial liner 100. The term “lattice structure” refers to a three-dimensional arrangement of interconnected struts or beams, forming a repeating pattern, which provides strength and support to the knee joint of the user. The term "lattice unit cells" refers to basic repeating units within the lattice structure, which are typically geometric shapes, such as cubes, prisms, or tetrahedrons, and are used to define the overall structure and properties of the lattice structure. The lattice structure 202 is implemented to provide controlled deformation under load (i.e., physiological load) to the tibial liner 100, acting as a cushioning effect to resist the load and stresses generated during physical activities. The compression of the lattice unit cells under load adds the cushioning effect, reducing wear and evenly distributing the load. The lattice structure 202 serves as a shock absorber, reducing wear and tear on the implant components and promoting even load distribution. The lattice structure 202 enclosed within the tibial liner body 102 enhances mobility, reduces the risk of implant loosening or dislocation, and reduces the friction between the implant components and thereby, enhances the longevity and performance of the knee replacement system.
In accordance with an embodiment, each lattice unit cell arranged in a row of the lattice structure 202 is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same row, and where each lattice unit cell arranged in a column of the lattice structure 202 is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same column. As shown in FIG. 2, each lattice unit cell arranged in the row is connected to adjacent lattice unit cells in the same row, ensuring a continuous connection. Similarly, each lattice unit cell arranged in the column is connected to adjacent lattice unit cells in the same column, maintaining a seamless connection. Such configuration of the lattice structure 202 is implemented to enhance the structural integrity and functionality of the tibial liner 100. By connecting the plurality of lattice unit cells 204 in the same row and column, gaps are eliminated, and a more robust and stable structure is ensured. Consequently, an even distribution of load and reduced risk of implant loosening or dislocation, are obtained. The structure of each lattice unit cell is shown and described in detail, for example, in FIGs. 3, 4 and 5.
Furthermore, FIG. 2 represents a superio-inferior side of the tibial liner 100, which means a top-bottom side (or surface) of the tibial liner 100. The superior (i.e., top) side represents the articulating surface of the tibial liner body 102, which interfaces with the femoral component. The articulating surface is the main bearing surface of the tibial liner 100. The inferior (i.e., bottom) side interfaces with the tibial base plate. Since, the tibial liner 100 is a three-dimensional object, the tibial liner 100 has more sides (or surfaces) in addition to the superior and inferior sides, such as anterior (front) side, posterior (back) side, medial (left) side and lateral (right) side. A medio-lateral side of the tibial liner 100 is shown and described in detail, for example, in FIG. 6. Moreover, depending on the specific design of the tibial liner 100 and the knee replacement system, the tibial liner 100 may have more complex geometries with additional features or surfaces.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of lattice unit cells 204 are arranged in the plurality of rows and the plurality of columns in the lattice structure 202. In an implementation scenario of the tibial liner 100, each of the plurality of rows and each of the plurality of columns in the lattice structure 202, may not be connected to each other such that there are spaces between lattice unit cells of adjacent rows and adjacent columns. In another implementation scenario of the tibial liner 100, each of the plurality of rows and each of the plurality of columns in the lattice structure 202, may be connected to each other such that there are no spaces between lattice unit cells of adjacent rows and adjacent columns.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a lattice unit cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1 and 2. With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown an isometric view 300 of a lattice unit cell 302. The lattice unit cell 302 corresponds to any one of the plurality of lattice unit cells 204 (of FIG. 2). The lattice unit cell 302 comprises an outer 3D frame structure 304 and an inner 3D frame structure 306. The outer 3D frame structure 304 comprises a first hexahedral shaped frame element 304A and a second hexahedral shaped frame element 304B. The inner 3D frame structure 306 comprises a tetrahedral shaped frame element 306A. The lattice unit cell 302, the outer 3D frame structure 304 and the inner 3D frame structure 306 are represented by dashed boxes, which are used for illustration purpose only.
In accordance with an embodiment, each lattice unit cell has a three-dimensional (3D) structure that comprises the outer 3D frame structure 304 defining a 3D boundary of the lattice unit cell 302 and the inner 3D frame structure 306 extending within the 3D boundary of each lattice unit cell. The term "outer 3D frame structure" refers to an external framework or arrangement of a three-dimensional object, providing support, shape, and stability to the overall structure. The term "inner 3D frame structure" refers to an internal framework or arrangement of a three-dimensional object, typically located within the outer frame structure, which contributes to the structural integrity to the overall structure. The lattice unit cell 302 of the tibial liner 100 is designed to have the 3D structure, for example, a closed flower-like structure. The lattice unit cell 302 with the 3D structure is configured to compress and add the cushioning effect to the tibial liner 100 when exposed to load or stresses. This compression causes an even distribution of the load, friction reduction, and enhanced mobility. Additionally, the compression in the lattice unit cell 302 minimizes the risk of implant loosening or dislocation, ensuring the stability and functionality of the knee implant.
In accordance with an embodiment, the outer 3D frame structure 304 of each lattice unit cell comprises at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements interconnected with each other and the inner 3D frame structure 306 comprises at least one tetrahedral shaped frame element, and where the tetrahedral shaped frame element is infused at the center of the at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements in the lattice structure 202 such that each lattice unit cell becomes gradually compressed under the load and decompressed when the load is released during knee movement when in operation. Alternatively, stated as, the outer 3D frame structure 304 of the lattice unit cell 302 comprises the at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements, for example, the first hexahedral shaped frame element 304A and the second hexahedral shaped frame element 304B. Similarly, the inner 3D frame structure 306 of the lattice unit cell 302 comprises the at least one tetrahedral shaped frame element, for example, the tetrahedral shaped frame element 306A which may look like a diamond. The tetrahedral shaped frame element 306A may also be referred to as a quadrilateral shaped frame element in two-dimensions (2D). The term "hexahedral shaped frame elements" refers to structural components that possess a six-sided shape, typically with flat faces. The term "tetrahedral shaped frame element" refers to structural components that exhibit a four-sided shape, typically with triangular faces. The tetrahedral shaped frame element 306A is infused at the center of the first hexahedral shaped frame element 304A and the second hexahedral shaped frame element 304B, shown and described in detail, for example, in FIG. 4. The lattice unit cell 302 gradually compresses under the load to provide cushioning to the tibial liner 100 and absorb shocks. When the load is released during knee movement, the lattice unit cell 320 decompresses, allowing for enhanced mobility and reducing strain on the knee. Alternatively, stated as, the faces of the first hexahedral shaped frame element 304A, the second hexahedral shaped frame element 304B and the tetrahedral shaped frame element 306A, compress downwards when the load is applied on the knee during knee movement, and decompress when the load is released thereby, reduce the strain on the knee during knee movement.
FIG. 4 is a top view of a lattice unit cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1, 2 and 3. With reference to FIG. 4, there is shown a top view 400 of the lattice unit cell 302. The top view 400 of the lattice unit cell 302 represents how the tetrahedral shaped frame element 306A is infused at the center of the first hexahedral shaped frame element 304A and the second hexahedral shaped frame element 304B and thus, create a unique structure (i.e., the lattice structure 202) incorporated in the tibial liner body 102 of the tibial liner 100.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a lattice unit cell, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown an isometric view 500 of a lattice unit cell 502. The lattice unit cell 502 is different from the lattice unit cell 302 (of FIG. 3) by virtue of comprising a central spring element 504 in addition to the outer 3D frame structure 304 and the inner 3D frame structure 306.
In accordance with an embodiment, each lattice unit cell further comprises the central spring element 504 positioned inside the inner 3D frame structure 306 of each lattice unit cell and connected to both the inner 3D frame structure 306 and the outer 3D frame structure 304 of each lattice unit cell, and where the central spring element 504 is configured to control additional deformation to the tibial liner 100, offering additional cushioning to a knee of a user during knee movement when in operation. The term "central spring element" refers to a component within a tibial liner for a knee replacement system that is designed to provide cushioning and support by utilizing a spring-like mechanism located at the center of the tibial liner. The central spring element 504 is connected to both the inner 3D frame structure 306 and the outer 3D frame structure 304 of each lattice unit cell. By including the central spring element 504, the tibial liner 100 offers enhanced cushioning to resist the load and stresses exerted on the knee (or a knee portion) during physical activities, like walking, running or jumping. This cushioning effect reduces wear and tear on the knee implant components, promotes even load distribution, minimizes friction, enhances mobility, and reduces the risk of implant loosening or dislocation.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a tibial liner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a cross-sectional view 600 of the tibial liner 100. The tibial liner 100 has a unique structure (i.e., the lattice structure 202) inside the tibial liner body 102, which provides the cushioning effect to the tibial liner 100. Moreover, FIG. 6 represents a medial-lateral side of the tibial liner 100. The medial-lateral side represent the left-right side of the tibial liner 100. The medial and lateral sides are changed depending upon the placement and orientation of the tibial liner 100. Moreover, the medial and lateral sides are opposite to each other depending on the placement of the tibial liner 100 on a left knee or a right knee. There is further shown that each of the plurality of lattice unit cells 204 are arranged in the plurality of columns and the plurality of rows in the lattice structure 202. Furthermore, there is shown that there are spaces between adjacent columns of the lattice structure 202.
Thus, the tibial liner 100 effectively absorbs shocks and stresses generated from daily physical activities by virtue of having the lattice structure 202 enclosed within the tibial liner body 102. The lattice structure 202 acts as a cushioning mechanism for absorbing shocks and stresses generated during daily activities like walking, running, or jumping. The lattice structure 202 further reduces wear and tear between knee implant components, and enhances their longevity. Furthermore, the lattice structure 202 promotes even load (i.e., physiological load) distribution and reduces the risk of implant failure and wear rate. Additionally, the deformable nature of the lattice unit cells allows for controlled deformation, providing a cushioning effect that enhances mobility and reduces the risk of implant loosening or dislocation. By combining aforementioned features, the tibial liner 100 provides an improved functionality and durability, and ultimately benefiting patients (or users) undergoing knee replacement surgery.
FIG. 7 illustrates a knee replacement system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown a knee replacement system 700 comprising a femoral component 702, a tibial base plate 704 and the tibial liner 100 (of FIG. 1) positioned between the femoral component 702 and the tibial base plate 704.
The femoral component 702 may be referred to as a prosthetic device that is designed to replace a distal end of a femur bone in a knee joint, providing stability and articulation with the tibial liner 100 in the knee replacement system 700.
The tibial base plate 704 may be referred to as a component of the knee replacement system 700 that is designed to be affixed to the tibia bone, providing a stable platform for the attachment of other components such as the tibial liner 100 and the femoral component 702, thereby facilitating the restoration of knee joint function.
The tibial liner 100 acts as a buffer between the femoral component 702 and the tibial base plate 704. The femoral component 702 is articulated on surface of the tibial liner 100 and thus, the load is carried to the tibial liner 100 due to which there are chances of load concentrated on the surface of the tibial liner 100 leading to implant failure and more wear rate. The lattice structure 202 enclosed within the tibial liner body 102 of the tibial liner 100 provides a cushioning effect to the tibial liner 100 under load leading to even distribution of load across the knee joint, prevent excessive stress on any knee portion, and reduce the friction between moving parts of the knee implant and therefore, enhances the mobility and reduces the risk of implant loosening or dislocation. The lattice structure 202 is configured to compress downward when the load is applied on the knee on the surface of the tibial liner 100 to give the cushioning effect.
The tibial liner 100 comprising the tibial liner body 102 having the articulating surface 104 and the lattice structure 202 enclosed within the tibial liner body 102 comprising the plurality of lattice unit cells 204 arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in the lattice structure 202, where each lattice unit cell is repeated to form the lattice structure 202 and is deformable to provide controlled deformation under load to the tibial liner 100.
In accordance with an embodiment, each lattice unit cell has a three-dimensional (3D) structure that comprises the outer 3D frame structure 304 defining a 3D boundary of the lattice unit cell 302 and the inner 3D frame structure 306 extending within the 3D boundary of each lattice unit cell. The 3D structure of each lattice unit is shown and described in detail, for example, in FIGs. 3, 4 and 5.
In accordance with an embodiment, the outer 3D frame structure 304 of each lattice unit cell comprises at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements interconnected with each other and the inner 3D frame structure 306 comprises at least one tetrahedral shaped frame element, and where the tetrahedral shaped frame element is infused at the center of the at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements in the lattice structure 202 such that each lattice unit cell becomes gradually compressed under the load and decompressed when the load is released during knee movement when in operation. The infusion of the tetrahedral shaped frame element at the center of the at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements in the lattice structure 202, is shown and described, for example, in FIGs. 3, 4 and 5.
In accordance with an embodiment, each lattice unit cell further comprises the central spring element 504 positioned inside the inner 3D frame structure 306 of each lattice unit cell and connected to both the inner 3D frame structure 306 and the outer 3D frame structure 304 of each lattice unit cell, and where the central spring element 504 is configured to control additional deformation to the tibial liner 100, offering additional cushioning to a knee of a user during knee movement when in operation. The lattice unit cell 502 with the central spring element 504 in addition to the outer 3D frame structure 304 and the inner 3D frame structure 306 is shown and described, for example, in FIG. 5.
In accordance with an embodiment, each lattice unit cell arranged in a row of the lattice structure 202 is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same row, and wherein each lattice unit cell arranged in a column of the lattice structure is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same column. The arrangement of the plurality of lattice unit cells 204 in the lattice structure 202 is shown and described, for example, in FIG. 2.
Modifications to embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as "including", "comprising", "incorporating", "have", "is" used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments. The word "optionally" is used herein to mean "is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments". It is appreciated that certain features of the present disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the present disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A tibial liner (100) for a knee replacement system (700), comprising:
a tibial liner body (102) having an articulating surface (104); and
a lattice structure (202) enclosed within the tibial liner body (102) comprising a plurality of lattice unit cells (204) arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in the lattice structure (202), wherein each lattice unit cell is repeated to form the lattice structure (202) and is deformable to provide controlled deformation under load to the tibial liner (100).

2. The tibial liner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lattice unit cell has a three-dimensional (3D) structure that comprises an outer 3D frame structure (304) defining a 3D boundary of the lattice unit cell (302) and an inner 3D frame structure (306) extending within the 3D boundary of each lattice unit cell.

3. The tibial liner (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer 3D frame structure (304) of each lattice unit cell comprises at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements interconnected with each other and the inner 3D frame structure (306) comprises at least one tetrahedral shaped frame element, and wherein the tetrahedral shaped frame element is infused at the center of the at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements in the lattice structure (202) such that each lattice unit cell becomes gradually compressed under the load and decompressed when the load is released during knee movement when in operation.

4. The tibial liner (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each lattice unit cell further comprises a central spring element (504) positioned inside the inner 3D frame structure (306) of each lattice unit cell and connected to both the inner 3D frame structure (306) and the outer 3D frame structure (304) of each lattice unit cell, and wherein the central spring element (504) is configured to control additional deformation to the tibial liner (100), offering additional cushioning to a knee of a user during knee movement when in operation.

5. The tibial liner (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lattice unit cell arranged in a row of the lattice structure (202) is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same row, and wherein each lattice unit cell arranged in a column of the lattice structure (202) is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same column.

6. A knee replacement system (700), comprising:
a femoral component (702);
a tibial base plate (704); and
a tibial liner (100) positioned between the femoral component (702) and the tibial base plate (704), the tibial liner (100) comprising:
a tibial liner body (102) having an articulating surface (104); and
a lattice structure (202) enclosed within the tibial liner body (102) comprising a plurality of lattice unit cells (204) arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in the lattice structure (202), wherein each lattice unit cell is repeated to form the lattice structure (202) and is deformable to provide controlled deformation under load to the tibial liner (100).

7. The knee replacement (700) system as claimed in claim 6, wherein each lattice unit cell has a three-dimensional (3D) structure that comprises an outer 3D frame structure (304) defining a 3D boundary of the lattice unit cell and an inner 3D frame structure (306) extending within the 3D boundary of each lattice unit cell.

8. The knee replacement system (700) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer 3D frame structure (304) of each lattice unit cell comprises at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements interconnected with each other and the inner 3D frame structure (306) comprises at least one tetrahedral shaped frame element, and wherein the tetrahedral shaped frame element is infused at the center of the at least two hexahedral shaped frame elements in the lattice structure (202) such that each lattice unit cell becomes gradually compressed under the load and decompressed when the load is released during knee movement when in operation.

9. The knee replacement system (700) as claimed in claim 7, wherein each lattice unit cell further comprises a central spring element (504) positioned inside the inner 3D frame structure (306) of each lattice unit cell and connected to both the inner 3D frame structure (306) and the outer 3D frame structure (304) of each lattice unit cell, and wherein the central spring element (504) is configured to control additional deformation to the tibial liner (100), offering additional cushioning to a knee of a user during knee movement when in operation.

10. The knee replacement system (700) as claimed in claim 6, wherein each lattice unit cell arranged in a row of the lattice structure (202) is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same row, and wherein each lattice unit cell arranged in a column of the lattice structure is configured to be connected to adjacent lattice unit cells of the same column.