US 12,251,314 B2
Prosthetic knee implant systems and methods with linked tibial rotation
Brian D. Earl, South Bend, IN (US); and Alexander P. Wolfe, Fort Wayne, IN (US)
Assigned to Zimmer, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed by Zimmer, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/367,782.
Application 18/367,782 is a continuation of application No. 17/137,992, filed on Dec. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,793,650.
Application 17/137,992 is a continuation of application No. 15/903,846, filed on Feb. 23, 2018, granted, now 10,905,560.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/464,076, filed on Feb. 27, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0000576 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/56 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61F 2/38 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/3868 (2013.01) [A61F 2/384 (2013.01); A61F 2/3859 (2013.01); A61F 2/4657 (2013.01); A61F 2/4684 (2013.01); A61F 2/30771 (2013.01); A61F 2/3886 (2013.01); A61F 2/389 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4658 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining rotation between a femur and a tibia in a knee joint, the method comprising:
resecting a femur to produce a resected femoral surface;
resecting a tibia to produce a resected tibial surface;
positioning the tibia into flexion;
attaching a femoral component to the resected femoral surface;
inserting a pin into the femoral component;
inserting a tibial component into an anterior opening between resections of the tibia and femur;
extending the tibia into extension so the tibia rotates against the tibial component;
locking the pin in engagement with the tibial component to link the tibial component and the femoral component;
allowing the tibia to rotate against the tibial component into a natural position;
identifying a location of the femur at an indicator on the tibial component; and
marking the location of the femur on the tibia using the indicator.