Prosthetic temporomanibular condyle utilizing a prosthetic meniscus

Claim 1

A prosthetic apparatus for the temporomandibular joint, comprising: a prosthetic condyle comprising first and second plates that are adapted to be mounted to opposite sides of the ramus of the mandible; a prosthetic meniscus which is adapted to be inserted into the temporomandibular joint capsule between the temporal bone of the patient and the prosthetic condyle, the prosthetic meniscus comprises a resilient insert shaped to be received in the joint capsule positioned adjacent to the glenoid fossa and defining an extension thereof extending outside the joint capsule, reinforcing mesh is embedded within the resilient insert and integrally extends into the extension, and means for fixedly attaching the extending end of the extension to an outer bone surface of the temporal bone outside of the joint capsule, the extension being connected to the insert so as the permit relative movement between the insert and the extension; wherein said first plate of the prosthetic condyle is provided with a convex surface that is located directly adjacent to the prosthetic meniscus. said second and first plates comprising a flat portion, wherein the flat portion of the first plate is adapted to be mounted to the ramus of the mandible and said first plate also comprises a curved neck portion that extends from the flat portion and on which a convex portion is provided; wherein the flat portion of the first plate further comprises at least one polygonal aperture and, the flat protion of the second plate comprises at least one tang having a polygonal tip that is adapted to mate with with polygonal aperture in the first plate.