ARTIFICIAL KNEE IMPLANT INCLUDING LIQUID BALLAST SUPPORTING/ROTATING SURFACES AND INCORPORATING FLEXIBLE MULTI-MATERIAL AND NATURAL LUBRICANT RETAINING MATRIX APPLIED TO A JOINT SURFACE

摘要

An artificial joint associated with an implant having a pair of three dimensional and structurally extending bones, each defining a contoured and opposing end face and collectively defining a joint location. A plasticized layer is applied to an end face of each bone and coacts in substantially frictional reducing fashion with an opposing end face of a further selected bone. The plasticized layer further includes at least a plurality of projecting contact locations, between which are defined a network of valleys for receiving, supporting, and distributing a lubricant across a surface area associated with the layer.