before providing a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention , attention is invited to the view of fig1 wherein a prior art total knee arthroplasty is indicated . as shown in the view of fig1 , a prior art tibial tray is shown at 20 and includes a prior art stem 22 which has been operatively placed within the prepared tibia 24 . a prior art condylar bearing surface 26 is provided above prior art tibial tray 20 , and a prior art femoral component 28 is shown in operative attachment to femur 30 . in order to position prior art tibial tray 20 and its stem 22 within tibia 24 , rather large exposure of the proximal tibia and in - line axial impaction of the prior art tibial tray 20 is required . because cement is typically used to fix tibial tray 20 and stem 22 to the tibia 24 , excess cement will tend to be expelled circumferentially as tray 20 is positioned . embodiments of the improved tibial tray of this invention are shown in the remaining figures , and attention is first invited to the view of fig2 wherein a first embodiment of the improved tibial tray is generally indicated as 32 . tibial tray 32 includes a top surface 34 and a bottom surface 36 . integrally formed on bottom surface 36 and extending downwardly therefrom is asymmetric keel 38 . shown in phantom in the view of fig2 is an anterior view of the patient &# 39 ; s tibia 40 and fibula 42 . also shown in the view of fig2 are a pair of opposed fins 44 . fins 44 are integrally formed on bottom surface 36 and extend downwardly , each including a keel edge 46 that is integral with a corresponding first side 48 and second side 50 of asymmetric keel 38 . the view of fig3 is a superior plan illustration of placement of tibial tray 32 , as shown in the view of fig2 . the view of fig4 illustrates placement of the improved tibial tray on the patient &# 39 ; s other leg . as can be seen in the views of fig2 - 4 , proper placement of the improved tibial tray 32 of this invention calls for positioning the tray 32 such that the major depth of asymmetric keel 38 , indicated by edge 52 , is anchored into tibia 40 where the bone is more dense . not only is asymmetric keel 38 “ deeper ” at edge 52 , tapering to its opposed end , but also asymmetric keel 38 may be curved as clearly seen in the views of fig3 and 4 in order to provide even greater stability for the final total knee arthroplasty . dotted line a - a depicts the curvature of asymmetric keel 38 , and dotted line b - b illustrates the medial placement of improved tibial tray 32 on the patient &# 39 ; s tibia 40 . referring once again to the view of fig2 and 6 , one can see that in this embodiment for improved tibial tray 32 each of the fins 44 may curve away from edge 52 , and each of the fins 44 are tapered to ease insertion . the view of fig5 depicts a second embodiment for the improved tibial tray of this invention , generally indicated as 32 a . in this embodiment for tibial tray 32 a , fins 44 a are not curved , and asymmetric keel 38 a is not curved . furthermore , the embodiment for tibial tray 32 a may include a single fin 44 a , and the use of a single fin may be employed in all embodiments of this invention . turning to the view of fig8 , a third embodiment for the improved tibial tray is generally indicated as 32 b . as can be clearly seen in the view of fig8 , asymmetric keel 38 b is of a curved configuration , rather than angular . of course , asymmetric keel 38 b still includes an edge 52 b that extends downwardly from bottom surface 36 to a maximum depth within tibia 40 . in this embodiment of improved tibial tray 32 b , asymmetric keel 38 b is preferably curved as is keel 38 , but may be straight as described with regard to keel 38 a . the view of fig7 is provided to illustrate preparation of tibia 40 for insertion and attachment of the improved tibial tray of this invention . a trial tray 54 is attached to tibia 40 as by pins 56 , then a chisel 58 is repeatedly struck by mallet 60 to form a void 62 for receiving the asymmetric keel of the improved tibial tray . it is , of course , to be understood that chisel 58 would be dimensioned and configured to provide a void 62 corresponding to the configuration of the chosen asymmetric keel . the views of fig9 and 10 depict insertion of improved tibial tray 32 b after preparation of the patient &# 39 ; s tibia 40 , as represented in the view of fig7 . the phantom oval shown in each of fig9 and 10 schematically represents a minimal incision 64 for placement of tray 32 b . as indicated by directional arrows c , tray 32 b is inserted through incision 64 and rotated downwardly for final placement . it is primarily the shape of asymmetric keel 38 b which permits insertion through a minimal incision 64 . it can also be appreciated that as tray 32 b is inserted into the prepared tibia 40 , cement ( not shown ) will extravasate toward the surgeon , rather than away from the surgeon . this necessarily enhances the ease with which excess cement may be removed . fig1 schematically depicts the completed total knee arthroplasty using the improved tibial tray 32 of this invention . thus , the unitary improved tibial tray of this invention , including embodiments 32 , 32 a , and 32 b , is not only more easily inserted by the surgeon with minimally invasive incisions , but also simplifies manufacturing costs . the slope of the asymmetric keel allows the surgeon to insert the posterolateral portion of the tray first , with the advantageous result that the cement mantle is then compressed from posterolateral to anteromedial as the tray is tipped and rotated into correct position and impacted for final placement . as indicated above , this allows the cement to extravasate toward the surgeon , facilitating intraoperative cleaning . by virtue of the larger medial portion of the asymmetric keel , appropriate rotational and angular stability of the tray is maintained . of course , this is also enhanced by the presence of at least one fin . it will thus be seen that the objects set forth above , among those made apparent from the preceding description , are efficiently obtained and , since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention , it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense . it is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described , and all statements of the scope of the invention which , as a matter of language , might be said to fall therebetween .
an improved one piece tibial tray uniquely characterized by its construction including an asymmetric keel extending from the bottom of the tibial tray base plate , whereby insertion of the tray during arthroplasty may be accomplished with a smaller than normal incision , enhancing the efficacy and safety of the surgical procedure . a fin on either or both sides of the asymmetric fin may be provided for enhanced stability of the tray .