Abstract: A prosthesis for implantation in a femur has a metallic stem portion having a smooth outer surface and a distal tip. A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) sleeve surrounds and is in contact with the stem portion. The sleeve has a cavity for receiving the stem tip and a bottom of said cavity spaced from the tip. A metal sheath has a cavity for receiving the sleeve. The metal sheath has a porous outer tissue ingrowth surface and a roughened inner surface. The PMMA sleeve is bonded to the inner surface of the metal sheath with a PMMA bone cement. The stem portion, sleeve and metal sheath all taper inwardly moving from a proximal stem portion to a distal stem portion.

Abstract: A prosthetic hip implant comprising: a neck portion including a prosthetic head mounted thereon; and a stem portion coupled to the neck portion having a generally u-shaped cross-section, the stem curving towards a medial side of a femur on moving in a proximal to distal direction when the stem is implanted, a base portion of the u-shaped cross-section extending between first and second legs of the u-shaped cross-section, the base portion decreasing in thickness while moving in a proximal to distal direction and a length of the first and second legs of the u-shaped cross-section decreasing on moving in a proximal to distal direction.

Abstract: An acetabular cup shell inserter has a first end with a handle and a wire coupling element. The inserter has a shell insertion end opposite the first end having a radial expandable element for contacting an inner surface of the acetabular cup shell. A tubular portion is provided extending between the handle end and the insertion end. The tubular portion may be curved. A wire having a first end coupled to the coupling element at the first end is provided. The wire extends through the tubular portion and into the insertion end, the wire having a second end coupled to a moveable element for expanding the expandable element. The inserter includes a system for applying tension to the wire, such as by moving the wire in a direction towards the first end, the tension causing the expandable element to expand and grip the inner surface of the shell.

Abstract: A kit and a method for implanting a prosthetic acetabular cup in an acetabular has a prosthetic acetabular cup having an open end for receiving a head of a prosthetic femoral component. The cup has a flange extending outwardly from a surface thereof adjacent the open end. The flange is angled toward the acetabulum. The acetabulum is prepared to receive the prosthetic acetabular cup, the preparation includes forming a circumferential rim shaped seat in the bone around the acetabulum. The cup flange has a maximum diameter less than the outer diameter of the circumferential rim.

Abstract: A prosthetic glenoid component for attachment to a scapula to provide a bearing for a humeral head in a shoulder prosthesis has a one-piece bearing element having a concave lateral bearing surface for contact with the humeral head with which it is to be used. An opposing relatively hard medial surface of the bearing element is provided for attachment to a scapula. The lateral surface is a soft low modulus concave lateral bearing surface extends around the periphery of the bearing element and increases its thickness to provide a deformable rim to simulate the labrum in an anatomical glenoid. The bearing element preferably has two affixation pegs which project from the medial face thereof, one at a superior position which projects in a superior direction and the other which is located in an inferior position and which projects in an inferior direction which is angled in relation to the medial-lateral direction.

Abstract: A total hip prosthesis has a cup element having a part-spherical inner bearing surface and a spherical center through which the plane of a diametrical equator extends, and a ball shaped head which has a diameter to cooperate with the inner bearing surface to allow free movement therein. The cup has a flat cordal lower surface parallel to the plane of an equator of the ball. The inner bearing surface has two or more equally spaced extension portions which extend beyond the diametrical equator towards the mouth of the cup and two or more portion below the diametrical equator and between the extension portions. The surfaces of the two or more portion are relieved to enable the ball shaped head to be inserted into the cup by moving the flat on the ball across the face of one of the bearing surface extension portions and then rotating ball head to a position in which the flat on the ball head faces the mouth of the cup.

Abstract: A prosthetic bearing element and a method for forming the same includes an injection molded bearing made of PEEK resin with short carbon fiber reinforcement. The inner surface of the PEEK bearing is adapted to receive a ceramic or metal articulation component. The outer surface of the bearing layer includes sputtered titanium particles forming a porous backing layer. Hydroxyapatite is then sputtered or otherwise deposited onto the titanium backing layer to form an outer surface of the prosthetic bearing element. A barrier layer can be formed either of PEEK or titanium which layer is between the outer surface of the molded bearing and the inner surface of the porous structure. The barrier layer prevents tissue ingrowth into the bearing component. Hydroxyapatite is then sputtered onto the outer porous layer or applied by solution deposition. This outer surface of the prosthetic bearing element can then be coated with bone morphogenic protein.

Abstract: A prosthetic flexible bearing element cup or cup bearing liner is adapted for use with a part-spherical bearing head. The flexible bearing element includes an inner bearing surface which has a first portion which is substantially part-spherical about a hemispherical center located on a main loading axis, and a second portion at least part of which is relieved with respect to the first portion. The relieved part of the second portion has a radial distance (d) from the hemispherical center which increases from an inner end towards an outer end as the angle of rotation (?) about the hemispherical center increases towards the rim of the cup.

Abstract: A flexible acetabular cup is provided which has an inner bearing surface which comprises a substantially part-spherical portion and two independent arms projecting therefrom. The arms form a separation or opening in the rim of the cup with the external surface of the cup being shaped to cause the independent arms to be pre-stressed towards each other when the cup is inserted in place in a pre-prepared acetabular socket. One way of accomplishing this is to form the cup with the arms bowed outwardly at the time of manufacture.

Abstract: A femoral prosthetic component of a replacement hip joint comprises a stem for fixing in a medullary cavity. A separate proximal element is provided with a neck for receiving a modular ball head or having an integral ball head. A dove tail-shaped system is provided for securing the proximal component to the stem which includes a sliding tongue and groove joint. The tongue being provided on the stem by an undercut rail which extends in a medial-lateral direction and the groove being provided in the separate proximal element. The tongue and groove being tapered along their lengths.

Abstract: A prosthesis implantation inserter is used with a flexible acetabular cup which has an opening or openings in its peripheral rim. The inserter has engagement elements which in an operational position frictionally engage the opening or openings in the flexible cup rim. A release is provided which can be operated to withdraw the engagement element from the opening or openings. When the cup is held §in position it can be guided and inserted into the acetabulum and impacted. Once the position of the prosthesis satisfies the surgeon the engagement element can be removed by operating the release and the cup inserter is removed without any risk of compromising the position or the stability of the implant.

Abstract: A prosthetic bearing element and a method for forming the same includes an injection molded bearing made of PEEK resin with short carbon fiber reinforcement. The inner surface of the PEEK bearing is adapted to receive a ceramic or metal articulation component. The outer surface of the bearing layer includes sputtered titanium particles forming a porous backing layer. Hydroxyapatite is then sputtered or otherwise deposited onto the titanium backing layer to form an outer surface of the prosthetic bearing element. A barrier layer can be formed either of PEEK or titanium which layer is between the outer surface of the molded bearing and the inner surface of the porous structure. The barrier layer prevents tissue ingrowth into the bearing component. Hydroxyapatite is then sputtered onto the outer porous layer or applied by solution deposition. This outer surface of the prosthetic bearing element can then be coated with bone morphogenic protein.

Abstract: An acetabular rim cutter has an annular cutting face provided on a rotatable carrier. A coupler is provided for attaching the carrier to a rotational power source. A guide element is axially aligned with the cutting face to locate and align the cutting face on the acetabulum with which it is to be used. Preferably, the guide element is axially movable in relation to the cutting face and a resilient element is provided for biasing it axially away therefrom.

Abstract: A handling device to hold a bearing liner which is to be introduced into the socket of an acetabular cup has a support provided with an alignment element on the acetabular cup and having an opening which has a deformable rim adapted to receive the outer circumference of the bearing liner to be inserted. The bearing liner which may be, for example, conically tapered, is inserted into the opening in the support until the rim on the handling device is engaged. The held bearing liner can now be accurately located in a tapered socket of the acetabular cup utilizing the alignment device. Because the lower surface of the support rests against the upper rim of the acetabular cup, the complementary tapered bearing surfaces are not fully engaged. Engagement is achieved by pushing the bearing liner downwards through the deformable rim of the opening in the support so that the liner is correctly inserted. The handling device is now free of the bearing liner and can be removed.

Abstract: A prosthetic hip joint replacement system has a femoral component with a tapered trunion thereon. A modular head with a part-spherical outer surface terminating in a planar surface, engages the trunion. An acetabular cup member is provided for receiving the part-spherical head of a femoral implant, the cup member has a cavity having a part-spherical inner surface for receiving the modular head. The part-spherical inner surface of the cup defines a polar axis and an equator centered about a pole of the cavity. The cavity has a part-circular opening spaced from the pole a greater distance than the equator. Thus the inner part-spherical bearing surface extends beyond the 180° which the equator extends. The configuration of the part-spherical inner bearing surface causes a movement of translation of the head during rotation so that there is a crescent shaped retention area on each opposed side thereof.

Abstract: An acetabular cup shell inserter has a first end with a handle and a wire coupling element. The inserter has a shell insertion end opposite the first end having a radial expandable element for contacting an inner surface of the acetabular cup shell. A tubular portion is provided extending between the handle end and the insertion end. The tubular portion may be curved. A wire having a first end coupled to the coupling element at the first end is provided. The wire extends through the tubular portion and into the insertion end, the wire having a second end coupled to a moveable element for expanding the expandable element. The inserter includes a system for applying tension to the wire, such as by moving the wire in a direction towards the first end, the tension causing the expandable element to expand and grip the inner surface of the shell.

Abstract: An acetabular prosthesis having an outer member for engaging the acetabulum. The outer member has a part-spherical bearing surface terminating in a distal rim. The rim has a contour such that the portion thereof to be located between the ischium and the pubis extends distally further from an equator of the bearing surface than the contour to be implanted between the pubis and the illium and between the ischium and the illium.

Abstract: A head component for use in a prosthetic joint such as a hip joint. The head has a body adapted to engage a natural acetabulum or a prosthetic acetabular cup component. The head has a recess with a resilient sleeve located therein adapted to engage the trunnion of a prosthetic stem component with which it is to be used. The sleeve material is more deformable than the trunnion material and can deform under sufficient force to absorb any unevenness in the trunnion surface.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant cement deflector is provided for use in prosthetic surgery when employing an implant in the form of a cannulated phantom or trial prosthesis in combination with a cannulated or cannulated surgical prosthesis or a cannulated prosthesis without a phantom prosthesis. Each cannulated phantom prosthesis or cannulated prosthesis has an insert portion for location in a bone canal and a cannulation bore extending through the insert portion to receive a guide wire. The phantom includes at least one cement deflector element adapted to slide in sealing engagement on the guide wire and which can act to seal the interface between the guide wire and the surface of the distal end of the cannulation bore. The sheath used with the implant has a preformed unperforated sheath adapted to extend over the insert portion of the implant from its distal end to a position at or adjacent to its proximal end.

Abstract: A greater trochanter re-attachment device for use in transfemoral revision surgery which comprises a bracket adapted to be attached to a femoral prosthesis with which it is to be used. The bracket has adjustable clamping elements adapted to extend from the brackets and pass around the segment of bone containing the greater trochanter and which when secured in position holds the greater trochanter in position in relation to the femoral prosthesis.