Abstract: A prosthesis (13) is provided which includes at least two intersecting cone-like bodies (18,20) whose outer surfaces engage the end of a patient's bone (28). Cavities (180,200) for receiving the cone-like bodies (18,20) can be readily formed in the patient's bone with a high level of precision. Through the use of the two cone-like bodies, the prosthesis can have neutral version and yet be used at various version angles without sacrificing the integrity of the patient's bone or the degree of securement of the prosthesis.

Abstract: An orthopaedic prosthesis system for replacement of an articulating portion of a long bone includes a sleeve, a stem, and a neck. The sleeve has an outer bone engagement surface and includes opposed proximal and distal female taper regions. The stem has a distal end for fixation within a long bone and a proximal end including a male taper region engaged with the distal female taper of the sleeve. The neck has a taper post that engages the proximal taper of the sleeve. Both the neck and the sleeve may define axial bores, the axial bore in the sleeve communicating with and being generally coaxial with the two opposed female tapers, and the neck axial bore extending through the taper post. A connecting element can engage the stem, pass through the axial bore in the sleeve, extend into the axial bore in the neck taper post, and engage the neck.

Abstract: A prosthesis (13) is provided which includes at least two intersecting cone-like bodies (18,20) whose outer surfaces engage the end of a patient's bone (28). Cavities (180,200) for receiving the cone-like bodies (18,20) can be readily formed in the patient's bone with a high level of precision. Through the use of the two cone-like bodies, the prosthesis can have neutral version and yet be used at various version angles without sacrificing the integrity of the patient's bone or the degree of securement of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint for implanting in the body is provided wherein the sooket portion of the joint can have various orientations with respect to the patient's anatomy, and the orientation used for a particular patient can be selected and/or changed in situ, that is, during or after implantation of the joint. In addition, the configuration of the joint, e.g., constrained versus semi-constrained, as well as the materials making up the socket portion of the joint, e.g., plastic versus metal, can be selected and/or changed in situ.

Abstract: An implantable article includes a textured bone engaging surface having a surface texture pattern formed by a plurality of furrows separated by ridges that are integral with the base material from which the article is formed. The furrows are formed by ablating in the surface a series of intersecting holes. The side walls of the furrows have scalloped edges. The ablating energy can be applied by techniques such as laser ablation and hydrojet ablation.

Abstract: An implantable article includes a textured bone engaging surface having a surface texture pattern formed by a plurality of furrows separated by ridges that are integral with the base material from which the article is formed. The furrows are formed by ablating in the surface a series of intersecting holes. The side walls of the furrows have scalloped edges. The ablating energy can be applied by techniques such as laser ablation and hydrojet ablation.

Abstract: An acetabular cup for use with a plastic socket bearing is provided. The cup includes a circular aperture having a stepped configuration. A domed disc is inserted in the aperture and deformed to seal the aperture. In this way, plastic particles, which are generated by wear of the bearing during use, are prevented from migrating through the aperture to the bone surrounding and supporting the prosthesis.

Abstract: An acetabular prosthesis (8) having an orientable socket bearing (13) and a cup (10) for fixation to bone (6) is provided. The bearing (13) has a male taper (26) which locks into a corresponding female taper (28) formed in the cup (10) . Two screws (15) are used to seat the bearing (13) in the cup (10) and to further secure the taper lock. The assembly of the bearing (13) and cup (10) forms a set of peripheral apertures (4) through which bone screws (15) can pass to further secure the cup (10) to the patient's bone (6).

Abstract: A sintered coating (13) for an implantable prosthesis (10) is provided having 1) interstices into which tissue or bone can grow, and 2) increased surface roughness which provides enhanced initial press-fit fixation. In certain embodiments, the coating includes at least two sets of particles (46,48) having different mean diameters. The sizes and numbers of particles are chosen so as to produce a matrix of smaller particles (48) in which are embedded a lesser number of spaced-apart larger particles (46). The smaller particles (48) provide support for the larger particles (46), and the larger particles (46) stand proud of the smaller particles (48) to provide the enhanced surface roughness. In other embodiments, the coating includes both generally smaller spherically-shaped (SS) particles and generally larger non-spherically-shaped (NSS) particles, with the NSS particles providing enhanced surface roughness and the SS particles providing support for the NSS particles.

Abstract: A sinterable coating for an implantable prosthesis is provided having 1) interstices into which tissue or bone can grow, and 2) increased surface roughness which provides enhanced initial press-fit fixation. The coating includes at least two sets of particles having different mean diameters. The sizes and numbers of particles are chosen so as to produce a matrix of smaller particles in which are embedded a lesser number of spaced-apart larger particles. The smaller particles provide support for the larger particles, and the larger particles stand proud of the smaller particles to provide the enhanced surface roughness.

Abstract: An acetabular prosthesis (8) having an orientable metal socket bearing (13) and a cup (10) for fixation to bone (6) is provided. The bearing (13) has a male taper (26) which locks into a corresponding female taper (28) formed in the cup (10). Two screws (15) are used to seat the bearing (13) in the cup (10) and to further secure the taper lock. The assembly of the apertures (4) through which bone screws (15) can pass to further secure the cup (10) to the patient's bone (6).

Abstract: A sinterable coating for an implantable prosthesis is provided having 1) interstices into which tissue or bone can grow, and 2) increased surface roughness which provides enhanced initial press-fit fixation. The coating includes at least two sets of particles having different mean diameters. The sizes and numbers of particles are chosen so as to produce a matrix of smaller particles in which are embedded a lesser number of spaced-apart larger particles. The smaller particles provide support for the larger particles, and the larger particles stand proud of the smaller particles to provide the enhanced surface roughness.

Abstract: An oblong acetabular cup which includes a cavity for receiving a bearing element is provided. The plane of the opening into the cavity is skewed relative to the prosthesis' longitudinal plane so as to achieve adduction correction, anteversion correction, or both adduction and anteversion correction. In certain preferred embodiments, the prosthesis is constructed from two components which can be oriented with respect to one another to achieve different directions and amounts of anteversion correction. In some embodiments, the two components form a cusp in the outside surface of the prosthesis. Surgical instruments and surgical methods for implanting the prostheses are disclosed.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint is provided having an extended position, an intermediate position, and a flexed position. The motion of the joint includes a minor segment from the extended position to the intermediate position, and a major segment from the intermediate position to the flexed position. The center of pressure between the femoral component and the tibial component moves rearward on the tibia during the minor segment. During the major segment, the joint flexes about an axis of rotation with the bearing surfaces on the femoral and tibial components being in congruent engagement. The distal surface of the femoral component includes two rails for engagement with a patellar prosthesis. The contour of the rails is either a straight line or a concave curve to provide line contact between the rails and the patellar prosthesis.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint for implanting in the body is provided wherein the socket portion of the joint can have various orientations with respect to the patient's anatomy, and the orientation used for a particular patient can be selected and/or changed in situ, that is, during or after implantation of the joint. In addition, the configuration of the joint, e.g., constrained versus semiconstrained, as well as the materials making up the socket portion of the joint, e.g., plastic versus metal, can be selected and/or changed in situ.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint for implating in the body is provided wherein the socket portion of the joint can have various orientations with respect to the patient's anatomy, and the orientation used for a particular patient can be selected and/or changed in situ, that is, during or after implantation of the joint. In addition, the configuration of the joint, e.g., constrained versus semi-constrained, as well as the materials making up the socket portion of the joint, e.g., plastic versus metal, can be selected and/or changed in situ.

Abstract: A socket bearing for implantation in a patient's body as part of a ball and socket joint is provided. The joint includes a ball portion and a socket portion. The ball portion includes a ball connected to a neck, and the socket portion includes two spaced-apart coaxial pin members which engage the socket bearing and allow the bearing to rotate in the assembled joint. The inner surface of the bearing forms a cavity for receiving the ball, and the outer surface includes two spaced-apart, cylindrically-shaped surfaces for receiving the pin members. The bearing can encompass either more than half or less than half of the ball, so that in the assembled joint, the ball is either physically constrained or not physically constrained within the bearing.

Abstract: Artificial joint prostheses are provided whose outer surfaces include a screw thread which is interrupted by porous-coated columns so as to produce an alternating pattern of threaded columns adjacent to porous-coated columns. The threaded columns provide initial mechanical fixation of the prosthesis to bone and the porous-coated columns provide long-term fixation through bone ingrowth.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint is provided having an extended position, an intermediate position, and a flexed position. The motion of the joint includes a minor segment from the extended position to the intermediate position, and a major segment from the intermediate position to the flexed position. The center of pressure between the femoral component and the tibial component moves rearward on the tibia during the minor segment. During the major segment, the joint flexes about an axis of rotation with the bearing surfaces on the femoral and tibial components being in congruent engagement. The distal surface of the femoral component includes two rails for engagement with a patellar prosthesis. The contour of the rails is either a straight line or a concave curve to provide line contact between the rails and the patellar prosthesis.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint for implanting in the body is provided wherein the socket portion of the joint can have various orientations with respect to the patient's anatomy, and the orientation used for a particular patient can be selected and/or changed in situ, that is, during or after implantation of the joint. In addition, the configuration of the joint, e.g., constrained versus semi-constrained, as well as the materials making up the socket portion of the joint, e.g., plastic versus metal, can be selected and/or changed in situ. The questions raised in reexamination request Nos. 90/004,732, filed Aug. 26, 1997 and 90/005,596, filed Jun. 22, 1999, have been considered and the results are reflected in this reissue.