Mechanically attached elastomeric cover for prosthesis

• US 20040059429A1
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Impliant Ltd. (Premia Spine Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Impliant Ltd. (Premia Spine Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kaufman, Michael Earl, Amin, Uri, Benary, Raphael, Tuval, Yossi
• Application Number:
  US10/663,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.51
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3609 Femoral heads or necks; Connections of endoprosthetic heads or necks to endoprosthetic femoral shafts A61F2/3601 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3877 Patellae or trochleae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4014 Humeral heads or necks; Connections of endoprosthetic heads or necks to endoprosthetic humeral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4081 Glenoid components, e.g. cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30016 differing in hardness, e.g. Vickers, Shore, Brinell
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3007 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of elastic material, e.g. of elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30378 Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30451 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30487 Circumferential cooperating grooves and beads on cooperating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 : Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3065 : Details of the ball-shaped head
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30673 : Lubricating means, e.g. synovial pocket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30757 : made of a sheet covering the natural articular surface, e.g. cap
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30797 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30808 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30822 : Circumferential grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30827 : Plurality of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30934 : Special articulating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3611 : Heads or epiphyseal parts of femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4018 : Heads or epiphyseal parts of humerus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0019 : differing in hardness, e.g. Vickers, Shore, Brinell
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

A prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly including an implant body, and an elastomeric cover connected to the implant body by a mechanical fastener.

Claims

1. A prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly comprising:

an implant body; and

an elastomeric cover connected to said implant body by a mechanical fastener.

2. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a tongue-and-groove connection.

3. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tongue-and-groove connection comprises at least one indentation on an exterior surface of the implant body and at least one protrusion on an interior surface of the elastomeric cover and wherein the at least one protrusion is received in the at least one indentation.

4. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one indentation comprises an annular groove on the exterior surface of the implant body.

5. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the implant body is ball-shaped, wherein the elastomeric cover covers at least a portion of the ball-shaped implant body, and wherein the ball-shaped implant body includes a ridge encircling a portion of the implant body adapted to prevent said elastomeric cover from becoming detached from an exterior surface of said implant body.

6. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the implant body is ball-shaped and includes a tooth for contacting an inner surface of the elastomeric cover, wherein the elastomeric cover covers at least a portion of said ball-shaped implant body, and wherein the contact between the tooth and the inner surface of the elastomeric body forms a fluid-tight seal for preventing fluid from seeping between the elastomeric cover and the implant body.

7. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 6, wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a tongue-and-groove connection between the implant body and the elastomeric cover, and wherein the tooth protrudes from a groove portion of the tongue-and-groove connection.

8. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a retaining ring for retaining the elastomeric cover in position on the implant body.

9. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 8, wherein the retaining ring is secured to a non-articulating surface of the implant body with a mechanical fastener.

10. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 8, wherein the retaining ring is formed with an at least partial annular ridge that mates with an at least partial annular groove formed in at least one of the elastomer cover and the implant body.

11. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 8, wherein the retaining ring permits local relative motion between the elastomeric cover and the implant body.

12. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the implant body comprises a plate portion having at least one mounting member that protrudes from an interior surface thereof, and at least one fastener on an exterior surface thereof for fastening the elastomeric cover to the implant body.

13. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 12, wherein the at least one fastener includes an at least partial annular lip spaced from the plate portion by an at least partially annular spacer ring, and the elastomeric cover comprises an inwardly facing lip that fits into a gap between the at least partially annular lip and the plate portion.

14. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 13, wherein the at least partially annular lip, the plate portion and the at least partial spacer ring are formed of one integral body.

15. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 13, wherein the at least partially annular lip, the plate portion and the at least partial spacer ring are formed of separate pieces, and the elastomeric cover comprises a partition wall that fits into a gap between separate pieces.

16. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 12, further comprising an inner core positioned inwards of the elastomeric cover.

17. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 16, wherein the inner core is constructed of a material with different properties than the elastomeric cover.

18. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 17, wherein the inner core is made of a material that is more compliant and more resilient than the material of the elastomeric cover.

19. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical fastener includes a threaded fastener that fastens the elastomeric cover to the implant body.

20. The prosthetic orthopedic implant assembly according to claim 19, wherein the threaded fastener comprises a threaded ring that mates with complementary formed threads on the implant body.