Polymeric bearing component
First Claim
1. A load bearing support for an orthopedic prosthesis component comprising a rigid backing component presenting a rigid mating surface having interstices, a polymeric bearing component having a load supporting surface allowing for repeated movable contact with another prosthesis component and wherein said polymeric bearing component also has a corresponding mating surface, said bearing component and backing component being joined together by heating said backing component to a temperature sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the bearing component at its mating surface and by forcing said components together continuously along the mating surfaces with sufficient pressure to cause the bearing component mating surface to flow into the interstices of the backing component mating surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of joining a polymeric part and a metallic or ceramic part. The result is a bearing for an orthopedic prosthesis comprising a rigid backing component presenting a mating surface having interstices, a polymeric bearing component having a corresponding mating surface, the bearing component and backing components being joined together by heating the backing component to a temperature sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the bearing component at its mating surface and by forcing the components together with sufficient pressure to cause the bearing component mating surface to flow into the interstices of the backing component mating surface.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A load bearing support for an orthopedic prosthesis component comprising a rigid backing component presenting a rigid mating surface having interstices, a polymeric bearing component having a load supporting surface allowing for repeated movable contact with another prosthesis component and wherein said polymeric bearing component also has a corresponding mating surface, said bearing component and backing component being joined together by heating said backing component to a temperature sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the bearing component at its mating surface and by forcing said components together continuously along the mating surfaces with sufficient pressure to cause the bearing component mating surface to flow into the interstices of the backing component mating surface.
- 6. A load bearing support for an orthopedic prosthesis component comprising a rigid metal backing component having a porous metallic rigid mating surface providing interstices, and a polymeric bearing component having a load supporting surface allowing for repeated movable contact with another prosthesis component and wherein said polymeric bearing component also has a mating surface in continuous mechanical engagement with said backing component along its mating surface, said mechanical engagement being provided by portions of said bearing components which have flowed into said interstices under the application of heat and pressure.
- 8. A method for joining a rigid backing component and a polymeric load bearing component of an orthopedic device having a load supporting surface allowing for repeated movable contact with another prosthesis component and wherein said polymeric bearing component also has a bearing mating surface comprising the steps of providing a porous coating continuous with and on a rigid mating surface of said backing component, heating said backing component to a temperature sufficient to reduce the viscosity of at least the corresponding bearing mating surface on said polymeric bearing, forcing said components together with sufficient pressure for sufficient time to cause said bearing mating surface of said polymeric load bearing component to continuously cover and flow into said porous coating while retaining the load support surface of the polymeric load bearing component.
Specification