Self-lubricating implantable articulation member
First Claim
1. An implantable article for placement within a joint space, comprising a unitary articulation member having an articulation surface and an opposed, bone-engaging surface, the articulation member havingone or more primary internal passageways extending internally within the member from a fluid communication inlet port disposed on a surface of the article adjacent to the joint space, andmeans for communicating fluid from the primary internal passageways to the articulation surface, the primary passageways and means for communicating being able to convey synovial fluid from within the joint space to the articulation surface to provide lubrication between the articulation member and another articulation component of an artificial joint.
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Abstract
Implantable articles, such as bone prostheses, are prepared by casting techniques and have incorporated therein fluid communicating passageways. The internal fluid communicating passageways convey synovial fluid from a joint space to the articulation surface of an artificial joint. The presence of synovial fluid at the articulation surface provides sufficient lubricity to the joint and enables artificial joints to utilize metal/metal, metal/ceramic, and ceramic/ceramic articulation couples without the need for a low friction polymeric lining material. Accordingly, artificial joint components formed according to the present invention are less likely to develop wear debris. The implantable articles are formed by a casting process from casting molds that are prepared using a three dimensional printing technique.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable article for placement within a joint space, comprising a unitary articulation member having an articulation surface and an opposed, bone-engaging surface, the articulation member having
one or more primary internal passageways extending internally within the member from a fluid communication inlet port disposed on a surface of the article adjacent to the joint space, and means for communicating fluid from the primary internal passageways to the articulation surface, the primary passageways and means for communicating being able to convey synovial fluid from within the joint space to the articulation surface to provide lubrication between the articulation member and another articulation component of an artificial joint.
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16. An implantable hip joint comprising:
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a hip femoral component having a distal, elongate shaft and a proximal neck region; a hemispherical femoral head component able to be secured to the neck, the head component having a smooth external articulation surface; an acetabular shell having an internal bone-engaging surface and an external, cup-like articulation surface for receiving the femoral head component, the acetabular shell having one or more primary internal passageways and means for communicating synovial fluid from the primary internal passageway to the articulation surface, the primary internal passageways extending internally within the acetabular shell from a fluid communication inlet port disposed on an external surface of the acetabular shell adjacent to a joint space. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An implantable article comprising a unitary articulation member having an articulation surface and an opposed, bone contacting surface, the articulation member having
one or more synovial fluid communicating passageways extending internally within the member from a fluid communication inlet port disposed on a surface of the article adjacent a joint space, and one or more secondary internal passageways, each extending from a fluid communication port on one of the primary internal passageways to a fluid communication outlet port disposed on the articulation surface, the primary and secondary internal passageways being able to convey synovial fluid from within the joint space to the articulation surface to provide lubrication between the articulation member and another articulation component of an artificial joint.
Specification