Apparatus and method for plugging holes in an acetabular shell component
First Claim
1. An acetabular prosthesis having at least one selectively pluggable hole, said acetabular prosthesis comprising:
- an acetabular shell component having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface with at least a first selectively pluggable hole passing therethrough, said first selectively pluggable hole defined by at least a first sidewall;
a plug having a second sidewall, said second sidewall of said plug operable to engage said first sidewall of said first selectively pluggable hole to substantially seal said first selectively pluggable hole; and
a removal instrument operable to removably engage said plug, said removal instrument including a means for preventing said inner concave surface of said acetabular shell component from being scratched during removal of said plug from said acetabular shell component with said removal instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for plugging holes in an acetabular shell component. The apparatus includes an acetabular shell component having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface with at least a first selectively pluggable hole passing therethrough. The first selectively pluggable hole being defined by at least a cylindrical threaded sidewall. The apparatus further includes a plug having a tapered threaded sidewall. The cylindrical threaded sidewall of the first selectively pluggable hole threadably receives the tapered threaded sidewall of the plug to create an interference fit. This interference fit substantially seals the first selectively pluggable hole to minimize migration of debris through the first selectively pluggable hole. The apparatus further includes a second selectively pluggable hole and a removal instrument which is operable to removably engage a second plug without scratching the inner concave surface of the acetabular shell component during the removal of the second plug.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An acetabular prosthesis having at least one selectively pluggable hole, said acetabular prosthesis comprising:
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an acetabular shell component having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface with at least a first selectively pluggable hole passing therethrough, said first selectively pluggable hole defined by at least a first sidewall; a plug having a second sidewall, said second sidewall of said plug operable to engage said first sidewall of said first selectively pluggable hole to substantially seal said first selectively pluggable hole; and a removal instrument operable to removably engage said plug, said removal instrument including a means for preventing said inner concave surface of said acetabular shell component from being scratched during removal of said plug from said acetabular shell component with said removal instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An acetabular prosthesis having at least one selectively pluggable hole, said acetabular prosthesis comprising:
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an acetabular shell component having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface with at least a first selectively pluggable hole passing therethrough, said first selectively pluggable hole defined by at least a first sidewall; a plug having a second sidewall and a threaded bore, said second sidewall of said plug operable to engage said first sidewall of said first selectively pluggable hole to substantially seal said first selectively pluggable hole; and a removal instrument operable to remove said plug from said first selectively pluggable hole, said removal instrument including; a plug puller knob having a first threaded sidewall and a second threaded sidewall, said first threaded sidewall operable to threadably engage said threaded bore of said plug, and a socket having an internal threaded bore, said internal threaded bore operable to threadably receive said second threaded sidewall of said plug puller knob, wherein rotating said socket draws said plug puller knob into said internal threaded bore to rotate and remove said plug from said acetabular shell component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification