Joint-endoprosthesis and fixation method for the seat thereof

• US 6,478,824 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cross Border Management GmbH
• Original Assignee: Cross Border Management GmbH
• Inventors: Hagenmeyer, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Hieu
• Application Number:
  US09/744,056
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 601/1, 601/2, 601/46, 601/47, 623/22.11, 623/23.15, 623/23.25, 623/23.26
• US Class Current: 623/23.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30721 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/367 Proximal or metaphyseal parts of shafts trochanteric devices connected to said proximal parts A61F2/30739
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2864 by ultrasonic or acoustic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30733 Inserts placed into an endoprosthetic cavity, e.g. for modifying a material property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30805 Recesses of comparatively large area with respect to their low depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3611 Heads or epiphyseal parts of femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3631 with an integral complete or partial peripheral collar or bearing shoulder at its base
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/365 Connections of heads to necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4683 by applying ultrasonic vibrations
• 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 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

The invention relates to a joint endoprosthesis and a method for fixing the seat thereof. The endoprosthesis has a shaft that is anchored in the marrow cavity of a tubular bone, and an ultra source that is placed in or on the shaft and the radiation characteristics of which enable ultrasound waves to reach a gap between the spongiosa of the tubular bone and the surface of the external covering of the shaft. The associated method applies impinging ultrasound waves upon the gap.

Claims

1. A joint-endoprosthesis comprising

a shaft (1) having an external covering (7) and being anchored in the marrow cavity (2) of a tubular bone (4) having spongiosa (8)

an ultrasound source (5) on or in the shaft (1), said ultrasound source having radiation characteristics which enable ultrasound waves to reach a gap (6) between the spongiosa (8) of the tubular bone (4) and the external covering (7) of the shaft (1).

2. The joint-endoprosthesis according to claim 1, wherein

the ultrasound (5) is arranged such that the shaft (1) serves as an oscillation carrier.

3. The joint-endoprosthesis according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of ultrasound sources (5′

, 5″

, 5″

′

. . . ) are distributed around the shaft (1) or disposed in or on the shaft (1).

4. The joint-endoprosthesis according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein

each ultrasound source (5′

, 5″

, 5′

″

. . . ) is part of an ultrasound module (9) having an inherent voltage source (11).

5. The joint-endoprosthesis according to claim 4, wherein

the ultrasound module (9) comprises a multi-vibrator (13) with which the ultrasound source (5) is pulsed.

6. The joint-endoprosthesis according to claim 4, wherein

the ultrasound module (9) comprises a switch (15) for switching on/off the ultrasound source (5) and a sensor (17) for the remote-controlled activation of the switch (15) by means of a signal transmitter.

7. The joint-endoprosthesis according to claim 4, wherein

the ultrasound module (9) comprises a housing (12) accessible from outside through a cover plate (14) in the shaft (1).

8. The joint-endoprosthesis according to claim 4, wherein

the voltage source (11) is charged from outside.

9. A method of strengthening the retention of a joint endoprosthesis as in claim 1,

including the step of impinging said ultrasound waves upon said gap (6).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein

the impingement with ultrasound is pulsed.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein

an impingement lasting about 200 μ

sec is followed by a break of about 800 μ

sec.