Method and apparatus for use of porous implants
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for attaching a metal insert to a substrate, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate that comprises an implantable orthopedic component of nonporous metal;
forming a three-dimensional cavity defined by inner walls of the substrate, the cavity having a first dimension along a first axis, the cavity defining an opening to an outer surface of the substrate, the opening at least partially bounded by a ledge and having a second dimension along the first axis, the first dimension greater than the second dimension wherein the inner walls include side walls and a closed end wall, the closed end wall having a surface that faces the opening;
forming a porous metal insert having a three-dimensional shape mateable with the cavity and a third dimension along the first axis greater than the second dimension, the porous metal insert having a porous metal outer surface configured to encourage ingrowth of soft tissue;
cooling the insert below ambient temperature until the third dimension is equal or smaller than the second dimension;
inserting the insert through the opening; and
retaining the insert in the cavity by the ledge upon return to ambient temperature wherein the porous metal outer surface of the porous metal insert engages at least the closed end wall of the inner walls of the substrate.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An orthopedic implant. The implant includes a metal portion having an internal three-dimensional cavity, the cavity having an opening to an outer surface of the metal portion, a ledge circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the opening, and a porous metal insert formed in a three-dimensional shape conforming to the shape of the cavity and enclosed by the cavity without being bonded to the cavity. The insert is retained inside the cavity by the ledge.
459 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for attaching a metal insert to a substrate, the method comprising:
-
providing a substrate that comprises an implantable orthopedic component of nonporous metal; forming a three-dimensional cavity defined by inner walls of the substrate, the cavity having a first dimension along a first axis, the cavity defining an opening to an outer surface of the substrate, the opening at least partially bounded by a ledge and having a second dimension along the first axis, the first dimension greater than the second dimension wherein the inner walls include side walls and a closed end wall, the closed end wall having a surface that faces the opening; forming a porous metal insert having a three-dimensional shape mateable with the cavity and a third dimension along the first axis greater than the second dimension, the porous metal insert having a porous metal outer surface configured to encourage ingrowth of soft tissue; cooling the insert below ambient temperature until the third dimension is equal or smaller than the second dimension; inserting the insert through the opening; and retaining the insert in the cavity by the ledge upon return to ambient temperature wherein the porous metal outer surface of the porous metal insert engages at least the closed end wall of the inner walls of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for attaching a porous metal insert to a metal substrate, the method comprising:
-
providing a metal substrate that is a solid metal portion of an orthopedic implant; cooling a three-dimensional porous metal insert below ambient temperature, the porous metal insert having a porous metal outer surface configured to encourage ingrowth of soft tissue; reducing at least a first dimension of the insert; inserting the cooled metal insert through an opening into a three-dimensional cavity defined by inner walls of the metal substrate, the opening having a second dimension parallel to the first dimension of the insert wherein the inner walls include side walls and a closed end wall, the closed end wall having a surface that faces the opening; returning the metal insert to ambient temperature; returning the first dimension to a length greater than the second dimension; and retaining the metal insert in the cavity of the substrate wherein the porous metal outer surface of the porous metal insert engages at least the closed end wall of the inner walls of the metal substrate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for attaching a metal insert to a substrate, the method comprising:
-
providing an orthopedic implant that comprises a substrate formed of nonporous metal; forming an opening in the substrate, the opening having a first outer dimension along a first axis; forming a cavity defined by inner walls of the substrate, the cavity having a second outer dimension along the first axis, the second outer dimension being greater than the first outer dimension, wherein a retaining ledge is formed on the substrate at a transition between the opening and the cavity wherein the inner walls include side walls and a closed end wall, the closed end wall having a surface that faces the opening; forming a porous metal insert made entirely of porous metal material configured to encourage ingrowth of soft tissue and having a three-dimensional shape mateable with the cavity and a third outer dimension along the first axis greater than the first outer dimension; cooling the insert below ambient temperature until the third outer dimension is equal or smaller than the first outer dimension; inserting the insert through the opening; and retaining the insert in the cavity by the retaining ledge upon return to ambient temperature wherein the porous metal insert engages at least the closed end wall of the inner walls of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification