Hip arthroplasty implants

An acetabular implant for hip arthroplasty comprising:

• an acetabular shell configured to be attached to an acetabulum of a patient, the acetabular shell having a proximal end and a distal end, the acetabular shell including an inner surface defining a shell cavity, the inner surface having a tapered shell section tapering inward toward a central axis of the acetabular shell as the tapered shell section extends distally toward the distal end and a spherical shell section disposed distally of the tapered shell section, the acetabular shell including at least one shell interlocking structure;
• and
• an acetabular liner sized and shaped to be disposed in the shell cavity of the acetabular shell, the acetabular liner including an outer surface having a tapered liner section corresponding to the taper of the tapered shell section, a transition liner section disposed distally of the tapered liner section, and a spherical liner section disposed distally of the transition liner section and corresponding to the spherical shell section, the tapered liner section configured to engage the tapered shell section to inhibit movement of the acetabular liner relative to the acetabular shell when the acetabular liner is disposed in the shell cavity of the acetabular shell, the acetabular liner including at least one liner interlocking structure configured to mate with the at least one shell interlocking structure to inhibit rotation of the acetabular liner relative to the acetabular shell about the central axis when the acetabular liner is disposed in the shell cavity of the acetabular shell, the acetabular liner defining a liner cavity, wherein the spherical shell section and spherical liner section are shaped to have a clearance therebetween when the snap-fit retainer and the snap-fit receiver form the snap-fit connection,
• wherein the transition liner section is generally conical.

A method of implanting an acetabular implant into an acetabulum of a patient, the method comprising:

• coupling an acetabular shell to a shell insertion tool, the acetabular shell including an inner surface defining a shell cavity, the inner surface having a tapered shell section tapering inward toward a central axis of the acetabular shell as the tapered shell section extends distally toward a distal end of the acetabular shell and a spherical shell section disposed distally of the tapered shell section;
• inhibiting rotation of the acetabular shell relative to the shell insertion tool via a tool interlocking structure of the acetabular shell mating with the shell insertion tool while the acetabular shell and the shell insertion tool are coupled together;
• implanting the acetabular shell into the acetabulum;
• and
• inserting an acetabular liner into the shell cavity of the acetabular shell, the acetabular liner including an outer surface having a tapered liner section corresponding to the taper of the tapered shell section, a transition liner section disposed distally of the tapered liner section, and a spherical liner section disposed distally of the transition liner section and corresponding to the spherical shell section, the tapered liner section engaging the tapered shell section to inhibit movement of the acetabular liner relative to the acetabular shell, wherein the spherical shell section and spherical liner section are shaped to have a clearance therebetween when the tapered liner section engages the tapered shell section,
• wherein the transition liner section is generally conical.