System, apparatus, and method for elbow arthroplasty

An elbow arthroplasty system comprising:

• a convex prosthetic component comprising a ball, wherein the ball is an ellipsoid or a portion of an ellipsoid, the convex prosthetic component configured to be surgically fitted and affixed to at least one member of one of the following groups:
• (i) a humerus, or (ii) a radius, an ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna, in a manner in which the ball is not rotatable with respect to the at least one member of the following groups:
• (i) the humerus, or (ii) the radius, the ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna to which the convex prosthetic component is affixed, wherein the ball comprises a surface coupled to a stem, and wherein the ball comprises an ellipsoidal outer surface extending continuously outward from a peripheral edge of the surface coupled to the stem;
• and
• a socket configured for coupling to at least one member of the other of the following groups:
• (i) the humerus, or (ii) the radius, the ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna, wherein the socket comprises a concave ellipsoidal surface defining a cavity that is configured to receive at least a portion of the ball, and
• wherein when the convex prosthetic component is affixed to the at least one member of the following groups:
• (i) the humerus, or (ii) the radius, the ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna and the socket is coupled to the at least one member of the other of the following groups:
• (i) the humerus, or (ii) the radius, the ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna, the ball is rotatable with respect to the socket about a first axis allowing flexion rotation and extension rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, a second axis allowing abduction rotation and adduction rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and a third axis allowing internal rotation and external rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and
• wherein the ball is insertable in the cavity when a longitudinal axis of the ulna is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the humerus.

An elbow arthroplasty system comprising:

• a convex prosthetic component comprising a ball, the convex prosthetic component configured to be surgically fitted and affixed to both of a proximal portion of a radius and a proximal portion of an ulna in a manner in which the ball is not rotatable with respect to both of the radius and the ulna, wherein the ball comprises a surface coupled to a stem, and wherein the ball comprises a spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal outer surface extending continuously outward from a peripheral edge of the surface coupled to the stem;
• and
• a socket configured for coupling to a distal portion of a humerus, wherein the socket defines a cavity that is configured to receive at least a portion of the ball, and
• wherein when the convex prosthetic component is affixed to both of the radius and the ulna and the socket is coupled to the humerus, the ball is rotatable with respect to the socket about a first axis allowing flexion rotation and extension rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, a second axis allowing abduction rotation and adduction rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and a third axis allowing internal rotation and external rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and
• wherein the ball is insertable in the cavity when a longitudinal axis of the ulna is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the humerus.

An elbow arthroplasty system comprising:

• a convex prosthetic component comprising a ball, the convex prosthetic component configured to be surgically fitted and affixed to a distal portion of a humerus in a manner in which the ball is not rotatable with respect to the humerus, wherein the ball comprises a surface coupled to a stem, and wherein the ball comprises a spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal outer surface extending continuously outward from a peripheral edge of the surface coupled to the stem;
• and
• a socket configured for coupling to both of a proximal portion of a radius and a proximal portion of an ulna, wherein the socket defines a cavity that is configured to receive at least a portion of the ball, and
• wherein when the convex prosthetic component is affixed to the humerus, and the socket is coupled to both of the radius and the ulna, the ball is rotatable with respect to the socket about a first axis allowing flexion rotation and extension rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, a second axis allowing abduction rotation and adduction rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and a third axis allowing internal rotation and external rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and
• wherein the ball is insertable in the cavity when a longitudinal axis of the ulna is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the humerus.

An elbow arthroplasty method comprising:

• providing a convex prosthetic component comprising a ball with a surface coupled to a stem, wherein the ball comprises a spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal outer surface extending continuously outward from a peripheral edge of the surface coupled to the stem;
• surgically fitting and affixing the stem of the convex prosthetic component to both of a proximal portion of a radius and a proximal portion of an ulna in a manner in which the ball is not rotatable with respect to both of the radius and the ulna;
• coupling a socket to a distal portion of a humerus, the socket having a concave surface defining a cavity and an opening through which the cavity is accessible;
• and
• positioning at least a portion of the ball within the cavity defined by the socket, and
• wherein when the ball is positioned within the cavity, the ball is rotatable with respect to the socket about a first axis allowing flexion rotation and extension rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, a second axis allowing abduction rotation and adduction rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and a third axis allowing internal rotation and external rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus.

An elbow arthroplasty method comprising:

• providing a convex prosthetic component comprising a ball with a surface coupled to a stem, wherein the ball comprises a spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal outer surface extending continuously outward from a peripheral edge of the surface coupled to the stem;
• surgically fitting and affixing the stem of the convex prosthetic component to a distal portion of a humerus in a manner in which the ball is not rotatable with respect to the humerus;
• coupling a socket to both of a proximal portion of a radius and a proximal portion of an ulna, the socket having a concave surface defining a cavity and an opening through which the cavity is accessible;
• and
• positioning at least a portion of the ball within the cavity defined by the socket, and
• wherein when the ball is positioned within the cavity, the ball is rotatable with respect to the socket about a first axis allowing flexion rotation and extension rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, a second axis allowing abduction rotation and adduction rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus, and a third axis allowing internal rotation and external rotation of the ulna relative to the humerus.