Apparatus and method for locking an acetabular liner to an acetabular cup

A method for installing an acetabular prosthesis, the method comprising:

• implanting an acetabular shell component into a surgically-prepared acetabulum of a patient, wherein the acetabular shell component comprises an annular rim and a concave inner wall extending medially from the annular rim, and wherein an annular groove is defined in the concave inner wall;
• moving an acetabular bearing component into contact with the implanted acetabular shell component, wherein the acetabular bearing component comprises a convex outer surface extending from a rim of the acetabular bearing component to an apex and a concave e inner surface positioned opposite the outer surface, wherein when viewed in a cross sectional view taken in an anterior-posterior direction, the convex outer surface has a hemispherical surface encompassing the apex and, on each side of the hemispherical surface:
• (i) a curved lead-in surface, defined by a radius of curvature, connected to the hemispherical surface at a first tangent point and extending laterally away from the hemispherical surface, (ii) a flat flange surface connected to the curved lead-in surface at a second tangent point and extending laterally away from the curved lead-in surface, (iii) a curved relief surface extending laterally away from the flat flange surface, and (iv) a flat tapered surface extending laterally from the curved relief surface to the rim;
• and wherein a first imaginary line extends along the flat tapered surface and the curved relief surface is positioned between the concave inner surface and the first imaginary line;
• impacting the acetabular bearing component into the implanted acetabular shell component;
• and
• receiving the flat flange surface of the acetabular bearing component in the annular groove defined in the concave inner wall of the acetabular shell component.