Method of dissolving the bond between interconnected components
OwnerEckart Engelbrecht, Elmar Niederinventors
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Abstract
An ultrasonic tool is used for dissolving the bond between nested components cemented together by a plastic layer. The vibrating tool causes softening of at least portions of the plastic layer, and subsequently the components can be readily detached from one another.
Claims4
In a method of dissolving the bond between an artificial prosthesis component and a bone of a patient wherein the component projects into a bone cavity and is embedded into a plastic bone cement bonded to the bone and to the component such that a space is maintained between the component and inner wall faces of the bone;
- the improvement comprising the following steps:
- (a) vibrating a tool in the ultrasonic range;
- (b) contacting the plastic bone cement with the vibrating tool for at least locally softening the plastic bone cement;
- (c) introducing the vibrating tool into said plastic bone cement in said space whereby a path is cut by the vibrating tool in the plastic bone cement;
- (d) repeating the contacting and introducing steps for providing a plurality of paths;
- (e) removing plastic bone cement portions from between said paths for weakening the bond;
- and
- (f) subsequent to step (e), removing said component from said cavity.
In a method of dissolving the bond between an artificial prosthesis component and a bone of a patient, wherein the component projects into a bone cavity and is embedded into a plastic bone cement bonded to the bone and to the component such that a space is maintained between the component and inner wall faces of the bone;
- the improvement comprising the following steps:
- (a) vibrating a tool in the ultrasonic range;
- (b) contacting the plastic bone cement with the vibrating tool for at least locally softening the plastic bone cement;
- (c) introducing the vibrating tool into said plastic bone cement in said space;
- (d) subsequent to step (c), discontinuing the vibration of the tool while it is in an inserted state in the plastic bone cement;
- (e) subsequent to step (d), allowing the softened plastic bone cement to solidify and adhere to said tool;
- (f) subsequent to step (e), removing said tool from said cavity together with the plastic bone cement adhered thereto;
- and
- (g) subsequent to step (f), removing said component from said cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.