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US 5,456,686 AGranted
Implantation and removal of orthopedic prostheses
AssigneeBiomet, Inc.
InventorsRobert C. Klapper, James T. Caillouette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ultrasonic vibrations are employed for forming a cavity into which a prosthesis is implanted. This technique includes vibrating the prosthesis itself as it is inserted to enlarge the cavity and assure a tight fit.
Claims18
A method for implanting an orthopedic prosthesis into a bone, comprising the steps of:
- providing an orthopedic prosthesis comprising a stem portion to be implanted and a head portion coupled to said stem portion;
- exposing a bone into which said orthopedic prosthesis is to be implanted, said bone having a cancellous bone component and a cortical bone component;
- forming a medullary canal in said cancellous bone component, said canal having a shape which is generally complementary to the shape of at least said stem portion of said orthopedic prosthesis;
- coupling said orthopedic prosthesis to a source of ultrasonic energy;
- vibrating said source of ultrasonic energy at a frequency which generally corresponds to a resonant frequency of said prosthesis;
- and
- advancing at least said stem portion of said orthopedic prosthesis into said formed medullary canal while ultrasonically vibrating at least said stem portion of said orthopedic prosthesis with sufficient energy to modify a portion of the surrounding bone.
4 more elements
A method of implanting an orthopedic prosthesis having stem and head portions into a bone, comprising the steps of:
- coupling an ultrasonic transducer to an orthopedic prosthesis;
- forming a cavity in a bone;
- vibrating said ultrasonic transducer at a frequency which generally corresponds to a resonant frequency of said prosthesis;
- and
- implanting at least the stem portion of said orthopedic prosthesis into said formed cavity while ultrasonically vibrating at least a portion of said orthopedic prosthesis with sufficient energy to modify a portion of the surrounding bone.
2 more elements
A method of implanting an orthopedic prosthesis of a type having a porous surface for the ingrowth of cancellous bone, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a cavity in cancellous bone;
- coupling said orthopedic prosthesis to a source of ultrasonic energy;
- vibrating said source of ultrasonic energy at a frequency which generally corresponds to a resonant frequency of said prosthesis;
- and
- implanting at least a portion of said porous surface of said prosthesis into said formed cavity while vibrating said prosthesis with sufficient energy to disrupt a portion of the surrounding cancellous bone, said prosthesis being vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency which generally corresponds to a resonant frequency of said prosthesis.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.