Self-lubricating implantable articulation member

An implantable hip joint comprising:

• a hip femoral component having a distal, elongate shaft and a proximal neck region;
• a hemispherical femoral head component able to be secured to the neck, the head component having a smooth external articulation surface;
• an acetabular shell having an internal bone-engaging surface and an external, cup-like articulation surface for receiving the femoral head component, the acetabular shell having one or more primary internal passageways and means for communicating synovial fluid from the primary internal passageway to the articulation surface, the primary internal passageways extending internally within the acetabular shell from a fluid communication inlet port disposed on an external surface of the acetabular shell adjacent to a joint space.

An implantable article comprising a unitary articulation member having an articulation surface and an opposed, bone contacting surface, the articulation member having

• one or more synovial fluid communicating passageways extending internally within the member from a fluid communication inlet port disposed on a surface of the article adjacent a joint space, and
• one or more secondary internal passageways, each extending from a fluid communication port on one of the primary internal passageways to a fluid communication outlet port disposed on the articulation surface, the primary and secondary internal passageways being able to convey synovial fluid from within the joint space to the articulation surface to provide lubrication between the articulation member and another articulation component of an artificial joint.