Acetabular cups and methods of their manufacture

A method of manufacturing an acetabular cup, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming an inner liner having a bearing surface;
• forming an outer shell and a shoulder around a portion of said inner liner,
• the shoulder being integrally formed with the outer shell from a biomedically acceptable material to form a single integral unit.

An acetabular cup to be implanted in an acetabulum and used with a head or a neck of a femoral component, said acetabular cup comprising:

• an inner liner of metallic or ceramic material having an inner bearing surface and an outer mating surface with a rim located therebetween;
• and
• an outer shell having an inner mating surface and an outer connecting surface with an integrally formed shoulder positioned about said rim of said inner liner, said outer shell and shoulder being formed of a material that is softer than that used for the head or neck of the femoral component, wherein said outer mating surface of said inner liner substantially mates with said inner mating surface of said outer shell and said outer connecting surface is operable to be connected substantially adjacent the acetabulum.