Hip replacement methods and apparatus
OwnerJames M. Weissinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hip replacement is performed by separating a femoral head from a femoral neck in a patient's body, fragmenting of the femoral head and removing the fragments from the body, and molding in-situ in the body a neo femoral head joined to the femoral neck. The molding is performed by inserting a molding device, formed of bioabsorbable material, through a hole formed through the femoral head and the femoral neck. The molding device includes an expandable balloon which is expanded by the introduction of molding material, whereby the balloon forms the shape of the neo femoral head.
Claims16
A hip replacement method comprising the steps of:
- A) separating a femoral head from a femoral neck in a patient's body to form an end surface on the patient's femur;
- B) removing the femoral head from the patient's body;
- C) positioning a molding device in the patient's body for forming a cavity adjacent the end surface;
- and
- D) molding in-situ in the body a neo femoral head joined to the femoral neck by flowing a molding substance into the cavity and allowing the molding substance to harden into the shape of the neo femoral head.
A hip replacement method comprising the steps of:
- A) inserting a guide wire through a femoral neck and femoral head from the lateral cortex of a patient;
- B) drilling a hole through the femoral neck and femoral head from the lateral cortex, using the guide wire as a drill guide;
- C) inserting a saw into the hole using the guide wire as a cutter guide, and severing the femoral head from the femoral neck;
- D) inserting a burr into the body and reducing the femoral head to fragments while discharging the fragments through the hole;
- E) inserting through the hole a molding device formed of bioabsorbable material;
- F) positioning an expandable balloon of the molding device between the femoral neck and a wall of a respective hip socket;
- G) introducing a molding substance through a passage of a body of the molding device and into the balloon to expand the balloon;
- and
- H) allowing the molding substance to harden.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.