Method and apparatus for use of porous implants

An orthopedic prosthesis for implantation into a bone of a patient, said orthopedic prosthesis comprising a hemispherical body that includes an open end defining a perimeter, said orthopedic prosthesis further comprising:

• a porous metal shell adapted to be affixed within the bone, said porous metal shell defining continuous porous metal from an inner bearing engaging surface to an outer bone engaging surface, said outer bone engaging surface adapted to receive bone ingrowth after the implantation;
• a non-porous rim defined at a radial edge of said porous metal shell and being metallurgically bonded to said porous metal shell by an application of high pressure that results in a bond between said non-porous rim and said porous metal shell such that said non-porous rim is non-removable from said porous metal shell;
• and
• a bearing liner separately formed from and insertable through said non-porous rim to a position against said inner bearing engaging surface of said porous metal shell;
• wherein said non-porous rim comprises:
• an interlocking structure defined by respective radially overlapping portions of porous metal shell and non-porous rim;
• at least one pair of raised walls extending proud from a planar surface defined on an outer face of said non-porous rim, wherein each raised wall of said at least one pair of raised walls defines a retaining feature formed thereon;
• wherein said interlocking structure is formed entirely around said perimeter of the orthopedic prosthesis and defines a first annular collar that projects radially outwardly from said non-porous rim and a first annular pocket formed in said porous metal shell, wherein said first annular collar nests within said first annular pocket, and
• wherein said interlocking structure further defines a second annular collar that projects radially inwardly from said porous metal shell and a second annular pocket formed in said non-porous rim, wherein said second annular collar nests within said second annular rim.

An orthopedic prosthesis for implantation into a bone of a patient, said orthopedic prosthesis comprising a hemispherical body that includes an open end defining a perimeter, said orthopedic prosthesis further comprising:

• a porous metal shell adapted to be affixed within the bone, said porous metal shell defining continuous porous metal from an inner bearing engaging surface to an outer bone engaging surface, said outer bearing engaging surface adapted to receive bone ingrowth after the implantation, said porous metal shell defining a first annular pocket formed thereon and a first annular collar that projects radially inwardly therefrom;
• a non-porous rim defined at a radial edge of said porous metal shell and being metallurgically bonded to said porous metal shell such that said non-porous rim is non-removable from said porous metal shell, said non-porous rim defining a second annular pocket formed thereon and a second annular collar that projects radially outwardly therefrom, wherein each of said first and second annular collars nest within each of said first and second annular pockets, respectively, creating an overhanging interlock between said porous metal shell and said non-porous rim entirely around said perimeter, said non-porous rim further comprising at least one pair of raised walls extending proud and raised above a planar surface defined on an outer face of said non-porous rim, wherein each raised wall of said at least one pair of raised walls defines a retaining feature formed at least in part by a wall surface tapering generally inwardly from said outer face of said non-porous rim;
• and
• a bearing liner separately formed from and insertable through said non-porous rim to a position against said inner bearing engaging surface of said porous metal shell.