# US 8,784,494 B2 · Shoulder implant method

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- Number: US 8,784,494 B2
- Document ID: US8784494B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/487,783
- Filed: 2012-06-04
- Published: 2012-12-06
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-03
- Applicants: Daniel William Dro
- Inventors: Daniel William Dro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784494B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4014: {Humeral heads or necks; Connections of endoprosthetic heads or necks to endoprosthetic humeral shafts}
- A61F 2002/30332: {Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/30378: {Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30616: {Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations}
- A61F 2002/30663: {multiaxial, e.g. biaxial; multipolar, e.g. bipolar or having an intermediate shell articulating between the ball and the socket}
- A61F 2002/4029: {Necks}
- A61F 2002/4037: {Connections of heads to necks}
- A61F 2002/4044: {Connections of necks to shafts}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

An apparatus has a head, a neck, and a stem. The head is shaped to be insertable into an interval. The interval is formed using a reamed upper glenoid, a coracoid, and an acromion. The neck is in communication with the head. The neck is dimensioned to seat the head in the interval formed by the reamed upper glenoid, the coracoid, and the acromion. The stem is in communication with the neck. The stem is shaped to be insertable into a humerus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of replacing a shoulder of a patient with an implantable device, the implantable device comprising a bipolar head, neck, and stem, the method comprising:
(a) accessing a first interval formed by the upper glenoid, the coracoid, and the acromion of the patient;
(b) reaming at least a portion of the upper glenoid;
(c) forming a second interval with the reamed upper glenoid, the coracoid, and the acromion, wherein the second interval is recessed more deeply into the shoulder region of the patient than the first interval; and
(d) seating the bipolar head within the second interval.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the bipolar head is seated sufficiently deep within the second interval.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising trialing different neck lengths.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a portion of the humerus and inserting the stem into the humerus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a neck length between 5 mm and 60 mm.

### Claim 6

A method of replacing a shoulder joint of a patient using an implantable device, the method comprising:
(a) surgically accessing a shoulder joint;
(b) removing at least a portion of the humerus;
(c) removing at least a portion of the upper glenoid;
(d) forming an interval with the upper glenoid, the coracoid, and the acromion;
(e) inserting the implantable device into the interval such that at least a portion of the implantable device is in communication with the upper glenoid;
wherein the shoulder joint has rotator cuff arthropathy.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the implantable device comprises a stem, head, and neck.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising trialing different lengths of the implantable device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the act of removing the upper glenoid is performed by reaming the upper glenoid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising inserting a test implantable device prior to the step of inserting the implantable device.