Patent ID: 6013104
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A prosthesis for a bone joint implanted into a bone having a cavity, the prosthesis comprising:a component defining an operative portion of the joint, the component having an interface facing generally away from the joint which is in intimate contact with the bone, at least part of the interface including means promoting bony ingrowth with the bone; andan anchor connected to the component and disposed in the cavity, the anchor comprising:a relatively high strength, permanent core having a size and shape sufficiently smaller than a size and shape of the cavity so that contact between the bone and the core cannot occur when the core is disposed in the cavity, the core further having a length; andan outer layer in contact with the core which securely engages a bone surface defining the cavity, the layer being constructed of a biodegradable material so that it resorbs after a period of time and thereby vacates a portion of the cavity between the bone surface and the core, the outer layer having a length so that the length of the core extends over a major portion of the length of the outer layer;whereby, after the layer has resorbed, the core of the anchor is spaced from and out of contact with the bone surface defining the cavity so that substantially no load transference between the bone surface defining the cavity and the core takes place.