Patent ID: 6827742
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61L

Abstract:
A prosthetic acetabular component for a prosthetic total hip joint, said component comprising two discrete constructs, one of said constructs being a metal base construct adapted to engage a bone and the other of said constructs being a polyethylene bearing construct connectable to the metal base construct in snap-fit fashion and adapted to articulate with a prosthetic femoral stem component on an opposing side of the joint, wherein said metal base construct comprises two adjacent layers of different metals, a first metal adapted to engage the bone surface and a second metal adapted to engage the polyethylene bearing construct, the first metal having a different primary constituent than the second metal, the first metal being adapted to provide a superior bone-engaging face, and the second metal being adapted to provide a superior polyethylene-engaging face;wherein said metal base construct is provided with an internal groove, and said polyethylene bearing construct is provided with a flange adapted to snap into the groove to provide the snap-fit connectability of said two discrete constructs; and wherein the flange is of substantially annular configuration in plan view and extends from said bearing construct peripheral wall outwardly and distally, and said metal base construct is provided with an inwardly-projecting rail which in part defines the internal groove, and the flange is undercut by a substantially annular groove, such that the flange is adapted to flex distally into the annular groove to override the rail and snap into the metal construct internal groove.