Patent ID: 6475243
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An acetabular cup assembly for receiving a proximal end of a femoral component of a prosthetic hip implant, the femoral component including a head member and a neck member depending from the head member in a distal direction, the acetabular cup assembly having an external shell member with an internal cavity, and an internal bearing member for securement within the cavity to receive the head member of the femoral component for rotational movement within the bearing member, the internal bearing member being selected from a plurality of bearing members having different characteristics, including different securement characteristics, such that the acetabular cup assembly selectively is provided with characteristics corresponding to the characteristics of the selected internal bearing member, the acetabular cup assembly comprising:a metallic securing member for reception within the cavity of the shell member, the securing member extending between an upper end and a lower end and including an external securing element and an internal receptor element; an external receptor element on the bearing member, the external receptor element and the internal receptor element having interengagable structures compatible with the securement characteristics of the selected bearing member such that upon engagement of the external receptor element with the internal receptor element the internal bearing member is secured to the securing member with the lower end of the bearing member spaced upwardly a prescribed distance from the lower end of the securing member; and an internal securing element within the cavity of the shell member, the internal securing element being essentially complementary to the external securing element of the securing member such that upon selective engagement of the external securing element with the internal securing element the securing member is secured selectively within the shell member; the prescribed distance between the lower end of the bearing member and the lower end of the securing member being such that contact between the neck member of the femoral component and the lower end of the securing member precludes deleterious impingement of any portion of the femoral component distal of the head member upon the bearing member.