Patent ID: 11147903

Abstract:
A prosthesis for a synovial joint arthroplasty within a human body is provided. The prosthesis includes a first prosthetic component, the first prosthetic component including a first surface and the first prosthetic component being formed of a copolymer elastomer compound, the copolymer elastomer compound including a thermoplastic elastomer, a plurality of long glass fibers, the long glass fibers being randomly dispersed throughout the thermoplastic elastomer to improve surface fatigue life and inhibit surface crack propagation to the prosthesis and improve wear resistance of the prosthesis, a number of the plurality of long glass fibers protruding outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component; a second prosthetic component, the second prosthetic component including a second surface, the second surface of the second prosthetic component positioned proximate the first surface of the first prosthetic component to engage the plurality of long glass fibers protruding from the first surface of the first prosthetic component allowing the second surface of the second prosthetic component to slide relative to the first surface of first prosthetic component while contacting the plurality of long glass fibers protruding outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component, a gap, the gap created by the voids between the second surface of the second prosthetic component, the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the plurality of long glass fibers that protrude outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component, the gap further disposed between the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the second surface of the second prosthetic component to allow the passage of fluid between the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the second surface of the second prosthetic component, a first trough, the first trough formed as the plurality of long glass fibers protruding outward from the first surface are forced into the thermoplastic elastomer as the prosthesis is loaded, the first trough positioned proximate each of the plurality of long glass fibers and encasing a perimeter of each of the plurality of long glass fibers.