Patent Description:
Articulating regions of a patient's anatomy can include areas where two bone sections move relative to each other. For example, an acetabulum can provide a region for articulation with a femoral head. The articulating region, however, can become injured or worn, and thus require replacement with one or more implants. Such implants can replace the acetabulum, the femoral head, and various other portions of the femur, or other combinations thereof. The replacement of both the acetabulum and the femoral head is generally referred to as a total joint replacement.

Acetabular implants, apparatuses, prostheses, or devices (used interchangeably herein without the intent to limit) are one type of implant currently used to address acetabular defects in which large portions of a patient's medial wall are missing. Recently, referring to <FIG>, dual mobility acetabular implants <NUM> have been developed. Dual mobility acetabular implants <NUM> have shown promise in reducing the rate of dislocation by introducing increased femoral head sizes as compared to conventional acetabular apparatuses. Generally speaking, as shown, current dual mobility acetabular implants <NUM> include an acetabular cup or shell <NUM> for implanting into a patient's acetabular region, a liner <NUM> arranged and configured to be inserted inside of the cup <NUM>, and a dual mobility bearing including an insert <NUM> arranged and configured to be inserted inside of the liner <NUM> and a femoral head <NUM> of, for example, a hip implant <NUM>.

In use, the acetabular cup or shell <NUM> (used interchangeably herein without the intent to limit) is implanted into the patient's acetabular region. The acetabular cup <NUM> may be secured to the patient's acetabulum via, for example, fasteners, adhesive, cement, etc. Next, a liner <NUM> is implanted into the acetabular cup <NUM>. In use, the liner <NUM> may be coupled to the cup <NUM> via, for example, an adhesive, cement, etc. Thus, the liner <NUM> may be inhibited from moving, articulating, or the like, relative to the cup <NUM>.

Subsequently, the dual mobility bearing is positioned within the liner <NUM>. In addition, the dual mobility bearing is arranged and configured to receive the femoral neck <NUM> of, for example, the hip implant <NUM>. In use, the dual mobility bearing includes an insert <NUM> and a femoral head <NUM>, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to articulate relative to the liner <NUM>. Moreover, the femoral head <NUM> is arranged and configured to articulate relative to the insert <NUM>. Thus arranged, dual mobility acetabular implants <NUM> utilize two points of articulation to provide increased range of motion. That is, dual mobility acetabular implants <NUM> enable articulation between the femoral head <NUM> and the insert <NUM>, and between the insert <NUM> and the liner <NUM> (e.g., insert <NUM> includes a convex, generally spherical outer bearing surface, which articulates against the concave, generally hemispheric, interior cavity of the liner <NUM> and a concave, generally spherical, inner bearing surface which articulates against the convex, outer surface of the femoral head <NUM>, which is coupled to the femoral neck <NUM> of the hip implant <NUM>).

Generally speaking, the majority of articulation in the hip is shared between the inner and outer bearing surfaces of the insert <NUM>. The majority of articulation occurs at the inner bearing surface (e.g., articulating bearing surface between the interior cavity of the insert <NUM> and the outer bearing surface of the femoral head <NUM>), a lesser degree of articulation occurs at the larger, outer bearing surface of the insert <NUM> (e.g., articulating bearing surface between the interior cavity of the liner <NUM> and the outer bearing surface of the insert <NUM>). Motion along the outer bearing surface may be generated by a plurality of biomechanical forces or design features inclusive of, but not limited to, a moment created by an offset between the centers of rotation of the inner and outer bearing surfaces, direct impingement with the femoral neck, excess friction at the inner femoral head (e.g., inner bearing surface), or a combination of such forces within the joint. When impingement contact occurs between the neck of the femoral component, it occurs at the annular orifice, rim, entrance, mouth, etc. (terms used interchangeably herein without the intent to distinction) of the insert <NUM>. If excessive or repeated contact occurs, damage to the insert <NUM> may occur thereby reducing the inserts <NUM> ability to constrain the femoral head <NUM>, which may increase the risk of intraprosthetic dissociation or dislocation of the femoral head <NUM> from the insert <NUM> ("IPD").

Many orthopaedic manufacturers provide a variety of femoral implants to address a variety of different disease states. Within each of these implant families, a variety of femoral neck geometries exist with changing lengths, neck angles, tapers, and varied cross-sectional geometries along the femoral neck from the stem of the femoral component to the coupling mechanism (e.g., taper locking mechanism, etc.), which mechanically couples the femoral head. In addition, femoral heads may be offered with a variety of distances between the coupling mechanism and the center of rotation of the femoral head, which effectively changes the length of the femoral neck. The modularity of the femoral components (e.g., stem and femoral heads) provide great flexibility during surgery to reconstitute the natural anatomy of the patient's hip. However, this variety of options presents a myriad of different impingement conditions, each one presenting unique wear and/or damage conditions.

Generally speaking, to address this concern, due to the variety of impingement conditions provided by orthopaedic hip arthroplasty implant systems, current inserts <NUM> include a singular annular chamfer at the rim of the insert <NUM>. This single chamfer may, however, result in relatively high contact stress conditions for a number of implant combinations. That is, orthopaedic manufacturers have incorporated a single chamfer into the insert <NUM>. However, the chamfer is generally designed based upon one particular or anticipated condition (e.g., chamfer has been designed with a particular femoral neck and femoral head combination). In use, as surgeons utilize different sized components, the insert's chamfer may not be properly designed for the actual femoral neck and femoral head combination being utilized thus resulting in increased contact stresses between the insert <NUM> and the femoral neck <NUM>. For example, it has been found that increased deformation may occur along the insert's chamfer due to the reduced contact area between the femoral neck <NUM> and the insert <NUM>. That is, it has been found that incorporation of a single chamfer may cause focal impingement at the femoral neck <NUM> leading to damage such as, for example, a raised rim and localized failure.

Examples of prior art dual mobility acetabular implants incorporating one chamfer to avoid focal impingement contact are found in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Thus, it would be beneficial to provide an insert for use in a dual mobility acetabular implant that is arranged and configured to reduce contact stress between the insert and the femoral neck for a variety of impingement conditions.

The present invention is defined by claim <NUM>.

The present disclosure provides a dual mobility acetabular implant arranged and configured to be implanted into a patient's bone (e.g., a patient's acetabulum). The dual mobility acetabular implant including an improved insert including a plurality of chamfers such as, for example, two or three chamfers to define a plurality of differently arranged contact surfaces or areas such as, for example, two, three, four, or more contact surfaces arranged and configured to contact the femoral neck. Thus arranged, by incorporating a plurality of chamfers defining a plurality of contact surfaces, the insert is arranged and configured to better accommodate a variety of different component configurations and/or impingement conditions provided by orthopaedic hip arthroplasty implant systems thereby reducing contact stress between the insert and the femoral neck during use.

That is, in one embodiment, an insert arranged and configured for use in a dual mobility acetabular bearing for incorporation into a dual mobility acetabular implant is disclosed. The insert includes a plurality or multiple chamfers positioned at the rim of the insert. Thus arranged, the insert provides multiple different and distinct contact surfaces for contacting the femoral neck or head of an associated hip implant system at the point of impingement with the insert. By providing increased contact surfaces, the insert is better able to accommodate any number of different femoral neck and head configurations as opposed to current inserts, which only utilize a single chamfer optimized for a limited number of femoral neck and head combinations.

In one embodiment, a dual mobility acetabular implant is disclosed. The dual mobility acetabular implant including an acetabular cup, a liner, and an insert. The acetabular cup being arranged and configured to be positioned within a patient's acetabulum, the acetabular cup including a body having an interior cavity. The liner being arranged and configured to be inserted into the interior cavity of the acetabular cup, the liner including a body having an interior cavity. The insert being arranged and configured to be inserted into the interior cavity of the liner, the insert including a body extending from an annular rim to a polar end, the body including an interior cavity, a convex exterior surface arranged and configured to articulate relative to an inner surface of the interior cavity of the liner, and a concave interior surface arranged and configured to receive and articulate relative to an outer surface of a femoral head. The annular rim of the insert including at least a first, second, and third chamfer defining first, second, and third surfaces arranged and configured to contact the femoral head or femoral neck.

In one embodiment, the plurality of chamfers define a variety of geometries based on a variety of impingement conditions presented by families of femoral implants and femoral head designs.

In one embodiment, the multiple contact surfaces are arranged and configured to accommodate a variety of different femoral component configurations or impingement conditions in order to reduce contact stress between the insert and the femoral head or femoral neck.

In one embodiment, each of the first, second, and third distinct contact surfaces is arranged and configured to contact the femoral head or femoral neck depending on a particular configuration of the femoral neck and femoral head used.

In one embodiment, the annular rim includes a first angled transition between the first and second contact surfaces and a second angled transition between the second and third contact surfaces.

In one embodiment, the annular rim includes a first radiused transition between the first and second contact surfaces and a second radiused transition between the second and third contact surfaces.

In one example not forming part of the invention, the plurality of chamfers include first and second chamfers defining first and second distinct contact surfaces, each of the first and second distinct contact surfaces is arranged and configured to contact the femoral head or femoral neck.

In one embodiment, the first contact surface is arranged and configured to contact the femoral head or femoral neck during a first impingement condition, the second contact surface is arranged and configured to contact the femoral head or femoral neck during a second impingement condition and the third contact surface is arranged and configured to contact the femoral head or femoral neck during a third impingement condition.

In one embodiment, the insert includes an inner articulating surface arranged and configured to contact the femoral head and an outer articulating surface arranged and configured to contact the liner, wherein a rotational center point of the inner articulating surface is offset relative to a rotational center point of the outer articulating surface.

In one embodiment, the insert wherein a rotational center point of the inner bearing surface is offset relative to a rotational center point of the outer bearing surface.

In one embodiment, the insert is manufactured from a highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). In addition, and/or alternatively, the insert includes a hydrophilic, low-friction bearing surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide numerous advantages. For example, by providing a dual mobility acetabular implant with an insert including a plurality of chamfers defining multiple contact surfaces arranged and configured to contact the femoral neck and/or head, the insert is specifically designed to accommodate different neck and head combinations thus decreasing contact stress caused by various impingement conditions caused when the insert contacts the femoral neck and/or head thereby decreasing damage to the insert and preventing, or at least inhibiting, unintended escape or dislocation of the femoral head from the dual mobility acetabular implant (e.g., insert). That is, by incorporating multiple chamfers into the insert, the insert is specifically designed to account for a variety of neck lengths and geometries thereby reducing the potential for damage caused by periodic impingement contact between the femoral neck and insert.

Further features and advantages of at least some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the disclosed device will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The drawings are merely representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the disclosure. The drawings are intended to depict example embodiments of the disclosure, and therefore are not considered as limiting in scope. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

Furthermore, certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views may be in the form of "slices", or "near-sighted" cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines otherwise visible in a "true" cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity. Furthermore, for clarity, some reference numbers may be omitted in certain drawings.

Embodiments of an improved dual mobility acetabular implant for hip revision surgery will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are presented. More particularly, embodiments of an improved insert arranged and configured to be incorporated into a dual mobility acetabular implant will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are presented. As will be described and illustrated, the improved insert includes at least three chamfers to define a plurality of differently arranged contact surfaces for contacting the femoral neck or head to better accommodate a variety of different component configurations and/or impingement conditions provided by orthopaedic hip arthroplasty implant systems to reduce contact stress between the insert and the femoral neck or head.

In accordance with one or more features of the present disclosure, as will be described in greater detail below, an insert arranged and configured for use in a dual mobility acetabular bearing for incorporation into a dual mobility acetabular implant is disclosed. The insert includes at least three chamfers positioned at the rim of the insert. Thus arranged, the insert provides at least three different and distinct contact surfaces for contacting the femoral neck of an associated hip implant system at the point of impingement with the insert. By providing increased contact surfaces, line contact between the rim of the insert and the femoral neck can be achieved for a wide variety of component combinations thereby reducing contact stress therebetween and thus reducing the degree of deformation damage from intermittent impingement, which increases the long-term attachment strength between the femoral neck or head and the insert (e.g., by providing variable rim geometries, the insert is better able to accommodate any number of different femoral neck and head configurations as opposed to current inserts, which only utilize a single chamfer optimized for a limited number of femoral neck and head combinations).

Generally speaking, a dual mobility acetabular implant is arranged and configured to be positioned within a patient's acetabulum and may be used in combination with a femoral or hip implant such as, for example, femoral or hip implant <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

The acetabular implant <NUM> includes an acetabular cup <NUM>, a liner <NUM>, and a femoral head <NUM> of hip implant <NUM>.

In addition, the acetabular implant includes an insert positioned between the liner and the femoral head.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the acetabular cup is arranged and configured to be implanted into the patient's acetabular region (e.g., patient's acetabulum). The acetabular cup may be secured to the patient's acetabulum via, for example, fasteners, adhesive, cement, or combinations thereof, etc. For example, the acetabular cup may include a hollow body (hereinafter "body") extending from an annular rim to an apex or polar end thereof. The body includes a hollow interior cavity, a generally curved or convex outer exterior surface, and a generally curved or concave interior surface. In addition, the acetabular cup may include one or more fastener openings arranged and configured to receive one or more bone fasteners (not shown).

The liner is arranged and configured to be inserted into the interior cavity of the acetabular cup. The liner may be coupled to the acetabular cup via, for example, an adhesive, cement, etc. Thus, once the cement hardens, the liner may be inhibited from moving, articulating, or the like, relative to the acetabular cup. For example, the liner may include a hollow body extending from an annular rim to an apex or polar end thereof. The body including a hollow interior cavity, a generally curved or convex outer exterior surface, and a generally curved or concave interior surface.

In accordance with one or more features of the present disclosure, the dual mobility acetabular implant incorporates an improved insert as will be described herein. For example, referring to <FIG>, a non-limiting example embodiment of an insert <NUM> in accordance with one or more features of the present disclosure is illustrated. In use, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to be used in a dual mobility acetabular implant such as, for example, dual mobility acetabular implant <NUM>. In use, the insert <NUM> is used in place of conventional inserts <NUM> in an acetabular implant <NUM>. As illustrated, the insert <NUM>, as will be described in greater detail below, includes a plurality of chamfers of varied geometries based on a variety of impingement conditions presented by families of stemmed femoral implants and femoral head designs offered by manufacturers. Thus arranged, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to provide an increased contact surface for most configurations while providing a reduced angle of incidence between the femoral neck and annular rim of the insert <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to be received within the interior cavity of the liner. In addition, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to receive a femoral head such as, for example, femoral head <NUM> of the hip or femoral implant <NUM>. In use, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to articulate within and relative to the liner and the femoral head is arranged and configured to articulate within and relative to the insert <NUM>. As illustrated, the insert <NUM> includes a hollow body <NUM> (hereinafter "body") extending from an annular rim <NUM> to an apex or polar end <NUM> thereof. The body <NUM> including a hollow interior cavity <NUM>. The body <NUM> defines a generally curved or convex outer exterior surface <NUM> arranged and configured to articulate relative to an inner surface of the interior cavity of the liner and a generally curved or concave interior surface <NUM> arranged and configured to articulate relative to an outer surface of the femoral head. Thus arranged, the insert <NUM> includes a convex, generally spherical outer bearing surface which articulates against the liner and a concave, generally spherical, inner bearing surface which articulates against the convex, femoral head, which may be coupled to a femoral neck via, for example, a mechanical taper lock.

In use, the insert <NUM> is coupled to or receives the femoral head by any mechanism now known or hereafter developed. In one embodiment, the insert <NUM> may be arranged and configured to snap-fit over the femoral head in order to retain the femoral head and prevent unintended escape or dislocation of the femoral head from the insert <NUM>.

In accordance with one or more features of the present disclosure and in contrast to conventional dual mobility inserts that include a single annular chamfer at the rim thereof, the insert <NUM> according to features of the present disclosure includes at least three chamfers defining three contact surfaces or areas for contacting the femoral component (e.g., neck or head). Referring to <FIG>, the insert <NUM> includes a rim <NUM> including first, second, and third chamfers defining first, second, and third contact surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, although this is one configuration and the rim may include a higher number of chamfers defining a different number of contact surfaces such as, for example four chamfers, etc. In use, each of the chamfers define a contact area or surface arranged and configured to contact, for example, the femoral neck of the hip implant. In use, each of the contact areas or surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is arranged and configured to contact the femoral neck depending on a different configuration of femoral neck and femoral head combination (e.g., depending on the surgeon selected combination of femoral neck and femoral head, the insert includes a contact area or surface arranged and configured to contact the femoral neck to reduce the contact stress during use). Thus, in use, the insert <NUM> includes three different contact areas or surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> designed for different femoral combinations. As a result, the insert <NUM> is better able to accommodate different surgeon selected combinations of neck and/or heads. Thus, in accordance with features of the present disclosure, the insert <NUM> is better able to ensure that contact between the contact surfaces or areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> on the rim <NUM> of the insert <NUM> and the femoral neck initiates with a decreased line contact stress condition with an approximate cylinder-to-cylinder condition thus increasing the length or area over which contact stress is distributed (e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>, and as will be described in greater detail below by way of example, incorporation of at least three chamfers defining multiple contact areas or surfaces ensures that the insert <NUM> in accordance with the features of the present disclosure contacts the femoral neck <NUM> along a line LC extending between adjacent chamfer points CP. Thus arranged, a cylindrical line contact stress condition is achieved). Thus, by incorporating at least three chamfers and/or contact surfaces, reduced stress impingement conditions are created for a variety of different femoral combinations across different product lines and variants within each product line.

For example, referring to <FIG>, in one example embodiment, the insert <NUM> includes a rim <NUM> including three chamfer angles defining a plurality of contact surfaces or areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> designed to accommodate or correspond with a different femoral head length at the rim thereof. As illustrated, in one embodiment, the plurality of contact surfaces or areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include sharp transitions therebetween.

Alternatively, referring to <FIG>, radiused transitions can be utilized between the plurality of contact surfaces or areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> rather than conical chamfers to present a relatively broader contact surface as compared to the sharp transitions.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> showing an example not forming part of the invention, in one combination of femoral neck <NUM> and femoral head <NUM>, the insert <NUM>, which is illustrated in full rotation so as to be in contact with the femoral neck <NUM>, includes first and second chamfers defining first and second contact surfaces or areas <NUM>, <NUM> arranged and configured to provide increased contact with the femoral neck <NUM>. For example, as best illustrated in <FIG>, the first and second chamfers define a contact surface <NUM> extending from point A to point B. As illustrated, in <FIG> and <FIG>, the selected femoral head <NUM> has a given head length arranged and configured to generate a first impingement condition between the insert <NUM> and femoral neck <NUM> just distal to the locking taper of the implant <NUM>. In use, when the insert <NUM> is rotated sufficiently so that the rim <NUM> of the insert <NUM> contacts the femoral neck <NUM>, the first contact surface <NUM> extending between point A to point B contacts the femoral neck <NUM>.

However, referring to <FIG> and <FIG> showing an example not forming part of the invention, when a different femoral neck <NUM> is chosen (e.g., a femoral implant having a neck of different length, diameter, geometry, etc.), a second impingement condition is created. In this combination, when the insert <NUM> is rotated sufficiently so that the rim <NUM> of the insert <NUM> contacts the femoral neck <NUM>, the second contact surface <NUM> extending between point A and point C contacts the femoral neck <NUM>. The contact area or surface <NUM> is arranged and configured to provide increased contact with the femoral neck <NUM>. For example, the chamfer defines a contact surface <NUM> extending from point A to point C (e.g., the edge highlighted by point A being transition from chamfer AB to chamfer AC). Thus, by incorporating a plurality of chamfers defining a plurality of contacts surfaces for contacting the femoral neck, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to accommodate different femoral components thereby reducing contact stress and preventing, or at least minimizing, the possibility for dislocation.

Similarly, referring to <FIG> and <FIG> showing an example not forming part of the invention, when a different femoral neck is chosen, (e.g., a femoral implant having a neck of different length, diameter, geometry, etc.), a third impingement condition is created. For example, in the illustrated example, the femoral implant includes a larger diameter femoral head, which, in use, changes the angle of impingement between the insert and the femoral neck (e.g., a larger femoral head allows greater angulation before impingement and change to the angle of the chamfer). In this combination, when the insert <NUM> is rotated sufficiently so that the rim <NUM> of the insert <NUM> contacts the femoral neck <NUM>, a third chamfer defining a third contact area or surface <NUM> is provided to provide increased contact with the femoral neck. For example, the chamfer defines a contact surface <NUM> extending from point C to point D (e.g., the edge highlighted by point C being transition from chamfer AC to chamfer CD). Once again, by incorporating a plurality of chamfers defining a plurality of contacts surfaces for contacting the femoral neck, the insert <NUM> is arranged and configured to accommodate different femoral components thereby reducing contact stress and preventing, or at least minimizing, the possibility for dislocation.

In accordance with additional features of the present disclosure, in one example of an embodiment, the insert <NUM> may be arranged and configured with an eccentric head center (e.g., eccentric or inner and outer articulating surfaces arranged with an offset). For example, in one embodiment, a rotational center point of the inner bearing surface may be offset (e.g., lateralized, medialized, or eccentric) relative to a rotational center point of the outer bearing surface. Alternatively, and/or in addition, a rotational center point of the insert <NUM> (e.g., the inner and/or outer bearing surface) may be offset (e.g., lateralized, medialized, or eccentric) relative to a rotational center point of the acetabular cup and/or liner. It has been discovered that by incorporating an eccentric head center, the insert <NUM> is better able to track the motion of the femoral head. For example, internal/external rotation of the insert <NUM> at the outer articulation surface tracks internal/external articulation of the inner articulation surface (e.g., articulation of the eccentric insert tends to track more closely with the load vector and motion of the femoral head). Additional information on eccentric inserts can be found in <CIT> (Application No. <CIT>, entitled Lateralized Dual-Mobility Assembly.

In use, in one example method of use not forming part of the invention, the patient's acetabulum may be exposed and assessed identifying the location of quality bone. As needed, the acetabulum may be reconstructed using various instruments such as, impactors, reamers, etc. Next, the acetabular cup may be positioned and secured into the target host bone. For example, the surgeon may elect to position the acetabular cup into the patient's host bone to achieve optimal placement of the acetabular cup relative to the bone. The acetabular cup may be impacted into the target host bone and, in some examples, one or more optional fasteners may be inserted thru the cup and into the host bone. Next, the liner may be positioned within an interior cavity of the acetabular cup. The liner may be secured to the cup via, for example, cement, adhesive, or the like. The cement may be inserted, injected, or the like into the interior cavity of the cup to, inter alia, facilitate better coupling between the liner and the cup. The cement may be inserted, injected, or the like prior to insertion of the liner into the cup. Alternatively, the cement may be inserted, injected, or the like into the cup after the liner has been positioned within the cup. For example, in one example, the liner may include annular and/or longitudinal grooves or ridges to facilitate cement injection and/or fixation. Finally, the dual mobility bearing including, for example, the insert <NUM> and the femoral head component may be positioned within the interior cavity of the liner.

Although non-limiting, the acetabular cup may be made from many different materials including zirconium, zirconium alloys (e.g., Zr-<NUM>. 5Nb, among others), titanium, titanium alloys (e.g., Ti-6Al-4V or Ti-6AL-4V ELI, among others), tantalum, hafnium, niobium and any combination thereof, or cobalt-chromium alloys and stainless steel, among others. In some embodiments, the exterior surface may be porous. In addition, the cup may be a combination of different biocompatible materials. For example, the cup may be cobalt chrome with a porous titanium coating on the exterior surface. Various manufacturing techniques may be used to manufacture the cup. For example, additive manufacturing techniques include those known in the art such as solid free-form fabrication (SFF), selective laser sintering (SLS), direct metal fabrication (DMF), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), electron beam melting (EBM), and selective laser melting (SLM), among others. Additive manufacturing methods allow for three-dimensional structures to be constructed one layer at a time from a powder which is solidified by irradiating a layer of powder with an energy source such as a laser or an electron beam. The powder may be selectively melted in some regions, thereby forming substantially nonporous regions. In other regions, the lack of fused powder provides porous regions. Such substantially nonporous regions and porous regions can be formed by the application of energy from the energy source, which may be directed in raster-scan fashion to selected portions of the powder layer to melt, fuse and/or sinter the powder. After forming a pattern in one powder layer, an additional layer of powder is dispensed, and the process is repeated until the desired structure is complete.

Similarly, although non-limiting, the liner and/or the dual articulating bearing including, for example, the insert <NUM> and the femoral head component, may be formed of any suitable material now known or hereafter developed. For example, the insert <NUM> and the femoral head component may be manufactured from a polymeric material including, for example, a polyethylene material such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, a highly cross-linked polyethylene, an anti-oxidant or antiseptic infused highly cross-linked polyethylene, PEEK, etc. The liner <NUM> may be manufactured from ceramic or metallic materials selected from groups consisting of zirconium, zirconium alloy, titanium, tantalum, hafnium, niobium and any combination thereof, or cobalt-chromium alloys and stainless steel, among others. In use, the bearing surfaces provide an articulating surface for the femoral head component to articulate relative to the insert <NUM> and for the insert <NUM> to articulate relative to the liner to track and accommodate the relative movement between the femur and the acetabulum. In one embodiment, the insert <NUM> may be manufactured from a highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) to reduce wear and/or the insert <NUM> may incorporate a hydrophilic, low-friction bearing surface such as, for example, oxinium, ceramic, or the like. Alternatively, and/or in addition, the insert <NUM> may be diffusion hardened such as carburization or incorporate diamond, and diamond-like coatings as a low-friction surface. It has been discovered that by incorporating an eccentric rotational design and/or manufacturing the insert <NUM> from UHMWPE and/or utilizing a hydrophilic, low-friction bearing surface, the insert's ability to mitigate degradation and thus better able to prevent, or at least inhibit, unintended dislocation or removal of the femoral head from the insert is provided.

Claim 1:
A dual mobility acetabular implant comprising:
an acetabular cup (<NUM>) arranged and configured to be positioned within a patient's acetabulum, the acetabular cup including a body having an interior cavity;
a liner (<NUM>) arranged and configured to be inserted into the interior cavity of the acetabular cup, the liner including a body having an interior cavity; and
an insert (<NUM>) arranged and configured to be inserted into the interior cavity of the liner, the insert including a body (<NUM>) extending from an annular rim (<NUM>) to a polar end (<NUM>), the body including an interior cavity (<NUM>), a convex exterior surface (<NUM>) arranged and configured to articulate relative to an inner surface of the interior cavity of the liner, and a concave interior surface (<NUM>) arranged and configured to receive and articulate relative to an outer surface of a femoral head;
characterized in that the annular rim (<NUM>) includes at least three chamfers, the at least three chamfers include at least a first, second, and third chamfer defining first, second, and third surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to contact the femoral head or femoral neck.