Patent ID: 7097663

Claim:
A modular prosthesis for at least partial replacement of a joint articulating surface of a bone, comprising: a) a head having a first surface adapted to cooperate with a joint surface and a second surface adapted to cooperate with an elongate stem, the second surface comprising a recessed socket; b) an elongate stem adapted to be implanted within the medullary canal of a resected long bone, the stem having a first end that is adapted to be received within the medullary canal of the resected bone and a second end adapted to cooperate with the prosthetic head; c) a connecting member for securely connecting the stem and head in a desired orientation, comprising a patrix member having a generally spherical surface attached to the second end of the stem and adapted to be received in the head socket, wherein the generally spherical surface of the patrix member allows orientation of the head and stem relative to multiple axes; and a locking member adapted to lock the head to the stem in a desired orientation, wherein the locking member retains the patrix member within the socket between the locking member and the head socket with a force sufficient to lock the patrix member securely and rigidly in place relative to the stem and the head, wherein the force is distributed around at least one ring of contact between the patrix member and the locking member and at least one ring of contact between the patrix member and the head socket.