Patent ID: 8123813

Claim:
An orthopedic prosthetic device, comprising: a first plurality of pyrocarbon inserts each having a first pyrocarbon articulating surface and an elongated body defining a first longitudinal axis; a second plurality of pyrocarbon inserts each having a second articulating surface and an elongated body defining a second longitudinal axis; a first prosthetic component having a first bone engaging surface and an articulating surface, said articulating surface being formed of a material distinct from pyrocarbon and arranged to receive said first plurality of pyrocarbon inserts so as to position the first pvrocarbon articulating surfaces relative to the articulating surface, the first plurality of pyrocarbon inserts surrounded by the articulating surface; and a second prosthetic component having a second bone engaging surface and an articular surface, said articular surface being formed of a material distinct from pyrocarbon and arranged to receive said second plurality of pyrocarbon inserts so as to position the second pyrocarbon articulating surfaces relative to the articular surface, the second plurality of pvrocarbon inserts surrounded by the articular surface, the first and second pyrocarbon articulating surfaces configured to cooperate with each other; wherein the first and second prosthetic components comprise a direction of articulation, the first longitudinal axis of each of the first plurality of pyrocarbon inserts being perpendicular to the direction of articulation and the second longitudinal axis of each of the second plurality of pyrocarbon inserts being parallel to the direction of articulation.