Patent ID: 7875083

Claim:
A removable prosthetic element comprising an elongated stem having a smooth outer surface, a portion of which defines, when the element is implanted in a subject, a contact interface between the stem and surrounding bone and/or fibrous tissue, one or more longitudinal guide channels located to the interior of the outer surface of the stem, each of said channel or channels comprising a longitudinal circular bore having a wall portion arranged in the interior of the stem, the bore being adapted for receiving and laterally retaining a drill bit, and a plurality of anchoring cavities adapted for receiving ingrowth of bone or fibrous tissue, all of which extend from the wall portion of one or more guide channels, each of said longitudinal channels being transversely open to the exterior along substantially their entire length via a longitudinal groove arranged in the outer surface of the stem, whereby a passage is provided for tissue ingrowth, via the groove, to the interior of the circular bore, and therefrom into the anchoring cavities, the anchoring cavities and guide channels being mutually arranged such that any ingrowth of bone or fibrous tissue must first enter a guide channel before entering into an anchoring cavity, whereby a drill bit adapted for passing along the length of the guide channels would necessarily sever the ingrown bone or fibrous tissue at the intersection between each anchoring cavity and their respective guide channel, thus allowing the prosthetic element to be removed.