Patent ID: 7914580

Claim:
A prosthetic joint, comprising: (a) a first member comprising a first rigid material and including a wear-resistant, concave interior defining a cup surface; and (b) a second member comprising a second rigid material which is the same as or different from the first rigid material, the second member including a wear-resistant, convex contact surface, (c) wherein the surface of a selected one of the members includes: (i) an annular first flange defined by a first undercut groove in the selected member, the first flange defining a wear-resistant first contact rim which protrudes relative to the nominal profile of the surface of the selected member, the first flange located at or near an apex of the selected member, wherein the first flange and the selected member are part of a monolithic whole; and (ii) an annular second flange defined by a second undercut groove in the selected member, the second flange defining a wear-resistant second contact rim which protrudes relative to the nominal profile of the surface of the selected member, the second flange located at or near an outer periphery of the selected member, wherein the second flange is also part of the monolithic whole; (d) where the first and second contact rims bear directly against the surface of the other of the members, so as to transfer axial and lateral loads between the first and second members, while allowing pivoting motion therebetween; and (e) wherein the flanges are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and permit the first and second contact rims to conform in an irregular shape to the surface of the other of the members, when the joint is placed under a predetermined load.