Patent ID: 7850738

Claim:
A prosthetic acetabular component for a prosthetic total hip joint, the component comprising: first and second discrete constructs; said first construct comprising a metal base construct adapted to engage a bone; and said second construct comprising a polyethylene bearing connectable to said first construct in a snap-fit fashion and being adapted to articulate with a prosthetic femoral stem component on an opposing side of the joint; wherein said metal base construct comprises first and second adjacent layers of different metals, a first of said metals being adapted to engage a surface of the bone and a second of said metals being adapted to engage a domed surface of said second construct; wherein said first metal is of a different primary constituent than said second metal; said first metal being adapted to provide a superior bone-engaging surface, and said second metal being adapted to provide a superior polyethylene-engaging surface; wherein said metal base construct is provided with a metal seat and an internal groove, and said polyethylene bearing construct is provided with a flange adapted to snap into the groove to provide the snap-fit connectibility of said two discrete constructs; and wherein the flange is of substantially annular configuration in plan view and extends from said bearing construct peripheral wall outwardly and distally, and said metal base construct is provided with an inwardly-projecting rail which in part defines the internal groove, and the flange is undercut by a substantially annular groove; wherein the flange is adapted to flex distally into the annular groove to override the rail and snap into the metal construct internal groove; wherein said metal base construct is adapted to be secured to a hip and press fit with the socket of the acetabulum of the hip after removal of the acetabulum; and wherein said first metal comprises a material which is biocompatible and exhibits bone ingrowth properties.