Patent ID: 7601176

Claim:
A method for treating joints of the human body, particularly for temporary replacing an explanted permanent joint prosthesis, comprising: providing a preformed disposable articulated spacing device including at least one pre-formed first member and at least one pre-formed second member both made entirely of biologically compatible and porous material, said first member and said second member being distinct bodies independent of and separate from one another, said first member and said second member having a porosity in their base material or suitable cavities formed on their outer surfaces adapted to be filled with pharmaceutical and therapeutical products in the form of liquid solutions, said first member and said second member being initially free of pharmaceutical and therapeutical products; adding pharmaceutical and therapeutical products in the form of liquid solutions to said first member and said second member either by direct contact and absorption or by insertion thereof in said suitable cavities; after the adding of said liquid solutions to said first member, inserting said first member into a patient and securing said first member to a first articulation end in the patient; after the adding of said liquid solutions to said second member, inserting said second member into the patient and securing said second member to a second articulation end in the patient, said second member being inserted into the patient separately from said first member and after the inserting of said first member; and reciprocally coupling said first member and said second member to one another in an articulated manner to maintain a suitable joint space and at least partial articulated mobility for the time necessary to perform the further implantation of a new permanent joint prosthesis.