Artificial Joint

Abstract

An artifieial joint includes a condyle and a jointzsocket having a socket eleinent and an inlay whose associated functional surfaces functionally interlinked. The functional surface facing the joint socket has circular, concave section contours. the orbital radii of the joint deviating fromn each other in a main fltnetional plane relative to a secondary fuinctional plane. The functional surface can be locked in various positions 5relative to the joint socket and, the joint inctides snap-in stages, produced by gear cutting, between the joint element and the inlav with the flinctional surface, which allonw for locking the position in steps of I

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention allows various embodiments. In order to fuirther illustrate their basic principle, one of them is shown in the dranving and is described below. The following is shown:

FIG. 1 an artificial joint in a frontal section,

FIG. 2 the artificial joint of FIG. 1 in a sagittal section; and

FIG. 3 the artificial joinit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a cutaway top view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The fundamental stiicture of an artificial joint 1 accordinpg to the inivention, especially one that is intended to replace a hu-man hiip joint. is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, where a cutaway depiction shows the joint 1 in a plane running parallel to the front as well as in a sagittal plane perpendicular thereto. The joinit 1 has a spherical condyle 2 and a joint soclket 3, consisting of a socket part 3a and an inlay 3b, whose associated finctional surfaces 4, 5 are functionally interlinlced. The cross section of the inlay 3b of thejoint socket 3 has concave section contours. whereby the orbital radii 6, 7 of the fuinctional surface 5 of the inlay 3b differ from each other in a main functional plane relative to the secondary furctional plane that is rotated by 90° with respect to the tmain functional plane. Therefore, tlhis configuration of the orbital radii 6, 7 of the functional surface 5 allows a deflection movement by means of which an acting external force F does not cause damage to the connection betweenl the joint socket 3 and la bone (not shown here).

FIG. 3 shows the antificial joint 1 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 additionally in a cutaway top view as well as in an enlarged detail view of the joint socket 3 with the socket part 3a and the inlay 3b as well as the condyle 2 includding the: fmcntional surfaces 4, 5. The diarneter DF of the functional surface 5 of the joint socket 3 in thie frontal plane is approxii-iiately 2 mm greater than the diameter DS in the sagittal plane, thus yielding the additional degree of freedom. In order for the orbital radii 6, 7 determined by the different diameters DF, DS of the ftinctioonal surface 5 in the main functional plane and in the secondary functional plane to be optinally aligned with the frontal plane as well as with the sagittal plane of the patient, the functional surface 5 can be affixed in different positions relative to the socket part 3a. This is done, for example, by locking stages 8 formed by teeth located between the socket pant 3a of the joint socket 3 and the inlay 3b with the functional surface 5, which allows a fixation of the relative position in 1° increments.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10: An artificial joint, comprising: a condyle having a first functional surface; anda joint socket haviIng including a socket part and an inlay having a second functional surface, the first and second functional surfaces being functionally interlinked, wherein at least one of the first and second finctional surface is non-splherical in shape, and eaclh of the first and second functional surfaces have orbital radii thai differ from each other in a main functional plane relative to a secondary fiunctional plane rotated by 900 with respect to the main functional plane, and wherein at least one of the functional surfaces is affixable in different positions relative to die respective joint socket or condyle so as to individually adapt the artificial joint to the patient.

11: The joint as recited in claim 10, wiherein one of the first and second functional surfaces displays an asymmetry in the main functional plane as compared to the secondary functional plane while the other of the first and second functionial surfaces :exhibits symnetrical functional planes.

12: The joi11t as recited in claim 10, wherein both the first and second functional surfaces are nioni-splherical.

13: The joint as recited in claim 10, wherein the first functional surface is one of drum-shaped, spindle-shaped, and oval.

14: The joint as recited in claim 10, wherein the first and second functional surfaces are affixable in different locking stages relative to the respective joinlt socket or condyLe so as to set the. different positions

15: The joint as recited in claimr 10, wherein one of the first and secondt fnictional surfaces is securable in the different positions relative to the respective joint socket or condyle by a positive coonnection.

16: The joifnt as recited in claim 1O, wherein one of the first and second functional surfaces is securable in the different positions relative to the respeentive joint socket or condyle by a slriiikage connectioni.

17: The joint as recited in claiim 10, wherein a diameter one ofttie first and second ftinctional surfaces in a frontal plane of the patient is between 0.5 mm and 8 mm greater than a diameter of the respective functional surface in a sagintal plane.

18: The joint as recited in clfaim 17, wherein the diameter one of the first anild second fiinctional surfaces in the frontal plane of the patient is 2 mm greater than the diameter of the respective functional surface in the sagittal plane.

19: The joint as recited in claim 10, wlerein the first and second flinctional surfacees are made ofpolyethylenes.

20: The joint as recited in claim 10, wherein the joint is a human hip replacement joint.