Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The General Hospital Corporation

Daphne Karydas

William H Harris

Frederick M McGarry

Susan P James

A diaphragm for minimizing interfacial porosity during the insertion of a femoral component into the cavity in the medullary canal of a femur. By providing a seal around the outer medial, lateral, anterior and posterior surfaces of the component during insertion through the diaphragm, the introduction of pores into the cement during the insertion process is minimized and flow of cement out of the cavity is resisted. The diaphragm may be formed of at least one rigid layer and a resilient layer, the resilient layer providing the desired seal. In another embodiment, the diaphragm may be formed of two stacked discs which permit expansion in two orthogonal directions and which have holes which include seals on the inner surface thereof to provide a seal between the diaphragm and the outer surfaces of the component. In the method of the present invention, a diaphragm is placed over the opening of the cavity to resist the flow of cement out of the cavity to pressurize the cement during insertion of the component, as well as to provide a seal between the diaphragm and the component to resist the introduction of air into the cement. After insertion, the diaphragm is cut or otherwise separated to allow removal thereof.

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Sharon, MA, United States of America

Daphne Karydas