Sulzer Orthopedics Inc.

Donald W Dye

Gary W Sederholm

Adriana De La Barcena

Stephen W Haecker

A trial prosthesis and saw guide system for use in orthopedic surgery to implant an orthopedic calcar-replacing femoral hip prosthesis. A trial femoral hip stem includes a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a neck portion for temporarily receiving a trial femoral head. The proximal portion includes an elongate saw guide slot substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. A trial femoral hip flange is provided for temporary insertion within the saw guide slot. An elongate rotary reamer is provided for reaming a socket in the medullary canal to receive the hip prosthesis. An elongate driver adapter has means at a proximal end for connection to a powered rotary driver and has means at a distal end for connection to the elongate rotary reamer. An osteotomy guide has means for connection to the elongate driver adapter for rotary motion about the axis of the driver adapter, and includes a saw guide having a saw capture slot for capturing a saw blade to control the plane of cutting of the saw blade. The saw capture slot is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the elongate driver adapter. Markings are provided on the osteotomy guide that align with the proximal extent of the greater trochanter to indicate that the saw guide slot is disposed in the proper plane. Means are provided on the osteotomy guide and driver adapter for controlling the axial position of the osteotomy guide relative to the driver adapter.

Orthopedic trial prosthesis and saw guide instrument

An implantable orthopedic prosthesis. A prosthetic component includes a wall having a first surface for engaging bone and a second surface. The wall defines a hole therethrough extending from the second surface to the first surface. A plug is removably disposed in the hole. The plug includes a peripheral rim spring-biased radially outwardly in frictional engagement with the sidewall of the hole. The plug is useful for occluding the hole to alleviate the risk of polyethylene wear particles migrating through an unused hole into contact with bone.

Implantable prosthesis having spring-engaged hole plugs

An acetabular shell has a dome hole at the apex that is occluded at the proximal end thereof by a flexible diaphragm affixed to the shell wall of the acetabular shell. The flexible diaphragm moves between a first position spaced from an open proximal end of the dome hole to a second position engaging the open proximal end of the dome hole. Movement of the diaphragm is effected by seating the acetabular shell against the prepared bone of the acetabulum. The position of the diaphragm can be discerned through an open distal end of the dome hole either visually, or tacitly using a suitable feeler probe. The dome hole remains occluded against passage of debris therethrough regardless of the position of the flexible diaphragm.

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Plugerville, TX, United States of America

Donald W Dye