Bioprofile

Societe Industrielle De Combustible Nucleaire S I C N

Tornier, Inc.

Jean-Pierre Pequignot

Michel Hassler

Yves Allieu

Cécile Real

Philippe De Mourgues

C&eacute;cile Real

Olivier Huet

The implant includes a stem terminating in a head. The stem is adapted to be inserted in the metacarpus of the thumb and the head to be disposed in a space obtained particularly by removing at least a portion of the trapezium. The surface of the head is constituted by a base connected to the stem and adapted to rest on the proximal end of the metacarpus, a distal surface portion opposite the base and serving as a contact surface with the bone located facing the proximal end of the metacarpus, and a connecting portion connecting the base and the distal surface portion of the head. The distal surface portion of the head is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the stem by a predetermined angle, such that, when the stem is mounted straight in the metacarpus, the distal surface portion of the head can be located in varus.

Trapezium or trapezometacarpal implant

A conical coupling of a male member () and a female member (), the male member () comprising a cone () ensleeved in a truncated conical portion () of a corresponding recess () formed in the female member (), is characterized in that the female member () is made of a material having a Young's modulus at most equal to about 35 GPa and at most equal to that of the material from which the male member () is made, and in that a surface () of the male member perpendicular to the axis (A) of the coupling is in contact with a surface () of the female member also perpendicular to the coupling axis such that the male and female members () are in axial abutment against each other. The female member () is for example of pyrocarbon and the male member () of metal, ceramic or pyrocarbon.

Conical coupling and prosthesis comprising such a coupling

The implant has at least one contact surface portion, made of pyrolytic carbon, designed to be in mobile contact with at least one bony surface when the implant is implanted in a patient. Furthermore, the implant is free from any attaching means, so that it remains free with respect to the at least one bony surface when implanted in the patient.

Implant for treating ailments of a joint or a bone

A prosthesis for treating ailments of the scaphoid consists of an implant shaped and sized to serve as a partial replacement of the scaphoid. The prosthesis consists of an element made of a material whose Young's modulus is approximately in the range 10-35 GPa, such as pyrolytic carbon, and having an external surface with a first curved portion having a small radius of curvature corresponding to the conjugated profile of the scaphoid between the head of the capitate and the radius, and a second curved portion having a large radius of curvature corresponding to the profile of the scaphoid facing the radius. Preferably, the partial scaphoid implant is elliptical in each of three mutually perpendicular planes. A method for treating ailments of the scaphoid consists in the surgical removal of a proximal portion of the scaphoid, while leaving the distal fragment thereof in place, and replacing the removed fragment by a prosthesis as described above.

Growing community of inventors

Nice, France

Jean-Pierre Pequignot