Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc.

Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc.

Mark A Manasas

Michael S Varieur

Stephen Ferrer Wilson

Andrew Ira Spitzer

Anthony P Sanders

Paul Salvas

Alfred F DeCarlo, Jr

Pierre S Ostiguy

Timothy M Flynn

John V Hamilton

Alan J Dextradeur

Peter T Bianco

Charles W Jaggers

An alignable orthopedic prosthesis system includes a prosthesis and an alignment guide. The prosthesis includes a stem having at least one keyed component extending along its outer surface. The alignment guide has an alignment body with a guide surface disposed on an inner portion thereof. The guide surface has a key element formed therein for engageably receiving the keyed component of the prosthesis.

Alignment guide for fluted prosthetic stems

An alignable orthopedic prosthesis system includes a prosthesis and an alignment guide. The prosthesis includes a stem having at least one slot extending along its length. The alignment guide has an alignment body with a guide surface extending from an end thereof, namely a key element formed as a blade for engaging and guiding the slot to orient the prosthesis stem. The alignment body also fits against a machined bone surface so that the blade is positioned in a plane that is oriented to guide the stem smoothly into contact with a recess formed in the bone.

Alignment guide for slotted prosthetic stem

A method and tool for inserting a prosthetic stem component in an aligned position into a prepared bone cavity. The bone is prepared by removing bone material from the bone canal and preferably also machining an entry opening of a predetermined shape and desired orientation in the bone, or marking the plane of the joint on the bone end. The tool includes an upper component that engages the top of the prosthesis stem to fix its rotational alignment, and an arm that extends to the opening in the bone and is aligned at its distal end. The upper component rides along the arm, and orients the stem with respect to the bone as the stem is inserted. The tool may include a lower element that engages the machined or marked bone and holds the arm to orient the head of the prosthesis. Optionally, the lower element may guide the distal stem. Alternatively, the guide may include an arm that simply points to, contacts or fastens at the bone end, orienting the prosthesis insertion without sighting errors. In a pointer or pin assembly which extends to an alignment point on the proximal femur, the upper portion may clamp to the femoral component head or neck, and may include a sliding bushing, that allows the guide to remain rigidly coupled as the stem is progressively advanced in the femoral canal. Articulation may be provided by a pivot mounting of the arms and bushing, and the bushing may swivel as it rides along a post, rail or pin, the lower end of which remains pointed to, or driven into, an alignment mark scribed at the medial periphery of the cut surface of the proximal femur. Alternatively, a lower alignment body may fit against a machined bone surface to fix the orientation of a linking arm in one plane, with a sliding coupling to the upper part of the prosthesis to maintain that orientation as the stem is driven down into contact with the prepared bone surface.

Alignment guide for insertion of stem prosthesis

A modular system for hybrid fixation of a joint prosthesis into a bone cavity includes a sleeve having a bore therethrough. The sleeve is cementable within the bone cavity. A prosthetic component is insertable into the bore of the sleeve. The prosthetic component is retained within the sleeve and secured to the bone without cement.

Modular prosthesis system with hybrid fixation

An adaptor is provided to convert a bipolar shell trial to and from a unipolar head trial adaptor. A preferred embodiment provides a spring-loaded, snap-in adaptor and a neck length adjusting mechanism for a trial system.

Adjustable bipolar-unipolar adaptor for a head trial

Wear resistance and oxidation resistance of bioimplantable polymeric parts is improved by packaging the parts within flexible, gas impermeable containers while subjecting the containers and the parts to a relatively high vacuum force. The containers are heat sealed while subjected to the vacuum force such that, upon sealing, hydrostatic pressure is exerted on the part. Following sealing of the packages, the packages and their contents are irradiated to an extent sufficient to sterilize the parts and to promote crosslinking within the part. Alternatively, the same property enhancements can be imparted to polymeric parts by packaging the part within rigid or flexible containers, minimizing the oxygen content within the containers, pressurizing the containers with an inert gas, or with a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas, to greater than 1.5 atmospheres, and irradiating the part and the container.

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South Easton, MA, United States of America

Mark A Manasas