Sulzer Medizinaltechnik Ag

Sulzer Orthopaedie Ag

Martin Schoch

Kurt Bider

Jurg Oehy

J Urg Oehy

Nikolaus Bohler

Wolfgang Schwagerl

The tibia platform (1) contains a joint support (5) and an anchoring part (4) with passage openings (12) for fastening elements (14) for fastening the anchoring part (4) to the tibia bone (3). The passage openings (12) are each executed with a femur-side, upper countersink (25). At least one passage opening (12) not used for the fastening is provided with a closure plug (15) which can be inserted from above, which is executed with a supporting surface (16a) running around this sealing surface (16a) and can be braced in the countersink (25). The closure plug (15) contains a number of spring tongues (18) which can be introduced into the relevant passage opening (12) and which form a snap connection with the wall of the passage opening (12), and a central cylindrical protusion (17) which is provided with a blind bore (17a) open upwards for receiving a setting tool (20). In this manner a secure sealing of the passage opening (12) is attained and the movement into the tibia bone bed of abraded particles possibly originating between the anchoring part (4) and the joint support (5) is prevented.

Tibia platform for a knee joint prosthesis and knee joint prosthesis

The outer shell (5) comprises a plurality of through-holes (12) which are provided for the receipt of fastening elements (14) for the fastening of the outer shell (5) in a bone seat (4) and which are each provided with an inner counter-sink (25). The through-holes (12) which are free of fastening elements (14) are each provided with a sealing plug (15) which is insertable from the inside outwards and designed with a sealing surface supportable in and extending around the counter-sink (25). The sealing plug (15) comprises a number of spiral springs (18) which are insertable into the relevant through-hole (12) and form a snap connection with the wall of the through-hole (12), as well as a hat-like central projection (17) disposed separated from the spiral springs (18) which is provided with an inwardly open blind bore (17a) for the receipt of a placement tool (20) screwable into it. A reliable sealing off of the through-holes (12) is thus achieved and escape into the bone seat 4 of any rubbed-off particles produced within the outer shell 5 is prevented.

Outer shell for an at least two-shell joint socket of a hip joint

A joint socket (2) for a hip joint prosthesis comprises an outer shell (5) adapted for being anchored into a bone seat and an inner shell (6) adapted for receiving a ball of a joint. A threaded plug (10) is threadably coupled within a threaded bore (8) of the outer shell and a projection (22) extends from the polar region of the inner shell into an axial recess (20) of the threaded plug for centering the inner shell relative to the outer shell. The threaded plug seals off the inner volume of the outer shell, thereby preventing contact between rubbed off particles of the interacting inner and outer shells and the bone tissue. In addition, it allows the surgeon to directly observe the bone tissue lying behind the threaded bore of the implanted outer shell.

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Stallikon, Switzerland

Martin Schoch