Zimmer Gmbh

Zimmer Usa, Inc.

Robert L Fuson

Jack E Parr

Mark A Fox

Edward L Lewis

A prosthetic ligament connection assembly includes a plug adapted to fit within an opening in a bone so that the prosthetic ligament in the opening will be secured to the bone via a uniform interface therebetween.

Prosthetic ligament connection assembly

A prosthetic device adapted to be secured to a supporting bone by a thickness of acrylic bone cement. The prosthetic device has an outer surface which includes a plurality of spacers projecting therefrom. The spacers are made of an acrylic material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and are adapted so that when the prosthetic device is positioned against the supporting bone, the spacers provide a uniform space between the bone and prosthetic device, thus uniformly controlling the thickness of cement. The acrylic spacers will repolymerize and bond with the layer of acrylic bone cement. The nature of the bond formed between the new acrylic bone cement and the acrylic spacers should eliminate the stress concentrations at the interface between the spacers and the cement layer, thereby enhancing fixation of the prosthesis.

Prosthetic device with spacers

A device for plugging the medullary canal in joint replacement surgery which prevents the cement used for fixation from extending beyond that point where it is useful and which also creates a closed space to facilitate more complete cement filling of the femoral canal or other boney cavities is disclosed. The device is comprised of a tapered cylindrical plug which is threadedly engaged to a long flexible shaft capable of being inserted into the medullary canal. The shaft is disengaged from the plug after the plug is lodged at the appropriate place in the canal. The plug is made of a bio-compatible material.

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Warsaw, IN, United States of America

Robert L Fuson