The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 02, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1997
Gary W Sederholm, Austin, TX (US);
Eric N Bachmayer, Marble Falls, TX (US);
Mack D Morgan, Taylor, TX (US);
Robin L Ritter, Cedar Park, TX (US);
Sulzer Orthopedics Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
An implantable orthopedic prosthesis includes a prosthetic component, such as an acetabular shell or tibial baseplate, having a wall. The wall has 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 portion of the hole is oval cylindrical. A plug is provide having a portion that is also oval cylindrical. Each of the oval portions of the hole and plug have respective major and minor transverse axes. The oval cylindrical portion of the plug is sized to fit without interference within the oval portion of the hole if the respective major and minor axes of plug and hole are substantially aligned. The oval portion of the plug fits in locked interference within the oval portion of the hole if the respective major and minor axes of the plug and hole are substantially misaligned. The plug can be freely inserted into and removed from the hole with the respective major and minor axes of the plug and hole substantially aligned. The plug can be interference-locked in the hole by rotating the plug relative to the hole to render the respective major and minor axes of the plug and hole substantially misaligned.