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:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 02, 1999
Ralph Autenrieth, Esslingen, DE;
Hans-Georg Pfaff, Ostfildern, DE;
Herbert Richter, Kongen, DE;
Gerd Willmann, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, DE;
Martin Wimmer, Fellbach, DE;
Christian Worne, Stuttgart, DE;
Cerasiv GmbH Innovatives Keramik-Engineering, Plochingen, DE;
Abstract
A ceramic socket or ceramic socket insert for a hip joint prosthesis is tested prior to implantation in a human body by subjecting the portions of the interior of the socket or socket insert to a load that generates stresses that are greater than the physiological load. This may be accomplished either by pressing a hemispherically-shaped deformable material such as polymer or plastic into the interior of the socket or socket insert or by exposing the interior of the socket or socket insert to a fluid under pressure. The interior of the socket or socket insert may be sealed off with a test punch that has a supply line for the fluid. To reduce the amount of fluid that is required, the test punch may have a bulge that projects into the interior of the socket or socket insert and leaves only a gap for the fluid. In the method of testing, the interior of the socket or socket insert is subjected to a load that generates stress such that a defective socket or socket insert is destroyed and a non-defective socket or socket insert survives unharmed.