Releasable threaded connection for modular implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10201430-B2
Application number	US-201815890516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2018
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

An orthopedic prosthesis assembly includes a first prosthetic component, a second prosthetic component, and a fastener. The first prosthetic component includes a threaded bore. The second prosthetic component includes an opening and a threaded inner wall that extends inwardly from the opening. The fastener includes a first axial section having a first plurality of threads engaged with the threaded inner wall the second prosthetic component, and a second axial section having a second plurality of threads engaged with the threaded bore of the first prosthetic component to secure the first prosthetic component to the second prosthetic component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for joint line assembly of an orthopaedic modular knee prosthesis assembly, the method comprising:
aligning a first prosthetic component with a second prosthetic component,
wherein the first prosthetic component includes (i) a first end, (ii) an elongated body extending from the first end, (iii) a second end opposite the first end, and (iv) a threaded bore defined in the first end,
wherein the second prosthetic component includes (i) a bone-engaging surface, (ii) a first opening, and (iii) a mounting post extending from the bone-engaging surface along a longitudinal axis, the mounting post including a second opening defined in a free end and an inner wall that extends inwardly from the second opening to the first opening to define a first passageway that extends from the first opening and a second passageway in the mounting post that extends from the second opening, and
wherein (a) the inner wall of the mounting post includes a rim surface at an intersection of the first passageway and the second passageway, (b) the first passageway extends between the first opening and the rim surface and the second passageway extends between the rim surface and the second opening, (c) the inner wall includes a plurality of internal threads in the second passageway, and (d) the second passageway has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first passageway,

aligning a fastener with the threaded bore of the first prosthetic component, the fastener having an elongated shaft including (i) a first axial section having a first plurality of threads sized to engage with the threaded bore of the first prosthetic component, and (ii) a second axial section positioned opposite the first axial section, the second axial section having a second plurality of threads sized to engage with the plurality of internal threads of the second prosthetic component,
threading the first axial section of the fastener into the threaded bore defined in the first end of the first prosthetic component by rotating the fastener in a first direction to couple the fastener to the first prosthetic component, and
threading the second axial section of the fastener into the second passageway in the mounting post of the second prosthetic component when the fastener is secured to the first prosthetic component by rotating the first prosthetic component in a second direction to secure the first prosthetic component to the second prosthetic component, the second direction being different from the first direction,
wherein the second axial section of the fastener has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first axial section of the fastener and larger than the diameter of the first passageway, such that the first passageway is sized to prevent the second axial section of the fastener from passing beyond the rim surface and into the first passageway when the second axial section of the fastener is threaded into the second passageway, and
wherein the first prosthetic component is a stem component.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
advancing a tool through the first passageway defined in the second prosthetic component to engage an end of the tool with the second axial section of the fastener, and
rotating the tool in the second direction with the end of the tool engaged with the fastener to move the first axial section of the fastener out of engagement with the first prosthetic component.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
advancing the tool through the first passageway includes advancing the tool in a first axial direction through the first passageway, and
rotating the tool in the second direction with the end of the tool engaged with the fastener to move the first axial section of the fastener out of engagement with the first prosthetic component includes advancing the fastener in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein advancing the fastener in the second axial direction opposite the first axial direction includes advancing the fastener into the threaded second passageway of the second prosthetic component.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of threads has a first thread pitch and the second plurality of threads has a second thread pitch that matches the first thread pitch.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second prosthetic component is a femoral prosthetic component.

Assignees

• Depuy Ireland Ultd Co

Inventors

• Leszko Filip
• Matyas Aaron
• Steffe Kyle
• Rottger David E
• Hippensteel Daniel M

Classifications

• A61F2/3859

  Femoral components · CPC title

• A61F2002/30329

  Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements · CPC title

• A61F2/461

  of knees · CPC title

• A61F2220/0041

  using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws · CPC title

• A61F2002/30507

  using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw · CPC title