Adjustable orthopedic connections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015150687-A1
Application number	US-201414557763-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 2, 2013
Publication date	Jun 4, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure includes methods and systems for making orthopedic connections where there is unique adjustability to the connection. Illustratively, one embodiment provides a connecting assembly for connecting a plurality of orthopedic components. Such connecting assemblies can include a first orthopedic component that provides a female bore. Additionally the assembly can include a second orthopedic component that can be or include a male-type connecting member that is positionable in the bore of the first orthopedic component. In one preferred form, the male-type connecting member will be a quasi-spherical member. The quasi-spherical member can include a textured outer surface, e.g., for contacting one or more walls or surfaces in the bore in a fashion that removeably locks or helps to removeably lock or fix the quasi-spherical member in the bore.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A ball-side prosthesis for articulating with a socket in a ball and socket joint in a patient, comprising:
an articulating ball member that includes a top side and a bottom side, the top side providing a convex articulating surface for articulating with surfaces in the socket, the bottom side including an opening into a bore that extends into the articulating ball member from said bottom side toward said top side; a fixation member anchorable to a bone of the patient remaining on the ball side of the ball and socket joint; and a quasi-spherical member disposed at a proximal end of the fixation member, the quasi-spherical member positionable in the bore of the articulating ball member for removeably locking the quasi-spherical member to the articulating ball member, wherein the quasi-spherical member includes a textured outer surface for contacting walls of the bore.

2 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the bore includes a tapered segment.

3 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the textured outer surface covers more than 50% of the quasi-spherical member.

4 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the textured outer surface includes a plurality of generally planar faces.

5 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of generally planar faces are spaced from one another on the quasi-spherical member.

6 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of generally planar faces are contiguous with one another on the quasi-spherical member.

7 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of generally planar faces have curvilinear perimeters.

8 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of generally planar faces have circular perimeters.

9 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of generally planar faces have rectilinear perimeters.

10 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of generally planar faces have polygonal perimeters.

11 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of generally planar faces have triangular perimeters.

12 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the textured outer surface includes a plurality of surface elements with polygonal perimeters.

13 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of surface elements are planar within the polygonal perimeters.

14 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of surface elements are convex or concave within the polygonal perimeters.

15 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the textured outer surface includes a three-dimensional tessellation incorporating polygonal surfaces.

16 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the quasi-spherical member approximates a honeycomb of polyhedral cells.

17 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the textured outer surface includes a plurality of outermost extensions spaced from one another on the textured outer surface and defining a first radius of the quasi-spherical member and a plurality of innermost depressions spaced from one another on the textured outer surface and defining a second radius of the quasi-spherical member.

18 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 17 , wherein the bore includes a tapered segment with a first diameter that is twice the first radius and a second diameter that is twice the second radius.

19 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of innermost depressions occur on planar surfaces on the quasi-spherical member.

20 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of innermost depressions occur on concave surfaces on the quasi-spherical member.

21 . The ball-side prosthesis of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of outermost extensions are symmetrical peaks on the quasi-spherical member.

22 . A humeral prosthesis for articulating with a glenoid cavity in a patient, comprising:
a humeral head member that includes a top side and a bottom side, the top side providing a convex articulating surface for articulating with surfaces in the glenoid cavity, the bottom side including an opening into a bore that extends into the humeral head member from said bottom side toward said top side; a fixation member anchorable to a humerus of the patient; and a quasi-spherical member disposed at a proximal end of the fixation member, the quasi-spherical member positionable in the bore of the humeral head member for removeably locking the quasi-spherical member to the humeral head member, wherein the quasi-spherical member includes a textured outer surface for contacting walls of the bore, the textured outer surface including a plurality of outermost extensions that are spaced from one another on the textured outer surface and which define a first radius of the quasi-spherical member and a plurality of innermost depressions that are spaced from one another on the textured outer surface and which define a second radius of the quasi-spherical member.

23 . The humeral prosthesis of claim 22 , wherein the textured outer surface includes a three-dimensional tessellation of triangular surfaces whose vertices provide the plurality of outermost extensions.

24 . A connecting assembly for connecting a plurality of orthopedic components, the connecting assembly comprising:
an orthopedic component that includes a bore; a quasi-spherical member positionable in the bore for removeably locking the quasi-spherical member to the orthopedic component, wherein the quasi-spherical member includes a textured outer surface for contacting walls of the bore.

25 . The connecting assembly of claim 24 , wherein the orthopedic component is a humeral head, with the quasi-spherical member being a modular component connectable to a separate humeral stem component, and with the textured outer surface covering more than 50% of the quasi-spherical member and including a plurality of planar surface elements with polygonal perimeters.

26 . The connecting assembly of claim 24 , wherein the quasi-spherical member is part of a bone screw.

27 . The connecting assembly of claim 26 , wherein the bone screw includes a threaded shaft extending away from the quasi-spherical member, the quasi-spherical member forming a head of the bone screw.

28 . The connecting assembly of claim 27 , wherein the orthopedic component is a bone plate with said bore extending entirely through the bone plate, and wherein the threaded shaft is receivable in the bore in advance of the quasi-spherical member.

Assignees

• Zimmer Inc

Inventors

• Hopkins Andrew

Classifications

• A61B17/7037

  wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped · CPC title

• A61B17/8605

  Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone · CPC title

• A61F2002/30774

  internally-threaded · CPC title

• A61B2017/00858

  high friction or non-slip · CPC title

• A61F2002/4641

  for disconnecting · CPC title