Device for gripping and inserting an insert element

Abstract

Device for inserting an insert ( 1 ), made in particular of ceramic material, by impaction into a cup ( 50 ) designed to be received in the cotyl of a hip, comprising: means ( 17, 20, 21, 22 ) for gripping the insert, in particular at an upper free edge of the insert; a rod ( 5, 6 ) for the application of shock designed to be held by the surgeon and for the application of an impaction shock to the insert when it is held by the gripping means opposite the cup to be introduced therein; and an impaction head ( 9 ) with a surface designed to come in contact with at least one insert part, in particular the inner surface of a hollow of the insert.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Device for inserting an insert ( 1 ), made in particular of ceramic material, by impaction into a cup ( 50 ) designed to be received in the cotyl of a hip, comprising:
 means ( 17 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22 ) for gripping the insert, in particular at an upper free edge of the insert;   a rod ( 5 ,  6 ) for imparting shock designed to be held by the surgeon and for the application of an impaciton shock to the insert when it is held by gripping means opposite the cup to be introduced therein; and   an impaction head ( 9 ) with a surface designed to come into contact with at least one portion of the insert, in particular the inner surface of a hollow of the insert,   
       characterised in that
 the impaction head ( 9 ) and the application rod ( 5 ,  6 ) are connected to one another so as to be joined in rotation, in particular the head emerges from the rod; and 
 the head and rod assembly is mounted pivotably in relation to the insert gripping means, in particular in the manner of a pivot pin. 
 
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the pivot point of the assembly pivoting the gripping means relative to the rod-impaction head assembly is located substantially in the centre of the sphere defining the inner hemispherical part of the insert. 
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the external surface of the impaction head ( 9 ) designed to be applied against the base wall of the cavity ( 4 ) is in the form of a sphere, the centre of which coincides with the pivot point. 
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the gripping means of the insert are formed by a holding grip comprising at least two, in particular three to five, feet ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) designed to fit around the insert in a elastically releasable manner. 
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the holding grip comprises a base plate ( 17 ) from the periphery of which the feet project. 
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the material and/or the thickness of the feet and/or the plate is such that the shock simultaneously drives the insert into its final position in the cup by force and releases the feet from their grip on the insert. 
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the base plate ( 17 ) is pierced by a hole ( 18 ), in particular substantially in the centre, the inner wall surface of which matches the form of a pivot pin ( 8 ) formed on the rod in such a way as to enable the relative pivoting of the rod and the base plate. 
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the distal end of the rod comprises a head projecting laterally from the rod and forming the impaction head, the head having a distal end surface, in particular in the form of a dome, designed to match in part the form of the base of the inner cavity of the insert. 
     
     
         9 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that means are provided for imparting to the rod a downwards shock to impact the insert into the cup, that is to introduce it with an adjustment of force to the interior of the cup, said means imparting a shock to the rod of predetermined strength. 
     
     
         10 . Assembly comprising an insertion device according to  claim 1  and at least one insert, made in particular of ceramic material, designed to be inserted into a cotyl cup. 
     
     
         11 . Unit comprising an assembly according to  claim 10  and a cup designed to be received in a cotyl of a hip.