Anchor for an Implant Assembly

Abstract

A medical device includes an implant anchor comprising first and second opposing end portions. The implant anchor may also include a fixation element to configured to couple the implant anchor to an implant, and an anchor element configured to couple the implant anchor to bone. At least a portion of the implant anchor has a porous structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device, comprising:
 an implant anchor comprising first and second opposing end portions, said implant anchor further comprising:   a fixation element to configured to couple said implant anchor to an implant; and an anchor element configured to couple said implant anchor to bone, said anchor element of said implant anchor comprises a threaded portion, at least a portion of said threaded portion is formed by said porous structure.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said fixation element has a non-porous-structure.   
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said second end portion of said implant anchor comprises said anchor element; and   at least a portion of said anchor element is formed by said porous structure.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1   4 , wherein:
 said threaded portion of said implant anchor comprises a threaded shank; and   at least a portion of said threaded shank is formed by said porous structure.   
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said threaded shank of said implant anchor comprises a screw thread;   at least a portion of said screw thread is formed by said porous structure.   
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said threaded shank of said implant anchor comprises a screw thread;   at least a portion of said screw thread is formed by a non-porous structure.   
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said threaded shank of said implant anchor comprises a shank root; and   at least a portion of said shank root is formed by said porous structure.   
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said porous structure is formed by metal particles.   
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said porous structure is formed by a plurality of layers of metal particles.   
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said metal particles comprise metal powder.   
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said porous structure comprises a skeletal framework and a plurality of interstices arranged in an orderly geometric pattern of repeating unit cells.   
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said repeating cell unit is a dodecahedron.   
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said skeletal framework is formed by a plurality of struts; and   said struts have a thickness in a range of 150 μm to 300 μm.   
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said interstices have a size in a range of 240 μm to 730 μm.   
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said porous structure has a porosity in a range of 55% to 75%.   
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said porous structure comprises a plurality of layers.   
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said plurality of layers form a three-dimensional, multi-layered mesh or lattice structure.   
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said porous structure forms at least a portion of a threaded shank.   
     
     
         20 . The medical device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said porous structure forms a shank root of said threaded shank.   
     
     
         21 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an implant configured to be coupled said implant anchor. 
     
     
         22 . The medical device of  claim 21 , wherein said implant includes a load bearing surface, a bone facing surface, and a fixation element configured to be coupled to said fixation element of said implant anchor. 
     
     
         23 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein said fixation elements of said implant and said implant anchor include mating tapered surfaces configured to form a frictional connection therebetween. 
     
     
         24 . A medical device, comprising:
 an implant including a load bearing surface, a bone facing surface, and a first fixation element; and   an implant anchor comprising first and second opposing end portions, said implant anchor further comprising:
 a second fixation element to configured to engage said first fixation element to couple said implant anchor to an implant; and 
 a threaded anchor element configured to couple said implant anchor to bone; 
   wherein at least a portion of said implant anchor has a porous structure.   
     
     
         25 . The medical device of  claim 24 , wherein said implant anchor includes a longitudinally disposed passageway. 
     
     
         26 . A medical device, comprising:
 an implant anchor, wherein said implant anchor comprises first and second opposing end portions;   wherein said first end portion of said implant anchor comprises a fixation element to connect said implant anchor to an implant; and   wherein said second end portion of said implant anchor has a threaded porous structure to connect said anchor to bone.