Quantitative assessment of prosthesis press-fit fixation

Abstract

A system and method for quantitatively assessing a press fit value (and provide a mechanism to evaluate optimal quantitative values) of any implant/bone interface regardless the variables involved including bone site preparation, material properties of bone and implant, implant geometry and coefficient of friction of the implant-bone interface without requiring a visual positional assessment of a depth of insertion. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . An acetabular cup for a prepared cavity in a portion of bone, comprising:
 a generally hemispherical exterior shell portion defining a generally hemispherical interior cavity; and   a snubbed polar apex portion of said generally hemispherical exterior shell portion without degradation of said generally hemispherical interior cavity producing a polar gap within the prepared cavity when fully seated.   
     
     
         2 . The acetabular cup of  claim 1  further comprising a first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs imparting a first stiffness characterization to said generally hemispherical exterior shell and a second plurality of laterally extending planks imparting a second stiffness characterization to said generally hemispherical exterior shell, said stiffness characterizations different from each other wherein said generally hemispherical exterior shell includes an asymmetric lateral and longitudinal deformation responsive to operation of an insertion agency communicated to said generally hemispherical exterior shell. 
     
     
         3 . The acetabular cup of  claim 1  wherein said generally hemispherical exterior shell further comprises a polygonal exterior perimeter. 
     
     
         4 . The acetabular cup of  claim 2  wherein said generally hemispherical exterior shell further comprises a polygonal exterior perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The acetabular cup of  claim 1  wherein said generally hemispherical exterior shell further comprises a set of sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The acetabular cup of  claim 2  wherein said generally hemispherical exterior shell further comprises a set of sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The acetabular cup of  claim 3  wherein said generally hemispherical exterior shell further comprises a set of sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The acetabular cup of  claim 4  wherein said generally hemispherical exterior shell further comprises a set of sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The acetabular cup of  claim 5  wherein one or more of said sensors of said set of sensors are selected from the group consisting of a general sensor, a biologic sensor, a mechanical sensor, and combinations thereof.