Flexible acetabular implant

Abstract

An acetabular cage or device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the acetabular cage includes a cup portion configured for implantation in an acetabulum and a flange extending from the cup portion. The flange including a first, bone contacting surface configured to face bony tissue surrounding the acetabulum when the cup portion is implanted into the acetabulum and a second, top surface opposite the first surface. The flange includes a flexible portion and a fixation portion, the fixation portion including one or more fixation features configured to facilitate fixation of the flange to the bony tissue surrounding the acetabulum. The flexible portion is arranged and configured to enable the flange, and hence the fixation portion, to move relative to the cup portion to facilitate placement of the flange relative to the bony tissue.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An acetabular cage, comprising:
 a cup portion configured for implantation in an acetabulum; and   a flange extending from the cup portion, the flange including:
 a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface arranged and configured to contact a patient's bony tissue surrounding the acetabulum when the cup portion is implanted into the acetabulum; and 
 a flexible region arranged and configured to enable the flange to be movably positioned relative to the cup portion, the flexible region including a plurality of flexible units, each of the plurality of flexible units including a plurality of channels extending from the first surface to the second surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The acetabular cage of  claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises one or more fixation features arranged and configured to couple the flange to the bony tissue surrounding the acetabulum. 
     
     
         3 . The acetabular cage of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels include a first channel and a second channel spaced from the first channel, and an isthmian strip positioned between the first and second channels. 
     
     
         4 . The acetabular cage of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of channels and the isthmian strip define a tortuous path along a plane of the flange. 
     
     
         5 . The acetabular cage of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second channels include a first portion and a second portion angled relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The acetabular cage of  claim 3 , wherein the first channel is a first linear channel and the second channel is a second linear channel extending parallel to but spaced from the first linear channel. 
     
     
         7 . The acetabular cage of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second linear channels include a first portion and a second portion angled relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         8 . The acetabular cage of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second linear channels extends in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         9 . The acetabular cage of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second linear channels are configured in a double spiral pattern such that the isthmian strip is serpentine. 
     
     
         10 . The acetabular cage of  claim 3 , wherein the isthmian strip includes a plurality of solid portions positioned between adjacent channels such that the channels facilitate relative movement of adjacent solid portions. 
     
     
         11 . An acetabular cage, comprising:
 a cup portion configured for implantation in an acetabulum; and   a flange extending from the cup portion, the flange including:   a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface arranged and configured to contact a patient's bony tissue surrounding the acetabulum when the cup portion is implanted into the acetabulum;   one or more fixation features arranged and configured to couple the flange to the bony tissue surrounding the acetabulum; and   a flexible region arranged and configured to enable the flange to be movable positioned relative to the cup portion.   
     
     
         12 . The acetabular cage of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible region comprises a drapable chainmail structure comprising a plurality of interlinked floating members so that the flexible region is configured to conform to an overall geometry of the bony tissue surrounding the acetabulum during use. 
     
     
         13 . The acetabular cage of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of interlinked floating members are arranged and configured to facilitate relative movement of adjacent floating members. 
     
     
         14 . The acetabular cage of  claim 12 , wherein the chainmail structure is configured to conform to the overall geometry of the bony tissue without requiring further manual manipulation. 
     
     
         15 . The acetabular cage of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of interlinked floating members includes a plurality of landings and a plurality of interlinked hoops connecting the plurality of landings with one another so that adjacent landings are movable with respect to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The acetabular cage of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of interlinked hoops is integrally formed with a corresponding one of the landings. 
     
     
         17 . The acetabular cage of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of interlinked hoops includes a plurality of first hoops and a plurality of second hoops, wherein each of the plurality of first hoops is connected with a corresponding one of the landings, each of the plurality of second hoops is connected to adjacent first hoops for coupling adjacent landings.