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.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for inserting an implant system at least partially within a bone, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting an implant anchor at least partially within an excision site at or about the bone, said implant anchor comprising an implant fixation portion and a bone fixation portion, the implant fixation portion being proximal to the bone fixation portion and comprising a fixation element configured to couple said implant anchor to an implant;   securing the implant anchor to the bone via one or more external screw threads disposed around an outside surface of the bone fixation portion; and   coupling the implant to the implant fixation portion via the fixation element.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein coupling the implant to the implant fixation portion occurs prior to or after any one of inserting the implant anchor at least partially within the excision site and securing the implant anchor to the bone. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the bone fixation portion is at least partially porous. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the implant anchor comprises a longitudinal passageway through the implant fixation portion and the bone fixation portion of the implant anchor. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting a guide wire into the excision site to abut the bone or at least be partially disposed in the bone;   advancing the implant anchor over the guide wire such that the guide wire is at least partially disposed within the longitudinal passageway, so as to align the bone fixation portion of the implant anchor with the excision site; and   removing the guide wire.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the implant anchor further comprises a driver receptacle disposed at least partially within the implant fixation portion and configured to receive a drive member of a driver. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the implant anchor further comprises a longitudinal passageway extending from a distal end of the driver receptacle and distally through the implant anchor. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the steps of:
 disposing the drive member into the drive receptacle;   rotating the implant anchor with the drive member such that the one or more external screw threads threadably engage and secure with the bone; and   removing the drive member from the drive receptacle after the implant anchor is secured to the bone.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of:
 forming a pilot hole at least partially into the bone; and   securing the implant anchor at least partially within the pilot hole.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein a diameter of the pilot hole is smaller than a diameter of the implant anchor. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fixation element is configured to couple with the implant with a friction fit connection. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fixation element is configured to couple with the implant with a positive mechanical engagement coupling. 
     
     
         39 . An implant system for securing an implant to a bone, the implant system comprising:
 an implant anchor comprising:
 i. an implant fixation portion having a first fixation element configured to couple the implant anchor with the implant; 
 ii. a bone fixation portion distal to the implant fixation portion, the bone fixation portion having one or more external screw threads disposed around an outer surface thereof and configured to secure the implant anchor to the bone; 
 iii. a driver receptacle disposed at least partially within the implant fixation portion and configured to receive a drive member therein; 
   the implant comprising a load bearing surface, a bone facing surface, and a second fixation element extending from the bone facing surface, the first fixation element configured to mate with the second fixation element; and   a driver comprising a body portion and the driving member, wherein the driving member is configured to rotate the implant anchor via driver receptable, so as to threadably engage the one or more external screw threads to the bone.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the first fixation element is a tapered protrusion narrowing towards a proximal tip of the implant anchor. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the tapered protrusion includes a tapered sidewall configured to contact and abut against at least a portion of a corresponding implant tapered sidewall of the second fixation element to form a frictional connection therebetween. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the first fixation element is configured to connect to the second fixation element with a friction fit connection. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the first fixation element is configured to connect to the second fixation element with a positive mechanical engagement connection. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first fixation element and second fixation element is deformed against the other fixation element. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein at least one of the first fixation element and second fixation element have an overlapping surface. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the implant comprises polyether ether ketone, polyethylene, and/or ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein at least a portion of the implant comprises stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, chromium cobalt, and/or any alloy thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the implant system is configured to replace an entire articular surface of the bone.