Hip or Shoulder Prosthesis and Placement Instruments

Abstract

A hip/shoulder prosthesis includes: a head component; a metaphyseal component; a diaphyseal nail, and a locking device. The head component includes: a front face and rear face; with a bore, and first and second shaped recesses in the rear face. The metaphyseal component includes: a central transverse aperture at an angle to the metaphyseal component's axis; a first end configured for threaded engagement within the bore of the head component; and a longitudinal hole that begins at the second end, transects the transverse aperture and reaches the first end, to receive the locking device. The diaphyseal nail is inserted in the femoral or humeral canal, and includes: fastening apertures that receive corresponding screws for fastening the diaphyseal nail to the femur or humerus; a portion configured to be received within, and engage, the transverse aperture of the metaphyseal component, and a transverse hole configured to receive the locking device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A joint replacement prosthesis for implantation in a patient, said joint replacement prosthesis comprising:
 a head component, said head configured to replace a head of a femur or a head of a humerus, said head component comprising:
 a spherical cap with a rear face; 
 a bore centrally positioned in said rear face; said bore comprising internal threading; 
 a first recess and a second recess formed in said rear face; and 
 wherein said first and second recesses are configured to be releasably engaged by an insertion device usable for placement of said head component into an acetabulum of the patient's pelvis or a glenoid of the patient's shoulder blade; 
   a metaphyseal component, said metaphyseal component comprising: an elongated shape with a first end configured for threaded engagement within said internally threaded bore of said head component; and a transverse aperture;   an diaphyseal nail, a portion of said diaphyseal nail configured for insertion through said transverse aperture of said metaphyseal component for placement into the femoral or humeral canal;   wherein said metaphyseal component comprises: a longitudinal hole configured to begin at a second end of said metaphyseal component, and to transect and extend beyond said transverse aperture;   a locking device, said locking device configured to be received in said longitudinal hole of said metaphyseal component, and through said transverse hole of said diaphyseal nail; and   means for fixedly securing said locking device to said metaphyseal component.   
     
     
         2 . The joint replacement prosthesis according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a profile of said first recess comprises a first profile shape, and a profile of said second recess comprises a second profile shape.   
     
     
         3 . The joint replacement prosthesis according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein said second profile shape is a mirrored copy of said first profile shape.   
     
     
         4 . The joint replacement prosthesis according to  claim 3 , wherein said first profile shape is a shape from the group of shapes consisting of: a rectangle; a parallelogram; and a trapezoid. 
     
     
         5 . The joint replacement prosthesis according to  claim 4 , wherein said first recess and said second recess are formed in said rear face on opposing sides of said centrally positioned bore. 
     
     
         6 . The joint replacement prosthesis according to  claim 1 , wherein said diaphyseal nail comprises a stop configured to position said diaphyseal nail with respect to said metaphyseal component. 
     
     
         7 . The joint replacement prosthesis according to  claim 1 , wherein said spherical cap is a hemisphere. 
     
     
         8 . The joint replacement prosthesis according to  claim 7 , wherein said rear face is substantially planar. 
     
     
         9 . A prosthesis configured to replace at least a head of a femur or a head of a humerus, said prosthesis comprising:
 a head component, said head component comprising: a front face and a rear face; a bore formed in said rear face;   a metaphyseal component, said metaphyseal component formed as a substantially straight component having a first end and a second end, and comprising: a body portion with a transverse aperture; a shank portion at said first end configured for threaded engagement within said bore of said head component; and a longitudinal hole configured to begin at a second end, and to transect and extend beyond said transverse aperture, at least a portion of said longitudinal hole comprising: internal threading;   a diaphyseal nail, said diaphyseal nail comprising: a first portion and a second portion;
 wherein said first portion is configured to be received in a portion of the femoral or humeral canal; and 
 wherein said second portion is configured to be received within said transverse aperture of said metaphyseal component, and comprises: a transverse hole; 
   a fastener, said fastener configured to be received in said longitudinal hole of said metaphyseal component, with a portion of said fastener received through said transverse hole of said diaphyseal nail; and   wherein at least a portion of said fastener is secured to said metaphyseal component within said longitudinal hole.   
     
     
         10 . The prosthesis according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said fastener comprises: external threading;   wherein said longitudinal hole comprises: internal threading; and   wherein said external threading of said fastener is configured to engage said internal threading of said longitudinal hole.   
     
     
         11 . The prosthesis according to  claim 9 , wherein said front face of said head component is a spherical cap. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthesis according to  claim 11 , wherein said spherical cap is less than half of a sphere. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthesis according to  claim 11 , wherein said spherical cap is substantially half of a sphere. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis according to  claim 11 , wherein said spherical cap is greater than half of a sphere. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthesis according to  claim 9 , further comprising: means for fastening said diaphyseal nail to the femur or the humerus.