Artificial joints, in particular coxo-femoral joints

Abstract

A joint prosthesis and particularly for the coxo-femoral or hip joint, said prosthesis being formed by an inner cupule and an outer ring. The outer ring, which is made of metal, is shrunk on the inner cupule, which is made of a ceramic or monocrystalline material. An intermediate annular piece may be provided between the cupule and the outer ring. Preferably the outer ring is provided with an external self-tapping thread.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An articular prosthesis for an artificial joint, comprising two separate parts including an inner cupule and an outer ring, said inner cupule having a part spherical cavity adapted to receive a corresponding part spherical head, said inner cupule being made of a hard and rigid material of low tensile strength and shock resistance, said outer ring being made of metal, said outer ring being shrunk fit on the sidewall of inner cupule. 
     
     
       2. The prosthesis of claim 1, said outer ring having at least one external self-tapping thread, wherein said outer ring has discrete openings communicating with at least one internal volume for collecting bone chips resulting from tapping said outer ring in bone tissue. 
     
     
       3. The prosthesis of claim 2, further comprising axial notches intersecting said self-tapping thread, said openings in said outer ring being disposed at the intersections of said thread and said notches. 
     
     
       4. The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein said inner volume is confined partly by said inner cupule and partly by said outer ring. 
     
     
       5. The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein an intermediate annular piece is disposed between said inner cupule and said outer ring, said inner volume being confined partly by said intermediately annular piece and partly by said outer ring. 
     
     
       6. The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a retaining ring for retaining a spherical head of complementary configuration in said part spherical cavity of said inner cupule. 
     
     
       7. The prosthesis of claim 6, further comprising a transverse shoulder on the inner side of said outer ring adjoining the open end of said part spherical cavity, said retaining ring abutting against said transverse shoulder. 
     
     
       8. The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a tubular sleeve of elastic material internally lining said outer ring. 
     
     
       9. The prosthesis of claim 8, further comprising a tubular jacket of rigid material provided between said outer ring and said tubular sleeve whereby said tubular sleeve is confined between said tubular jacket and said sidewall of said cupule. 
     
     
       10. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said inner cupule is made of ceramic material. 
     
     
       11. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said inner cupule is made of monocrystalline material. 
     
     
       12. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said sidewall of said inner cupule is defined by a body of revolution having a straight line generatrix. 
     
     
       13. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein means on the outer surface of said outer ring is adapted to be embedded in a bone tissue. 
     
     
       14. An articular prosthesis for an artificial joint comprising two distinct parts, as inner cupule and an outer ring, said outer ring .[.being shrunk fit on.]. 
     
     
        .Iadd.receiving .Iaddend.said inner cupule, said outer ring being provided with at least one external self-tapping thread, and with an inner collecting volume which opens to the outside, in places, through openings, in line with said self-tapping thread and which is adpated to receive .[.bond.]. .Iadd.bone .Iaddend.chips, said inner volume being partly comprised by a helical groove which forms a hollow complementary to said self-tapping thread, said groove following the contour of said thread and being at least partly formed in the thickness thereof. 
     
     
       15. The prosthesis of claim 14, wherein said inner volume is confined between said inner cupule and said outer ring, said inner volume being partly defined opposite said helical groove in said outer ring by a similar helical groove in the surface of said inner cupule. 
     
     
       16. The prosthesis of claim 14, wherein a tubular sleeve overlies the sidewall of said inner cupule, said inner volume between said tubular sleeve and said outer ring, said inner volume being partly defined opposite said helical groove in said outer ring by a similar helical groove in said tubular sleeve opposite said helical groove in said outer ring. .Iadd. 
     
     
       17.  The prosthesis of claim 14, wherein the outer ring is internally lined by a tubular jacket, said collecting volume being formed between said outer ring and said tubular jacket. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. An articular prosthesis for an artificial joint comprising two distinct parts, including an inner cupule and an outer ring, said inner cupule being received on said outer ring, said outer ring being provided with at least one external self-tapping thread, and with an inner collecting volume, which is at least partly formed within the inner volume of the said outer ring, radially between said outer ring and said inner cupule, and which opens to the outside, at spaced locations, through openings in said self-tapping thread, said collecting volume being adapted to receive bond chips. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The prosthesis of claim 18, wherein the outer ring is internally lined by a tubular jacket, said collecting volume being formed between said outer ring and said tubular jacket. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     An articular prosthesis for an artificial joint comprising two distinct parts, including an inner cupule and an outer ring, said inner cupule being received on said outer ring, said outer ring being provided with at least one external self-tapping thread, and with an inner collecting volume, which is at least partly formed within the inner volume of the said outer ring, between said outer ring and said inner cupule, and which opens to the outside, at spaced locations, through openings in said self-tapping thread, said collecting volume extending circumferentially in at least one direction from said openings and being adapted to receive bone chips. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The prosthesis of claim 20, wherein the outer ring is internally lined by a tubular jacket, said collecting volume being formed between said outer ring and said tubular jacket. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. An articular prosthesis for an artificial joint comprising two distinct parts, including an inner cupule and an outer ring, said inner cupule being received on said outer ring, said outer ring being provided with at least one external self-tapping thread, and with an inner collecting volume, which is at least partly formed by a hollow defined along the inner surface of said outer ring, between said outer ring and said inner cupule, and which opens to the outside, at spaced locations, through openings in said self-tapping thread, said collecting volume being adapted to receive bone chips. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the outer ring is internally lined by a tubular jacket, said collecting volume being formed between said outer ring and said tubular 
     
     
        jacket. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  An articular prosthesis for an artificial joint comprising two distinct parts, including an inner cupule and an outer ring, said inner cupule being received on said outer ring, said outer ring being provided with at least one external self-tapping thread, and with an inner collecting volume, which is at least partly formed within the inner volume of said outer ring, between said outer ring and said inner cupule, and which opens to the outside, at spaced locations, through openings in said self-tapping thread, said collecting volume being adapted to receive bone chips, the outer ring internally comprises a helical groove which forms a hollow complementary to said self-tapping thread, said groove following the contour of said thread and being at least partly formed in the thickness thereof, said collecting volume being at least partly formed by said helical groove. .Iaddend.