Coupling assembly for joining an implant tool to a bone implant

Claim 1

A coupling assembly for securing a bone implant such as an artificial acetabulum to a tool for use in implanting the implant comprising the bone implant having an annular flange mounted thereto, said annular flange having a front face, a plurality of notches formed in spaced relationship with respect to one another in said front face of said annular flange, each of said notches having at least one undercut wall portion, the tool having a forward annular end portion having a plurality of wedge shaped teeth extending outwardly therefrom in generally parallel relationship to the axis of the tool, each of said wedge shaped teeth of the tool being of a size to be cooperatively received within said notches in said annular flange so as to create a space adjacent thereto in each notch, a plurality of shim means slideably carried by the tool adjacent each of said wedge shaped teeth so as to be axially movable with respect thereto, and means for simultaneously moving said shim means so as to enter said spaces within said notches to thereby bind each of said wedge shaped teeth within said notches and thereby lock the tool to the bone implant.