Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A component of an artificial joint for replacing a damaged natural joint in a skeletal structure of a body which includes a prosthesis having a first cooperating member to be secured to a first long bone having an intramedullary canal, the first cooperating member adapted to engage and being relatively movable with a second cooperating member of a second bone to permit relative movement between the first and second bones, comprising: an elongated stem having a longitudinal axis lying generally in a coronal plane and being integral with the first cooperating member and receivable in the intramedullary canal of the first bone, said stem extending between proximal and distal ends and having a longitudinal channel generally lying in the coronal plane when said stem is implanted, the thickness of said stem laterally of said channel being variable between said proximal and distal ends so as to affect the moment of inertia at any given location along the length of said stem to thereby achieve a stem flexibility which substantially correlates to the flexibility of the first bone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A component of an artificial joint for replacing a damaged natural joint in a skeletal structure of a body which includes a prosthesis having a first cooperating member to be secured to a first long bone having an intramedullary canal, the first cooperating member adapted to engage and being relatively movable with a second cooperating member of a second bone to permit relative movement between the first and second bones, comprising: an elongated stem having a longitudinal axis lying generally in a coronal plane and being integral with the first cooperating member and receivable in the intramedullary canal of the first bone, said stem extending between proximal and distal ends and having a longitudinal channel generally lying in the coronal plane when said stem is implanted, the thickness of said stem laterally of said channel being variable between said proximal and distal ends so as to affect the moment of inertia at any given location along the length of said stem to thereby achieve a stem flexibility which substantially correlates to the flexibility of the first bone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A component as set forth in claim 1 wherein a cross section of said stem lying in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof is substantially C-shaped in the lateral-medial direction; and wherein the maximum lateral-medial dimension of said stem is no more than 30% smaller than a similarly sized and shaped stem not formed with said channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A component as set forth in claim 1 which is composed of any one of titanium, titanium alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy, and composite materials.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an artificial joint for replacing a damaged natural joint in a skeletal structure of a body which includes a prosthesis having a first cooperating member to be secured to a first long bone having an intramedullary canal, said first cooperating member adapted to engage and being relatively movable with a second cooperating member of a second bone to permit relative movement between the first and second bones, the improvement comprising: an elongated stem having a longitudinal axis lying generally in a coronal plane and being integral with said first cooperating member and receivable in the intramedullary canal of the first bone, said stem extending between proximal and distal ends and having a longitudinal channel generally lying in the coronal place when said stem is implanted, the thickness of said stem laterally of said channel being variable between said proximal and distal ends so as to affect the moment of inertia at any given location along the length of said stem to thereby achieve a stem flexibility which substantially correlates to the flexibility of the first bone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an artificial joint for replacing a damaged natural joint in a skeletal structure of a body which includes a prosthesis having a first cooperating member to be secured to a first long bone having an intramedullary canal, said first cooperating member adapted to engage and being relatively movable with a second cooperating member of a second bone to permit relative movement between the first and second bones, the improvement comprising: an elongated stem having a longitudinal axis lying generally in a coronal plane and being integral with said first cooperating member and receivable in the intramedullary canal of the first bone, said stem extending between proximal and distal ends and having a longitudinal channel generally lying in the coronal place when said stem is implanted, the thickness of said stem laterally of said channel being variable between said proximal and distal ends so as to affect the moment of inertia at any given location along the length of said stem to thereby achieve a stem flexibility which substantially correlates to the flexibility of the first bone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 4 wherein a cross section of said stem lying in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof is substantially C-shaped in the lateral-medial direction; and wherein the maximum lateral-medial dimension of said stem is no more than 30% smaller than a similarly sized and shaped stem not formed with said channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stem is composed of any one of titanium, titanium alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy, and composite materials.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
185 words
An artificial joint for replacing a damaged natural joint in a skeletal structure of a body comprising: a ball member rotatably engageable with a cup shaped socket member to be secured to a first bone of the joint; and a mounting member including an elongated stem for securing said ball member to a second bone separate from the first bone, being a long bone with an intramedullary canal, said stem having a longitudinal axis lying generally in a coronal plane and being receivable in the intramedullary canal of the second bone, said stem extending from a proximal end adjacent said ball member to a distal end distant from said ball member, and having a longitudinal channel generally lying in the coronal plane when said stem is implanted in the intramedullary canal of the second bone, the thickness of said stem laterally of said channel being variable between said proximal and distal ends so as to affect the moment of inertia at any given location along the length of said stem to thereby achieve stem flexibility which substantially correlates to the flexibility of the second bone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
185 words
An artificial joint for replacing a damaged natural joint in a skeletal structure of a body comprising: a ball member rotatably engageable with a cup shaped socket member to be secured to a first bone of the joint; and a mounting member including an elongated stem for securing said ball member to a second bone separate from the first bone, being a long bone with an intramedullary canal, said stem having a longitudinal axis lying generally in a coronal plane and being receivable in the intramedullary canal of the second bone, said stem extending from a proximal end adjacent said ball member to a distal end distant from said ball member, and having a longitudinal channel generally lying in the coronal plane when said stem is implanted in the intramedullary canal of the second bone, the thickness of said stem laterally of said channel being variable between said proximal and distal ends so as to affect the moment of inertia at any given location along the length of said stem to thereby achieve stem flexibility which substantially correlates to the flexibility of the second bone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
An artificial joint as set forth in claim 7 wherein a cross section of said stem lying in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof is substantially C-shaped in the lateral-medial direction; and wherein the maximum lateral-medial dimension of said stem is no more than 30% smaller than a similarly sized and shaped stem not formed with said channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An artificial joint as set forth in claim 7 wherein the first bone is the pelvis; and wherein the second bone is the femur; and wherein said ball member and said stem are parts of a femoral component of a hip prosthesis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An artificial joint as set forth in claim 7 wherein said mounting member and said ball member are composed of any one of titanium, titanium alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy, and composite materials.