Patent · US Expired

Method for making a reinforced orthopedic implant

US5989472A · kind A · utility

52Cited by
7References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 20, 1997
Grant dateNov 23, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 20, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S623/901
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A metal backing for inclusion in the manufacture of a prosthetic component having a plastic on an upper surface and has a bottom surface portion with elements for attachment to a bone. The backing has an upper surface portion at least part of which is formed by a grill element having exposed front and rear faces and which is intended to be embedded within the plastic bearing member during construction. The plastic bearing material of the bearing element can be molded so that all the faces thereof exposed to the grill are covered and the grill is embedded within the plastic material of the bearing element. The grill is located on a metal support and is provided with spacers on its front face to space the front face away from the support. The grill is cast integrally into the metal support during manufacture. The casting process includes casting a grill on both outer surfaces of the metal backing with the grill element including cross-members spaced from backing surfaces. The polymeric bearing surface is molded around a first of the grill elements with the mechanical interlock between the bearing and the backing being provided by the molding of the polymeric material underneath the g…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.