Interim Joint Prosthesis

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular interim joint prosthesis that can be inserted into a long bone, for replacing an explanted joint endoprosthesis, wherein the interim joint prosthesis has a main body having a main-body coupling segment and has a shaft having a shaft coupling segment and the shaft coupling segment can be detachably coupled to the main-body coupling segment.

Claims

1. An interim joint prosthesis which can be inserted into a long bone and be used for a replacement of a joint endoprosthesis to be explanted, wherein the interim joint prosthesis has a main body with a main body coupling segment and a shaft with a shaft coupling segment, and the shaft coupling segment can be detachably coupled to the main-body coupling segment.

2. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises at least two clamping wings which are displaceable perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body relative to the main body, wherein each clamping wing has a stop which extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body at least on one side of the main body beyond the main body.

3. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein each of the clamping wings is displaceable via at least one telescopic rod, preferably two telescopic rods.

4. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 3, wherein at least one telescopic rod of at least one clamping wing has an anti-slip device, which is preferably designed as a recess in the longitudinal direction of the telescopic rod, into which a clamping wing fixing element of the main body engages.

5. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the main-body coupling segment comprises a through-hole in which the shaft is displaceably arranged and is preferably fixable via a shaft fixing element.

6. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has an engagement segment, at least along a section of its length, for a coupling tool, which segment is formed by at least two parallel surfaces arranged mutually opposite each other.

7. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a joint linkage segment to which a joint part can be detachably fixed with its joint coupling segment.

8. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that it has two main bodies.

9. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a support shaft with a distal and a proximal end, wherein a support flange is arranged between the distal and the proximal end of the support shaft, said flange extending radially outwardly from the support shaft.

10. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 9, wherein the shaft and the support shaft each have a coupling segment at their proximal end, and a respective coupling segment complementary thereto at their opposing distal end and at least one engagement segment for a coupling tool, wherein the coupling segments are preferably designed as threads.

11. An interim joint prosthesis according to claim 1, comprising an antiadhesive, antimicrobial and/or antibiotic-containing surface or surface portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] With the aid of the following figures and description, embodiment examples for better understanding of the present invention are discussed in detail. For this purpose, the features shown in the figures are marked with reference numerals. In the case of different embodiment examples, the same reference numerals are used, provided that the features in these embodiment examples are the same or have the same effect.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a main body of the interim joint prosthesis according to the invention for a knee (femur and/or tibia), which has two clamping wings with stops.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows the main body in an enlarged view with clamping wings inserted.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the main body.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a joint part, which can be fixed to a main body of the interim joint prosthesis by means of a joint coupling segment.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a modular interim joint prosthesis according to the invention with two main bodies.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a shaft and a main body connected to this shaft.

[0055] FIGS. 7 and 8 each show a set of different components of the modular interim joint prosthesis as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0056] FIG. 5 shows an example of a structure of a modularly arranged interim joint prosthesis 1 according to the invention, which is provided for replacing an explanted joint endoprosthesis (not shown). The interim joint prosthesis 1 has two main bodies 20, 40. Thus, in the design of this interim joint prosthesis 1, an embodiment is concerned which is provided for the replacement of two explanted artificial joints. In the specific case shown in FIG. 5, this is a replacement of a hip prosthesis and a knee joint.

[0057] As can be recognized with respect to the interim prosthesis 1 shown in FIG. 5, it provides the patient with a certain degree of mobility since the joint part 10 is guided in the acetabulum, which is not shown, and thus retains its function as a joint. On the other hand, the main body 40, which serves as a substitute for an explanted artificial knee joint, is flexurally stiff and thus does not permit any articulated movement. However, the patient can move his leg out of the hip thanks to the joint part 10 located on the main body 20. As a result, the embodiment of an interim joint 1 shown in FIG. 5 allows, on the one hand, physiotherapeutic measures and, on the other hand, this design provides the patient with a certain degree of freedom of movement. This has a positive effect on the muscles and ligaments.

[0058] At the same time, the main body 20, as also the main body 40, ensures that the surrounding soft tissue is unable to shorten to such an extent, neither in the longitudinal direction of the leg nor in the transverse direction thereof. Thus, a new implantation of a permanent joint replacement is not prevented.

[0059] The main body 20 replaces the angled region of the femur in the region of the femoral neck. For the interim prosthesis according to the invention, an angle of 135 is preferably selected.

[0060] If a main body 20, 40 has a joint part 10, a joint linkage segment 28 is then provided for its attachment to the main body 20, 40. Said joint linkage segment is preferably conical and has already been explained above. Consequently, in such an embodiment, the joint part 10 has a conical inner surface 14 (FIG. 4).

[0061] Furthermore, at least one joint fixing element 12 can be provided on the joint element 10 in order to fix the joint element 10 to the joint linkage segment 28 of the main body 20. Advantageously, the at least one joint fixing element 12 is arranged in such a way that its fixing or tightening presses the conical joint linkage segment 28 into the corresponding joint coupling segment 14 of the joint part 10 and thus ensures a play-free connection. This can be done, for example, by means of a tapered screw as a joint fixing element 12 and a correspondingly pointed recess in the surface of the joint linkage segment 28. If more than one joint fixing element 12 is provided, then these are preferably evenly distributed around the circumference of the joint coupling segment.

[0062] In order to couple the main body 20, 40 to a shaft 60, two attachment possibilities are particularly preferred in the present invention. In the first attachment possibility, the main body 20, 40 has a main-body coupling segment 24, 44 in the longitudinal direction at least one end. In this case, the main-body coupling segment 24, 44 preferably comprises a thread for connecting. In the context of the invention, this also includes a bayonet. On the shaft coupling segment 64, which is complementary thereto, of a shaft 60 which can be connected to the main body 20, 40 a complementary thread is accordingly disposed, so that the main body 20, 40 and the shaft 60 can be coupled to one another.

[0063] In order to tighten the connection between a shaft 60 and a main body 20, 40, an engagement segment 22 is preferably provided on the main body 20, 40 and an engagement segment 62, 72 on the shaft 60, 70. As described above, the engagement segment can be provided over essentially the entire length of the shaft 60, but at least over 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and preferably at least 90%.

[0064] The engagement segment 22, 62, 72 additionally preferably concerns two mutually parallel engagement surfaces 65 (FIG. 6), into which a coupling tool 2 can engage. In the embodiment example shown, the coupling tool 2 is designed in the form of a wrench.

[0065] If a coupling segment is located in the longitudinal direction at both ends of a main body 20, 40 and/or a shaft 60, 70, the coupling segment of the one side is complementary to the coupling segment on the other side. In the case of a thread, the external thread is accordingly located on one side of the main body 20, 40 or of the shaft 60, and the inner thread on the respective other side of the main body 20, 40 or of the shaft 60. Consequently, the shafts 60, 70 and main bodies 20, 40 can be interchanged as desired.

[0066] With reference to FIG. 7, this is shown for the shaft 60 and the support shaft 70. Thus, on the one side of the shafts 60, 70, the male coupling segment 64 and 74 is shown. The complementary female coupling segment 64, 74 on the opposite side of the shafts 60, 70 is located in the end face of the shafts and is not visible in FIG. 7.

[0067] In the second attachment possibility, a hole 44 is provided in the main body 20, 40 on at least one side, into which the shaft 60, 70 can be inserted. As described above, the hole 44 is preferably a through-hole (see also FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 8). A shaft 60, 70 can then be fixed via at least one shaft fixing element 43.

[0068] If a through-hole 44 is concerned, the shaft 60 can protrude on both sides from the main body 20, 40 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Such an arrangement is shown both in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 6. In both figures, a main body 40 is provided as a replacement for an artificial knee joint. In these cases, the same shaft 60 protrudes in the longitudinal direction on both sides from the main body 40.

[0069] As a result, it is possible to insert the shaft 60, which is inserted into the through-hole 44, into the two adjacent long bones and to thus fix the main body 40 laterally. If the main body 40 is provided, for example, for the replacement of an artificial knee joint, one side of the shaft 60 is located in the femur, while the other side of the shaft 60 is arranged in the tibia. Such a case is shown in FIG. 5. The displaceability of a shaft 60 in the main body 20, 40 due to a through-hole 44 has the advantages already described above. 0

[0070] In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 5, although the shaft 60 inserted into the through-hole 44 of the main body 40 is possibly provided for the purpose of being introduced into sections of a long bone, it is not provided for securing the interim prosthesis 1 laterally. Instead, the interim prosthesis 1 shown in FIG. 5 is provided for a case in which the entire femur has been removed, as is the proximal part of the tibia. As a result, none of the main bodies 20, 40 are supported with their surfaces oriented in the longitudinal direction on a long bone.

[0071] In order to nevertheless permit a certain amount of anchoring in a long bone, the interim prosthesis 1 can be inserted via its shaft 60, which is attached at the distal end, into the distal end of a tibia (not shown). In order to prevent slipping through of the shaft 60, a support shaft 70 is provided, which is inserted via the above-described complementary connectors 64, 74 between the two shafts 60. The support flange 78, which extends radially outwards, of the support shaft 70 then lies on the proximal sectional surface of the tibia, thus assuming the role of the aforementioned surfaces of the main bodies 20, 40, and thus prevents slipping through. Since the interim prosthesis 1 shown in FIG. 5 is provided for the aforementioned case, the main body 40 does not have any of the clamping wings 50 already described above and in more detail below.

[0072] If, on the other hand, a shaft 60 protrudes only on one side of a main body 20, 40, the interim prosthesis is used only for the replacement of a joint side of an artificial joint that was previously explanted. In FIG. 5, the main body 20 would thus replace only the femoral part of the hip joint when the shaft 60 is attached via a hole. The same applies to the replacement of the tibial or femoral part of a knee joint. In the case of a one-sided replacement, the main body 40 has a correspondingly shorter length.

[0073] In general, for the main body 40, which is provided in the shown embodiments for the replacement of a knee joint (FIGS. 5 and 6) or of the tibial part of a knee joint (cf. FIGS. 1 to 3), the length thereof is provided in a range from 10 to 80 mm. The dimension of the main body 40 in the illustrated embodiments is provided in the lateral direction in the range between 40 and 90 mm and in the direction perpendicular to it in the range between 35 to 55 mm.

[0074] The shaft preferably has a cross-section which remains constant over its length. The term essentially includes possibly existing engagement surfaces 62, as shown in FIG. 6. The cross-section of the shaft 60, however, is designed such that it can be inserted or passed through the diaphyseal region of a long bone. For this purpose, the shaft 60 has a diameter of 8 to 15 mm, preferably 10 to 12 mm.

[0075] The main body 20, 40, in accordance with the present invention, is characterized in that, on the contrary, it can preferably not be inserted into the diaphyseal region of the adjacent long bone. In the cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, the outer contour of the preferably cylindrically shaped main body 40, in its preferred embodiment, essentially follows the outer shape in the metaphyseal region of a tibia in the same joint section, as a replacement for at least a part of a knee joint (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0076] A main body 20, 40 can also have clamping wings 50 (FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6). Relating to the cross-section of the main body 40, the clamping wings 50 are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction thereof, preferably (diametrically) opposite.

[0077] In one embodiment, they are guided by means of a telescopic rod 52, which is displaceably arranged in an opening or a hole in the main body 40. Thus, a clamping wing 50 can be pulled out of the main body 40 in the manner of a clamping jaw as in the case of a vice, and pushed into it.

[0078] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the clamping wing 50 has a stop region 51 which, in the inserted state of the interim prosthesis 1, strikes the adjacent long bone with its surface facing the main body 40. Since this applies to both opposing clamping wings 50, the intermediate region, i.e. preferably the metaphyseal region, is clamped. In this case, the interlocking connection produced by the part of the stop region 51 which projects beyond the main body 40 in the longitudinal direction of the main body 40 with the circumference of the abutting long bone secures the main body 40 against a rotation about its longitudinal axis.

[0079] After their adjustment, the clamping wings 50 are fixed in the main body 40 by the clamping wing fixing element 56. Furthermore, an anti-slip device 53, which was already described above in closer detail, can be provided in the clamping wings 50, which in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is designed as a recess formed in the longitudinal direction of a telescopic rod.

[0080] The extreme end of a shaft 60 can be formed as a rounded end segment 68 (FIGS. 5 to 7).

[0081] In all embodiments according to the invention, the interim prosthesis allows a patient-specific solution due to its modular design. Due to their mechanical load-bearing capacity and also their flexibility, which depends on the respective design, a patient is further provided with restricted mobility. This has a positive effect on the quality of life of the patient during the illness phase and also improves the preparation and thus the success prospects of a revision.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0082] 1 Interim prosthesis [0083] 2 Coupling tool [0084] 3 Joint part [0085] 4 Joint fixing element [0086] 14 Joint coupling segment [0087] 20 Main body [0088] 22 Engagement segment for coupling tool [0089] 24 Main-body coupling segment for a shaft [0090] 28 Joint linkage segment [0091] 40 Main body for knee [0092] 43 Shaft fixing element [0093] 44 Main-body coupling segment [0094] 50 Clamping wing [0095] 51 Stop [0096] 52 Telescopic rod [0097] 53 Anti-slip device [0098] 56 Clamping-wing fixing device [0099] 60 Shaft [0100] 62 Engagement segment for coupling tool [0101] 64 Shaft coupling segment [0102] 65 Engagement surface of an engagement segment 62 [0103] 68 Rounded end segment [0104] 70 Support shaft [0105] 72 Engagement segment [0106] 74 Coupling segment of the support shaft [0107] 78 Support flange