Abstract
A method for using an insertion instrument to insert a cup into an acetabulum. The method includes inserting a convex outer surface of the instrument into an inner surface of the cup. The entire convex outer surface is made of a resilient material. A piston is activated in order to decrease pressure within a sealed cavity of the instrument, which causes the convex outer surface of the instrument to engage the inner surface of the cup. The instrument and cup are inserted into place in the acetabulum. The piston is de-activated in order to increase pressure within the sealed cavity, causing the convex outer surface of the instrument to disengage the inner surface of the cup.
Claims
1. A method for using an insertion instrument to insert a cup into an acetabulum, the method comprising: inserting a convex outer surface of the instrument into an inner surface of the cup, wherein the entire convex outer surface is made of a resilient material; activating a piston of the instrument in order to decrease pressure within a sealed cavity of the instrument, causing the convex outer surface of the instrument to engage the inner surface of the cup; insert the instrument and cup into place in the acetabulum; and de-activate the piston of the instrument in order to increase pressure within the sealed cavity, causing the convex outer surface of the instrument to disengage the inner surface of the cup.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking the piston after activation in order to keep the inner surface of the cup engaged with the convex outer surface.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the activating includes pulling a lever on a shaft of the instrument and the locking includes inserting the lever into an l-shaped slot.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising unlocking the piston after the insertion of the cup in the acetabulum.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unlocking includes pulling a collar on the shaft of the instrument to release the lever from the l-shaped slot.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup inserting instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the instrument of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the instrument of FIG. 1 with a cup.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cup according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of using the instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the following description and the accompanying drawings. Turning now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a cup inserting instrument 10 is shown. The instrument includes a longitudinal member 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16 opposite the first end 14. A resilient cup engaging member 18 is coupled to the first end 14. The resilient cup engaging member 18 includes a convex outer surface 20. The convex outer surface 20 is sized and shaped to engage an inner surface 22 of an acetabular cup 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The convex outer surface 20 is made entirely of a resilient material. In some embodiments, that resilient material is medical grade silicone. In other embodiments, the resilient material may be thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or thermoplastic urethane (TPU). Alternatively, any type of resilient material may be used.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal member 12 is coupled to a lever 26, which is part of an actuator 27. The actuator 27 is in fluid communication with the resilient cup engaging member 18 such that when the actuator 27 is moved, the suction force between the resilent cup engaging member 18 and a cup 24 (shown in FIG. 4) increases. The actuator 27 will be described in further detail in reference to FIG. 2. At the second end 16 of the longitudinal member 12, a handle 28 may be included. The handle 28 may include ergonomic features such as ridges 30 to making gripping the handle 28 easier. Also, in some embodiments, the handle 28 may include an impaction plate 32 on its end. In such an embodiment, a user may strike the instrument 10 with a hammer or other impaction tool. In other embodiments, the end of the handle 28 may not be an impaction plate.
[0018] Turning now to FIG. 2, the internal workings of the cup inserting instrument 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the resilient member 18 extends over the entirety of the convex outer surface 20. It also extends inwardly to create a seal around an inner cavity 34. In some embodiments, the resilient member 18 may only extend over the convex outer surface 20 and an o-ring or separate resilient member may be used to create the seal around the inner cavity 34. As shown, the resilient member 18 is part of a housing or solid impact cap 36. The resilient member 18 may be molded over the solid impact cap or housing 36. The housing 36 includes a part of the inner cavity 34 and is made of solid metal or hard plastic in order to support the resilient member 18. In this case, the housing 36 is removable from a shaft portion 38. The housing 36 includes a threaded connection 40 that engages with a threaded connection 42 on an end of the shaft portion 38. In such an embodiment, there may be a plurality of housings 36, having resilient members 18 that correspond to different size cups 24. In other embodiments, the instrument 10 may be of a unitary structure and there may be different instruments 10 to accommodate the different size cups 24.
[0019] The shaft portion 38 is an elongated shaft and includes the remaining portion of the inner cavity 34. Inside the inner cavity 34 is also part of the actuator 27, a moveable piston 44. The moveable piston is coupled to the lever 26. As the lever 26 is moved, the moveable piston 44 moves along the inner cavity 34.
[0020] Moving toward the second end 16 of the longitudinal member 12 and shaft portion 38, is a holder 46. The holder 46 is adapted to engage the moveable piston 44 and lock the moveable piston 44 in position. There is also a spring 48, which interacts with the holder 46 and a releasement mechanism (in the illustrated embodiment, a collar) 50 in order to enable a user to unlock the moveable piston 44 from its locked position.
[0021] Turning now to FIG. 5, a description of how the instrument 10 will be used is described. Beginning at step s100, the inner surface 22 of the cup (also known as a shell) 24 is placed in contact with the convex outer surface 20 of the resilient member 18. The user then pulls back on the lever 26 and locks it into place at steps s102 and s104. The locking may be done by an L-shaped slot (not shown) in the longitudinal member 12. Internally, the pulling back of the lever 26 causes the moveable piston 44 to move toward the holder 46. Locking the lever 26 into the L-shaped slot, causes the moveable piston 44 to lockably engage the holder 46 (step s104). As the moveable piston 44 moves toward the second end 16, the area of air in the inner cavity 34 increases. However, since the inner cavity 34 is sealed (by either the resilient member 18 or an o-ring), the volume of air stays the same. This results in the pressure in the inner cavity 34 decreasing relative to the atmospheric pressure outside the inner cavity 34, causing the convex outer surface 20 of the resilient member to engage the inner surface 22 of the cup 24. At step 106, the user may then use the inserter 10 to insert the cup (or shell) 24 into the prepared acetabulum. This step may involve using a hammer, mallet or other tool to strike the tool to firmly seat the cup 24 in the acetabulum. Once the cup 24 is seated, the user then pulls back on the collar 50, releasing the lever 26 from its locked position (step s108). The moveable piston 44 then moves toward the first end 14 of the longitudinal member 12, increasing the pressure and releasing the cup 24 from the resilient member 18.
[0022] The cup 24 described in the above embodiments is a monoblock cup 24 having a metal outer surface and a polyethylene inner surface. The outer surface may be made of any biocompatible metal, such as titanium. The outer surface may also include a porous outer coating to promote bone in-growth. The inner surface may be molded into the outer surface and may be any biocompatible polyethylene, such as an antioxidant polyethylene. Alternatively, an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene may also be used.
[0023] The foregoing description of the invention is illustrative only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the precise terms set forth. Further, although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
