SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING BY-IMPACTION ASSEMBLY BETWEEN A PROSTHETIC COMPONENT AND A SUPPORT MEMBER, AND SURGICAL KITS INCLUDING SUCH A SYSTEM

Abstract

This system comprises: at least one vibrational sensor which is operable to produce data each time an impact application device applies an impact from a user to the prosthetic component during assembly between the prosthetic component and with the support member, the produced data representing acoustic vibrations generated in the air and/or material vibrations generated in the impact application device, an analysis unit which is configured both to calculate a frequency characterization of the vibrations for each impact applied by the impact application device to the prosthetic component, from the corresponding data produced by the at least one vibrational sensor, and to compare the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for successive impacts so as to provide at each of the successive impacts either a first indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is not fully seated or a second indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is fully seated, and a user interface which provides feedback to the user based on the first and second indications.

Claims

1. System for monitoring by-impaction assembly between a prosthetic component and a support member, comprising: at least one vibrational sensor which is operable to produce data each time an impact application device applies an impact from a user to the prosthetic component during assembly between the prosthetic component and with the support member, the produced data representing acoustic vibrations generated in the air and/or material vibrations generated in the impact application device, an analysis unit which is configured both to calculate a frequency characterization of the vibrations for each impact applied by the impact application device to the prosthetic component, from the corresponding data produced by the at least one vibrational sensor, and to compare the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for successive impacts so as to provide at each of the successive impacts either a first indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is not fully seated or a second indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is fully seated, and a user interface which provides feedback to the user based on the first and second indications.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vibrational sensor includes a microphone operable to produce data representing the acoustic vibrations generated in the air, the microphone being separate from the prosthetic component.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the microphone is also separate from the impact application device.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the microphone, the analysis unit and the user interface are integrated into a portable device, such as a laptop, a smartphone or a pad.

5. System according to claim 2, wherein the microphone is integrated into the impact application device.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vibrational sensor includes a piezoelectric sensor which is operable to produce data representing the material vibrations generated in the impact application device, the piezoelectric sensor being integrated into the impact application device.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein the analysis unit and the user interface are also integrated into the impact application device.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the frequency characterization calculated by the analysis unit is a natural frequency of the acoustic vibrations generated in the air.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the frequency characterization calculated by the analysis unit is a wave frequency of the material vibrations generated in the impact application device.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein at each of the successive impacts, the analysis unit is configured to compare the frequency characterization resulting from the last impact or an average of the frequency characterizations respectively resulting from the N last impacts, N being a number between two and four, with the frequency characterization resulting from the second last impact or with an average of the frequency characterizations respectively resulting from the M impacts just preceding the last impact, M being a number between two and four.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein at each of the successive impacts, the analysis unit is configured to compare the frequency characterization resulting from the last impact or an average of the frequency characterizations respectively resulting from the N last impacts, N being a number between two and four, with a threshold.

12. Surgical kit, comprising: a prosthetic component to be assembled with a bone by impaction, an impact application device for applying successive impacts to the prosthetic component during assembly between the prosthetic component and the bone, and a system for monitoring assembly between the prosthetic component and the bone, the system being according to claim 1.

13. Surgical kit according to claim 12, wherein the prosthetic component is an acetabular cup of a hip prosthesis, intended to be assembled into an acetabulum of a human pelvis without cement.

14. Surgical kit according to claim 12, wherein the prosthetic component is a humeral stem of a shoulder prosthesis, intended to be assembled into a medullary canal of a human humerus without cement.

15. Surgical kit according to claim 12, wherein the prosthetic component is a glenoid plate of a shoulder prosthesis, intended to be assembled into a glenoid cavity of a human scapula without cement.

16. Surgical kit, comprising: a first prosthetic component and a second prosthetic component, which are to be assembled together by impaction, an impact application device for applying successive impacts to the first prosthetic component during assembly between the first prosthetic component and the second prosthetic component, and a system for monitoring assembly between the first prosthetic component and the second prosthetic component, the system being according to claim 1.

17. Method for monitoring by-impaction assembly between a first prosthetic component and a second prosthetic component, comprising: each time an impact application device applies an impact from a user to the first prosthetic component during assembly between the first prosthetic component and the second prosthetic component, producing data representing acoustic vibrations generated in the air and/or material vibrations generated in the impact application device, from at least one vibrational sensor, calculating a frequency characterization of the vibrations for each impact applied by the impact application device to the first prosthetic component, from the corresponding data produced by the at least one vibrational sensor, comparing the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for successive impacts so as to provide at each of the successive impacts a first indication when the assembly between the first prosthetic component and the second prosthetic component is not fully seated then a second indication when the assembly between the first prosthetic component and the second prosthetic component is fully seated, and providing feedback to the user based on the first and second indications.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein assembly between the first prosthetic component and the second prosthetic component is operated whereas the second prosthetic component is already implanted in a bone.

19. Method according to claim 17, wherein assembly between the first prosthetic component and the second prosthetic component is operated whereas the second prosthetic component is not yet implanted in a bone.

20. Method for monitoring by-impaction assembly between a prosthetic component and a bone, comprising: each time an impact application device applies an impact from a user to the prosthetic component during assembly between the prosthetic component and the bone, producing data representing acoustic vibrations generated in the air and/or material vibrations generated in the impact application device, from at least one vibrational sensor, calculating a frequency characterization of the vibrations for each impact applied by the impact application device to the prosthetic component, from the corresponding data produced by the at least one vibrational sensor, comparing the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for successive impacts so as to provide at each of the successive impacts a first indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the bone is not fully seated then a second indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the bone is fully seated, and providing feedback to the user based on the first and second indications.

Description

[0048] Embodiments of the invention will be better understood from reading the description which will follow, which is given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system for monitoring assembly between a hip prosthetic component and a pelvis;

[0050] FIGS. 2 and 3 are views similar to FIG. 1, which respectfully illustrate a partial assembly of the hip component and a fully seated assembly of the hip component;

[0051] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a temporal acoustic signal produced during assembly of the hip component;

[0052] FIG. 5 is a diagram of frequency characterizations calculated from the temporal signal of FIG. 4;

[0053] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views of various exemplary embodiments for the monitoring system of FIG. 1;

[0054] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of humeral prosthetic components;

[0055] FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic views of another monitoring system, which illustrate the use of this system for monitoring assembly between a first humeral component amongst those of FIG. 9 and a humerus, this assembly being partial in FIG. 10 and being fully seated in FIG. 11; and

[0056] FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic views of another monitoring system, which illustrate the use of this system for monitoring assembly between the second and third humeral components of FIG. 9 and the first humeral component.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a human pelvis P having two acetabula A. Each of the acetabula is a cavity in the pelvis P, which articulates with the head of a (not shown) femur. Total hip arthroplasty replaces the joint between the pelvis and the femur with prosthetic components of a hip prosthesis, which articulates with each one other for replicating the natural hip joint and which are respectively assembled with the pelvis P and the femur. These prosthetic components typically include an acetabular cup 1. During surgery, the cup 1 is assembled with the pelvis P, within one of the acetabula thereof. As depicted on FIG. 1, the assembly of the cup 1 into the acetabulum A of the pelvis P is performed by impaction by using an impact application device 10 detailed here-after. This assembly is usually achieved without cement, that is to say without interposing surgical cement between the cup 1 and the acetabulum A. The cup 1 is known per se and is for example DYNACUP sold by TORNIER, France.

[0058] In some embodiments as the one shown in FIG. 1, the impaction application device 10 comprises an impactor 11 and a hammer 12. The hammer 12 is manipulated by hand by a surgeon and is consequently provided with a handle 13. The hammer 12 is also provided with a head 14 arranged at an end of the handle 13. The head 14 is designed to hit the impactor 11 and thus to apply an impaction force thereto from the surgeon. The impactor 11 is a surgical tool which is mainly intended to transmit impaction force from the hammer 12 to the acetabular cup 1. In some embodiments as the one shown in FIG. 1, the impactor 11 comprises a rod 15 having a proximal end 16 designed to be hit by the head 14 of the hammer 12 whereas a distal end 17 of the rod 15 is coupled to the cup 1.

[0059] The type of the coupling between the distal end 17 of the impactor 11 and the acetabular cup 1 is not limitative for the invention: in any case, this coupling is provided for driving the cup 1 into the acetabulum A by the rod 15 when the impactor 11 is hit by the hammer 12. In summary, the impaction application device allows the surgeon to apply an impact to the acetabular cup 1 in order to assemble this acetabular cup with the pelvis P.

[0060] In practice, as explained in the introductive part of the present document, several impacts or hits are necessary so that the assembly between the acetabular cup 1 and the pelvis P is fully seated, or in other words full or complete or completely seated or properly positioned and assembled. FIG. 2 depicts a not fully seated, or partial assembly, in which the acetabular cup 1 is not sufficiently engaged into the acetabulum A, whereas FIG. 3 depicts the assembly when it is fully seated or in other words completely assembled. Passing the assembly from the partial state, or in other words partially seated state, of FIG. 2 to the full state, or in other words fully seated state, of FIG. 3 requires applying several impacts to the acetabular cup by the impact application device 10 operated by the surgeon.

[0061] Referring back to FIG. 1, a monitoring system 20 is provided to allow the surgeon to monitor the assembly between the acetabular cup 1 and the pelvis P. The monitoring system 20 comprises a microphone 21, that is to say a vibrational sensor which both measures acoustic vibrations and produces data, typically an electronic signal, representing these acoustic vibrations. The microphone 21 is designed to be sensitive to the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A which are generated in the air when an impact is applied by the impact application device 10 to the acetabular cup 1. In practice, microphone 21 is chosen to be sensitive to these acoustic vibrations V.sub.A or is set to be sensitive to such acoustic vibrations. In some embodiments, the data which are produced by the microphone 21 are an acoustic signal as the one shown for example in FIG. 4. The signal of FIG. 4 corresponds to the sounds which are produced during surgery when successive impacts are applied to the cup 1 by the impact application device 10: in this specific and not limitative example, this temporal acoustic signal includes nineteen sound traces ST1, ST2, . . . , ST19, which are temporally successive and which respectively correspond to nineteen successive impacts applied to the cup 1. The time between two successive sound traces is not constant amongst the sound traces ST1 to ST19 because this time depends on the speed with which the surgeon manipulates the hammer 12 to hit the impactor 11. In the same way, the sound intensity of each of the sound traces is not necessarily constant amongst the sound traces ST1 to ST19 because the surgeon does not hit exactly with the same force.

[0062] The monitoring system 20 further includes an analysis unit 22 which is in communication with the microphone 21 and which receives the data produced by the microphone 21. The analysis unit 22 is configured to calculate a frequency characterization of the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A for each impact applied by the impact application device 10 to the acetabular cup 1, from the corresponding data provided by the microphone 21. For this purpose, the analysis unit includes an appropriate calculator, for example a microprocessor or an electronic device which accepts as input the data coming from the microphone 21. In some embodiments, calculation performed by the analysis unit 22 corresponds to an FFT (fast Fourier transform) spectrum analysis which leads to calculate a natural frequency, as frequency characterization, for the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A resulting from each impact. For example, FIG. 5 shows the result of such an FFT spectrum analysis for the temporal acoustic signal of FIG. 4: the natural frequency, also called fundamental frequency, of each of the nineteen sound traces ST1 to ST19 of FIG. 4 is calculated by the analysis unit 22, each of the calculated natural frequencies being represented as a point NF1, NF2, . . . , NF19 in FIG. 5. In this FIG. 5, the nineteen impacts, of which the respective acoustic vibrations V.sub.A are measured by the microphone 21, are successively indicated along the abscissa of the diagram of FIG. 5, whereas the natural frequency associated to each of these nineteen impacts, as calculated by the analysis unit 22, is plotted on the ordinate of this diagram.

[0063] According to optional aspects, the analysis unit 22 can filter out the data coming from the microphone 21 before calculating the respective frequency characterizations of the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A of the impacts. For example, the analysis unit 22 can include a background noise filter and/or a bandpass filter.

[0064] The analysis unit 22 is also configured to compare the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for the successive impacts applied to the acetabular cup 1 by the impact application device 10, so as to provide at each of these successive impacts either a first indication when the assembly between the acetabular cup 1 and the pelvis P is not full or a second indication when the assembly between the cup 1 and the pelvis P is fully seated. This comparison implemented by the analysis unit 12 is intended to indicate a substantial difference between the successive calculated frequency characterizations.

[0065] In some embodiments, this comparison is made, at each of the successive impacts, between the frequency characterization of the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A measured by the microphone 21 at the last impact with the frequency characterization of the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A measured by the microphone 21 at the second last impact: in the case in which the frequency characterizations are the natural frequencies of the acoustic vibrations as illustrated by FIG. 5, this comparison involves comparing, at the nth impact of the nineteen successive impacts, the natural frequency NFn with the natural frequency NF(n-1).

[0066] In some embodiments, rather to be the frequency characterization resulting from the last impact, the first member of the comparison implemented by the analysis unit 22 is an average of the frequency characterizations respectively resulting from the N last impacts, N being a number between two and ten, preferably between two and eight, preferably between two and six, and preferably between two and four. In some embodiments, rather to be the frequency characterization resulting from the second last impact, the second member of the comparison implemented by the analysis unit 22 is an average of the frequency characterizations respectively resulting from the M impacts just preceding the last impact, M being a number between two and ten, preferably two and eight, preferably two and six, and preferably two and four. Using one and/or the other of these averages in the comparison implemented by the analysis unit 22 can avoid distorting the result, for example due to one incorrect measurement or processing.

[0067] Also in some embodiments, rather to be the frequency characterization resulting from the second last impact or an average of the impacts just preceding the last impact, the second member of the comparison implemented by the analysis unit 22 is a threshold: this threshold can be predetermined, for example by calibration, or can be calculated, for example as a predetermined percent of the frequency characterization resulting from the first impact or an average of the frequency characterizations resulting from the several first impacts, for example the four first impacts, preferably the three first impacts and preferably the two first impacts.

[0068] Whatever the two members of the comparison implemented by the analysis unit 22, as long as, at each new impact amongst the successive impacts, these two members remain substantially equal to each other, for example equal to each other to about 25% or about 20% or about 15% or about 10% or about 5%, it means that the respective frequency characterizations resulting from the successive impacts applied so far are representative of the partial assembly between the acetabular cup and the pelvis P.

[0069] However, as soon as, for an additional impact, the two compared members are considered by the analysis unit 22 as being different, it means that the assembly between the cup 1 and the pelvis P is now in its fully seated state and no more successive impacts are required. More generally, as long as the result of comparison implemented by the analysis unit corresponds to an unchanged value, to about 25% or about 20% or about 15% or about 10% or about 5%, for the frequency characterizations respectively associated to the impacts applied so far, the analysis unit 22 provides the first indication, that is to say the indication according to which the assembly between the cup 1 and the pelvis P is not fully seated; however, as soon as an additional impact implies a modification for the results of this comparison, the analysis unit 22 provides the second indication, that is to say the indication according to which the assembly between the cup 1 and the pelvis P is fully seated and therefor no additional impacts are necessary to fully seat the cup 1 with the pelvis P.

[0070] An illustration of the forgoing can be considered referring back to FIG. 5: in the case illustrated by FIG. 5, the six first natural frequencies NF1 to NF6 have approximately the same value whereas the seventh natural frequency NF7 and the following natural frequencies NF8 to NF19 have approximately the same value which is substantially lower than the value of the first six natural frequencies NF1 to NF6, which means that during surgery, the acetabular cup 1 is not fully assembled with the pelvis P after the six first impacts (corresponding to NF1-NF6) but the cup is fully assembled at the seventh impact (corresponding to NF7) and remains fully assembled for the following impacts (corresponding to NF8-NF19). The example of FIG. 5 also helps to understand that in the context of this example, the analysis unit 22 provides the first indication at least for the six first impacts and provides the second indication at the seventh impact or at an impact that closely follows the seventh impact depending on the specificities of the comparison implemented by the analysis unit. More generally, whatever the type of the comparison implemented by the analysis unit 22, this unit provides the second indication either at the “just enough” impact, that is to say the impact that ends up moving the cup 1 into the fully seated assembly with the pelvis P, or at an impact that closely follows the “just enough” impact, depending on the specificities of the comparison implemented by the analysis unit. Applying one or a few additional impacts beyond the “just enough” impact may confirm stabilization or the fully seated assembly.

[0071] In practice, calculation and comparison, which are implemented by the analysis unit 22, are processed in real-time and result from appropriate instructions which are stored in the analysis unit 22 or stored on a medium readable by this analysis unit.

[0072] Referring back to FIG. 1, the monitoring system 20 further comprises a user interface 23. The user interface 23 is in communication with the analysis unit 22 and receives from the analysis unit 22 a signal representative of the first and second indications which are provided by the analysis unit. The user interface 23 is designed to provide feedback based on these first and second indications: when the user interface 23 receives the first indication from the analysis unit 22, the user interface provides a first feedback element whereas when the user interface 23 receives the second indication, the user interface provides a second feedback element that is different from the first feedback element. In practice, the types of feedback provided by the user interface are not !imitative so long as the various types of feedback are communicated to and understood by the surgeon. In some embodiments, feedback provided by the user interface 23 is visual: for example, the user interface 23 changes its color or its pattern. In this context, as illustrated by the FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be considered that the user interface 23 remains blank when receiving the first indication from the analysis unit whereas the user interface 23 displays an exclamation mark “!” when receiving the second indication. In some embodiments, in addition to being visual or instead of being visual, the feedback provided by the user interface may be audible. Whatever the type of feedback provided by the user interface 23, this feedback gives the surgeon the information that the assembly between the acetabular cup 1 and the pelvis P is first partially seated, and then fully seated.

[0073] In use, the monitoring system 20 allows the surgeon to monitor the assembly between the acetabular cup 1 and the pelvis P. Indeed, each time the surgeon uses the impact application device 10 to apply an impact to the cup 1 in view of assembly thereof with the pelvis, the microphone 21 measures the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A generated in the air by the impact and produces data representing these acoustic vibrations V.sub.A. For each impact, these data are processed by the analysis unit 22 in real-time so as to calculate a frequency characterization of the corresponding acoustic vibrations V.sub.A. By comparing the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for the successive impacts, the analysis unit 22 provides at each of the successive impacts the first indication then the second indication. As long as the surgeon has feedback from the user interface 23, which corresponds to the first indication, the surgeon continues to apply new impacts, but when the surgeon has feedback corresponding to the second indication, the surgeon can stop to apply any new impact while having the assurance that the assembly between the cup 1 and the pelvis P is fully seated.

[0074] Thus, unnecessary additional impacts are avoided. It can be noted that in the example given in the FIGS. 4 and 5, the 8th impact and the following impacts are unnecessary so that all of them or at least a majority of them could have been avoided if the surgeon had reacted to the corresponding feedback (e.g., stopping impaction or impact hits), shown in FIG. 3, given by the monitoring system 20.

[0075] As the monitoring system 20 exploits the acoustic vibrations V.sub.A in the air, this system, especially the microphone 21 thereof, can be separate from the acetabular cup 1, that is to say can be not attached completely and rigidly to the cup 1, insofar as the data provided by the microphone 21 are not directly representative of the displacement of the cup 1 during the assembly thereof.

[0076] In some embodiments as the one shown in FIG. 6, the monitoring system 20 is integrated into the impactor 11 of the impact application device 10: in the example of FIG. 6, the microphone 21, the analysis unit 22 and the user interface 23 are integrated into the grip 18 of the impactor 11. A not shown variant is to integrate the monitoring system 20 into the hammer 12 of the impact application device 10. In both cases, sterilization requirements are less than for the acetabular cup 1 or for the distal end 17 of the impactor 14, which is coupled with the cup 1.

[0077] In some embodiments as the ones shown in the FIGS. 7 and 8, the monitoring system 20 is also separate from the impact application device 10. In that case, the monitoring system 20 can be placed outside the sterile field of surgery. As depicted on FIG. 7, the monitoring system 20 can be integrated into a personal computer 30: the central unit of the computer 30 incorporates the analysis unit 22, the microphone 21 is formed by an appropriate peripheral of the computer 30, and at least a part of the screen of the computer 30 forms the user interface 23. As depicted on FIG. 8, the monitoring system 20 can be incorporated into a smartphone 40 as an example of any portable device that can integrate the monitoring system. Other examples of such portable devices are a laptop, a pad, etc. In the case of the smartphone 40, the microphone, the microprocessor and the screen of this smartphone respectively form or incorporate the microphone 21, the analysis unit 22 and the user interface 23 of the monitoring system 20.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows three humeral prosthetic components of a shoulder prosthesis which are respectively a humeral stem 101, a humeral head 102 and a humeral plate 103. As known per se and as depicted on the lower part of the FIGS. 10 and 11, the humeral stem 101 is provided to be assembled with a human humerus H, by being introduced into a medullary canal C of the humerus H and assembled with this canal by impaction and with or without cement. The humeral head 102 and the humeral plate 103 are designed to be assembled with the humeral stem 101 by impaction: for example, as known per se and as shown in FIG. 9, the stem 101 is provided with an upper female feature 104 of a Morse connection, and the humeral head 102 and the plate 103 are each provided with a lower male feature 105, 106 of the Morse connection. The components 101, 102 and 103 are for example part of AEQUALIS shoulder prosthesis, sold by TORNIER, France. In some embodiments, the humeral head can be at least partly made of pyrocarbon.

[0079] Turning to the FIGS. 10 and 11, an impact application device 110 and a monitoring system 120 will now be discussed in connection with the humeral stem 101.

[0080] The impact application device 110 allows the surgeon to apply successive impacts to the humeral stem 101 so as to assemble this humeral stem with the humerus H and thus move the corresponding assembly from a partial state (or partially seated), as shown in FIG. 10, to a full state (or fully seated), as shown in FIG. 11. For this purpose, the impact application device 110 includes an impactor 111 and a hammer 112. As explained above for the hammer 12 of the impact application device 10, the hammer 112 comprises a handle 113 and a head 114. As also explained above for the impactor 11 of the impact application device 10, the impactor 111 comprises a rod 115 having a proximal end 116, on which the head 114 of the hammer 112 can be hit, and a distal end 117, which is, in use, coupled to the humeral stem 101 so as to drive this stem at each hit of the hammer 112 on the impactor 111.

[0081] The monitoring system 120 allows the surgeon to monitor the assembly between the humeral stem 101 and the humerus H. Like the monitoring system 20, the monitoring system 120 comprises a vibrational sensor 121, an analysis unit 122 and a user interface 123.

[0082] Unlike the vibrational sensor 21 that is sensitive to acoustic vibrations in the air, the vibrational sensor 121 is sensitive to material vibrations V.sub.M that are generated in the impact application device 110 at each impact applied by the impact application device 110 to the humeral stem 101. The sensor 121, which is a piezoelectric sensor in some embodiments, is integrated into the impact application device 110 and is operable to produce data representing the material vibrations V.sub.M. As depicted on the FIGS. 10 and 11, such a piezoelectric sensor is for example integrated into the head 114 of the hammer 112.

[0083] The analysis unit 122 is similar to the analysis unit 22, except that the analysis unit is configured to process the data coming from the sensor 121. In some embodiments, the frequency characterization, that is calculated by the analysis unit 122 for each impact applied by the impact application device 110 to the humeral stem 101, is a wave frequency of the corresponding material vibrations V.sub.M generated in the impact application device.

[0084] The interface user 123 is similar or even identical to the interface user 23 of the monitoring system 20.

[0085] In some embodiments as the one shown in the FIGS. 10 and 11, the analysis unit 122 and the user interface 123 are integrated in the hammer 112, for example in the handle 113 of the hammer.

[0086] In use of the monitoring system 120, each time the surgeon uses the impact application device 110 to apply an impact to the stem 101 in view of assembly thereof with the humerus H, the sensor 121 measures the material vibrations V.sub.M generated in the impact application device 110 by the impact and produces data representing these material vibrations V.sub.M. For each impact, these data are processed by the analysis unit 122 in real-time so as to calculate a frequency characterization of the corresponding material vibrations. By comparing the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for the successive impacts, the analysis unit 122 provides at each of the successive impacts the first indication then the second indication. As long as the surgeon has feedback from the user interface 123, which corresponds to the first indication, the surgeon continues to apply new impacts, but when the surgeon has feedback corresponding to the second indication, the surgeon can stop to apply any new impact while having the assurance that the assembly between the stem 101 and the humerus H is fully seated or complete.

[0087] Turning to the FIGS. 12 and 13, an impact application device 210 and a monitoring system 220 will now be briefly discussed in connection with the humeral head 102 and the humeral plate 103.

[0088] The impact application device 210 allows the surgeon to apply successive impacts selectively to the humeral head 102 and to the humeral plate 103 so as to assemble selectively this humeral head or this humeral plate with the humeral stem 101 and thus move the corresponding assembly, especially by the aforesaid Morse connection between the features 104 and 105 or between the features 104 and 106, from a partial state to a full state. Similarly to what has been explained above for the impact application devices 10 and 110, the impact application devices 210 includes an impactor 211 and a hammer 212. The impactor 211 comprises a rod 215 having a proximal end 216, on which can be hit the hammer 212, and a distal end 117, which is, in use, coupled selectively to the humeral head 102 or the humeral plate 103, the shape of this distal end 217 being slightly modified depending on the humeral component between the head 102 and the plate 103 to which it is coupled.

[0089] The monitoring system 220 is similar to the monitoring system 120 and comprises a vibrational sensor 221, an analysis unit 222 and a user interface 223 which are respectively similar to the sensor 121, the unit 122 and the interface 123.

[0090] In some embodiments as the one shown in the FIGS. 12 and 13, the monitoring system 220 is integrated into the impactor 211, especially into a grip 218 of this impactor. In use of the monitoring system 220, each time the surgeon uses the impact application device 210 to apply an impact to the head 102 in view of assembly thereof with the stem 101, the sensor 221 measures the material vibrations V.sub.M generated in the impact application device 210 by the impact and produces data representing these material vibrations V.sub.M. For each impact, these data are processed by the analysis unit 222 in real-time so as to calculate a frequency characterization of the corresponding material vibrations. By comparing the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for the successive impacts, the analysis unit 222 provides at each of the successive impacts the first indication then the second indication. As long as the surgeon has feedback from the user interface 223, which corresponds to the first indication, the surgeon continues to apply new impacts, but when the surgeon has feedback corresponding to the second indication, the surgeon can stop to apply any new impact while having the assurance that the assembly between the head 102 and the stem 101 is fully seated or complete. Same considerations apply when the monitoring system 220 is used during assembly between the humeral plate 103 and the stem 101. In both cases, during the assemblies, the stem 1 can be held in an impaction table T, known per se.

[0091] The various embodiments and examples given so far show that the invention can be used to monitor by-impaction assembly between any type of prosthetic components and a support member that is either a bone or another prosthetic component. Thus, in addition to the examples already given above, the invention can be used to monitor by-impaction assembly between a glenoid baseplate and glenoid bone of a human scapula, or between a femoral hip stem and medullary canal of a human femur. In addition to the examples already given above, the invention can also be used to monitor by-impaction assembly between a prosthetic insert and a prosthetic stem, or between a glenosphere and a glenoid baseplate, or between an acetabular ceramic insert and an acetabular cup, or between a humeral head, potentially comprising pyrocarbon, and a humeral anchorage.

[0092] Each feature of the monitoring systems 20, 120 and 220 may be implemented for any of the above-disclosed embodiments, when technically possible.