A cup component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis

0001This invention relates to a cup component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis.

0002Orthopaedic joint prostheses for replacement of joints such as the hip and shoulder joints generally comprise a cup component and a mating component which has a convex head which can be received in the cup and can articulate relative to the cup. For example a hip joint prosthesis can comprise a femoral component having a stem part which can be implanted in the intramedullary canal of the femur and a head part on a neck which is inclined to the axis defined by the intramedullary canal. The joint prosthesis includes an acetabular component which comprises a metal shell which is fixed within the patient's acetabulum and a bearing part, frequently formed from a polymeric material such as ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, which is fixed within the shell. An anatomic shoulder joint prosthesis can comprise a humeral component having a stem part and a convex head, and a glenoid component with a bearing part which defines a concave bearing surface against which the head of the humeral component can articulate. A reverse shoulder joint prosthesis can comprise a glenoid component with a convex head part, and a humeral component with a stem part and an epiphyseal part which, with a bearing part, defines a concave bearing surface against which the head part of the glenoid component can articulate.

0003Commonly a cup component (which itself or in conjunction with a bearing part provides a concave surface for articulation with a head part) is fastened to the patient's bone using bone screws which pass through the wall of the cup component into the underlying bone tissue. For example, in the case of an acetabular component of a hip joint prosthesis, the component can have a number of holes provided in it at and generally around the pole. However such fixation techniques cannot be used when the quality or the quantity of the bone tissue underlying the cup component is deficient.

0004<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US20060058887A"><text>US-A-2006/0058887</text></patcit> discloses an acetabular cup component which has a pair of transversely protruding lugs at its open face. Each of the lugs has a threaded bore extending through it for receiving a screw which can threadingly engage its bore and also the underlying bone tissue, to fix the cup component to the bone.

0005<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO2007118708A"><text>WO-A-2007/118708</text></patcit> is forming the basis for the preamble of claim 1 and discloses a modular hip implant which includes a base which can be fixed to a patient's hip bone. The base provides a socket for the cup component of a hip joint prosthesis. The base has a flange having threaded bores formed in it. Screws can be received in the threaded bores which can extend into the patient's bone to fix the base to the bone.

0006The present invention provides a technique for implanting the cup component of a joint prosthesis, using at least two fixation screws, and a temporary screw with a self drilling tip by which the cup component can be held in place while holes are prepared in the bone for the fixation screws.

0007Accordingly in one aspect the invention provides a cup component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis, as defined in claim 1.

0008The cup component of the invention can be used in a method of implanting the cup component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis having a hollow shell in which the head part of a mating component of the joint can be received, the shell having a flange at its open face extending around at least part of its periphery with at least first and second threaded bores extending through the flange, in which the method includes the steps of: <ol id="ol0001" compact="compact"><li>a. placing the cup component in a prepared cavity,</li><li>b. inserting through the first threaded bore a secondary screw having a self-drilling tip for forming a bore in a bone, so that the screw cuts a bore in bone tissue adjacent to the cavity and engages the bone threadingly, and also engages the thread in the first threaded bore,</li><li>c. using a drill to prepare a bore in the bone which is aligned with the second threaded bore in the flange,</li><li>d. inserting a fixation screw through the second threaded bore so that it threadingly engages the bore in the bone which is aligned with the second threaded bore.</li></ol>

0009The technique that is provided by the present invention enables a shell to be located appropriately relative to a patient's bone using an inserter instrument (for example, in the case of an acetabular cup component, as disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO2004069107A"><text>WO-A-2004/069107</text></patcit>), and held in that location and by means of a secondary screw while a drill is used to prepare bores in the patient's bone to receive fixation screws. The inserter instrument can be removed during the drilling step. Removal of the inserter instrument during the drilling step can facilitate drilling. The secondary screw with its self-drilling tip can be deployed to hold the shell in position without first having to form a bore for the secondary screw using a drill. The role of the secondary screw in holding the shell in place need only be temporary.

0010The drill can be used to prepare a bore in the bone which is aligned with the first threaded bore in the flange. However, the bore in the bone which is cut by means of the temporary screw can often mean that a separate drilling step need not be performed.

0011The invention can make use of a drill guide which can be located in a bore in the flange to control the alignment of a drill bit which extends through that bore. This can also help to protect the threads and other features of the bore in the flange when the drill is used to cut a bore in the bone. The drill guide can be placed in a bore in the flange. The drill guide can have a threaded exterior surface so that it engages a thread within the bore. The drill guide can preferably have a bore size which is such that a drill bit is a sliding fit in the guide.

0012The component can include an adaptor which has a threaded peripheral edge to engage the thread in one of the major bores and a threaded internal bore within it to receive the temporary screw so that the adaptor provides the minor bore when fitted within one of the major bores. The adaptor can be used to adapt one of the major threaded bores so that the temporary screw can be inserted through that bore to form a bore in the bone and to fix the shell to the bone. Threaded engagement between the temporary screw and the thread in bore in the flange (directly or through an adaptor when the bore is one of the major bores) means that the shell can be held stably in the cavity in the bone, with the temporary screw acting effectively as a strut. The use of one of the major threaded bores for the temporary screw has the advantage that the size of the flange can be minimised.

0013Preferably, the adaptor has a limiter feature on its external surface to limit the extent to which it can be threaded into the major bore. The limiter can be in the form of a discontinuity in the thread on the adaptor or a lug or a flange which extends at least part way around the face which remains exposed when the adaptor is located within its major bore in the cup flange.

0014Preferably, the adaptor has an engagement feature on the face which remains exposed when the adaptor is located within its major bore to engage an instrument by which the adaptor can be rotated within the said major bore. The engagement feature might be in the form of for example two or more partial slots arranged around the rim of the adaptor which can be engaged by the blade of a tool such as a flat bladed screw driver or a multibladed driver such as a star driver. The bore in which the temporary screw can be received can have a non-circular cross-section at the exposed face of the adaptor, for example hexagonal, for receiving the end of a driver tool.

0015The flange can have at least two major threaded bores extending through it and in addition at least one minor threaded bore extending through it. The additional minor threaded bore for the temporary screw can be used to fix the shell within a patient's bone cavity while first and second bores are drilled for receiving fixation screws, and while the fixation screws are provided in the first and second bores to fix the shell within the patient's bone cavity. This has the advantage that the shell can be held more securely during the steps of drilling the bone and placing the fixation screws.

0016Preferably the minor bore can be provided in the flange at a point between the first and second major bores, optionally displaced radially outwardly relative to the major bores. The flange can extend continuously between the first and second bores. The flange can be discontinuous so that there is a gap between the parts of the flange in which the first and second bores are provided so that, for example the flange effectively comprises a plurality of lugs.

0017The arrangement of the fixation bores around the periphery of the shell can be designed to suit the requirements of a particular patient. The angle subtended between the bores at the axis of the shell (in the plane of the open face of the shell) will generally be not more than about 40°, preferably not more than about 30°, for example not more than about 20°. The angle will generally be at least about 5°, for example at least about 10°.

0018The axes of the major bores in the flange can be approximately parallel to the polar axis of the shell. It can be preferred for the axes to be inclined relative to the polar axis of the shell so that the fixation screws can be aligned to engage optimally with the available bone surrounding the cavity. The use of fixation screws at angles which are inclined to the polar axis of an acetabular prosthesis is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="EP1588677A"><text>EP-A-1588677</text></patcit>.

0019It can be preferred for at least one of the major threaded bores to have a bushing located within it which can be manipulated within the bore so that the orientation of the axis which is defined by the bushing can be adjusted relative to the axis which is defined by the bore. The thread which is engaged by the fixation screw can be provided by the bushing. Preferably, the bushing can be expanded transversely to engage the internal surface of the bushing to lock the bushing against manipulation within the bore. A bushing of this kind is known for use in other applications, for example as disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP1005290A"><text>EP-A-1005290</text></patcit> in a bone plate for use in spinal applications.

0020Preferably, the ratio of the diameter (referring to the shank of the screw) of the fixation screw to the diameter of the temporary screw is at least about 1.1, more preferably at least about 1.2. Preferably, the ratio of the diameter of the fixation screw to the diameter of the temporary screw is not more than about 2, more preferably not more than about 1.7.

0021Preferably, the diameter of the fixation screw is at least about 3 mm, more preferably at least about 4 mm. Preferably, the diameter of the fixation screw is not more than about 7.5 mm, more preferably not more than about 6 mm.

0022Preferably, the diameter of the temporary screw is at least about 2 mm, more preferably at least about 3 mm. Preferably, the diameter of the temporary screw is not more than about 6 mm, more preferably not more than about 5 mm.

0023Preferably, the ratio of the pitch of the fixation screw to the pitch of the temporary screw is at least about 1.1, more preferably at least about 1.2. Preferably, the ratio of the pitch of the fixation screw to the pitch of the temporary screw is not more than about3.0, more preferably not more than about 2.5.

0024Preferably, the pitch of the fixation screw is at least about 0.7 mm, more preferably at least about 1.0 mm. Preferably, the pitch of the fixation screw is not more than about 2.0 mm, more preferably not more than about 1.5 mm.

0025Preferably, the pitch of the temporary screw is at least about 0.4 mm, more preferably at least about 0.5 mm. Preferably, the pitch of the temporary screw is not more than about 1.0 mm, more preferably not more than about 0.7 mm.

0026The shell will frequently be made from a metal. Metallic materials which can be used in the manufacture of orthopaedic joint prostheses are known, and include titanium and its alloys, certain stainless steels, and certain alloys which include cobalt and chromium. The shell might be made from materials other than metals, for example ceramic materials such as an aluminium oxide or a zirconium oxide.

0027The external surface of the shell can be provided with a coating which promotes ingrowth of bone tissue. For example, the external surface of the shell can have a porous structure, for example as in components which are sold by DePuy Orthopaedics Inc under the trade mark POROCOAT. A technique for manufacturing such components is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US3605123A"><text>US-3605123</text></patcit>. The external surface can be provided with a coating of a material that promotes bone ingrowth, such as a hydroxyapatite material.

0028The shell can be configured for fixation in a prepared cavity in a patient's bone using a bone cement material. The features of a shell component which make it appropriate for fixation using a bone cement material are known.

0029The shell can be configured to receive a bearing component which has a bearing surface for articulation with the head of the other component of the joint. The head can be the natural head of the patient's bone (for example the head of the humerus in the case of a shoulder joint). Frequently however the head will be the head of the mating component of the joint prosthesis. The bearing component can be made from a material which has good bearing properties. Examples of suitable materials for the bearing component include polymers such as ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. Techniques for fixing a bearing component to an orthopaedic joint prosthesis shell component are known, for example using matching tapered surfaces, or spring clips in aligned grooves etc.

0030The temporary screw should preferably be capable of penetrating bone and forming a threaded engagement with the bone without the need first to prepare the bone by forming a pilot bore within the bone (at least to the full length that is necessary to accommodate the screw). Screws which can drill a bore in a bone and cut a thread in the bone are known, for example from <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US5925048A"><text>US-5925048</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="US20060149263A"><text>US-A-2006/0149263</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="US20070162029A"><text>US-A-2007/0162029</text></patcit>.

0031The thread on the fixation screws or on the temporary screw might be provided in two portions, with a first portion closer to the tip of the screw to engage the bone and a second portion closer to the head of the screw to engage the thread in the flange of the shell. Preferably, the diameter of the first portion of the screw is smaller than the diameter of the second portion of the screw, so that the first portion can pass through the bore in the flange of the shell without engaging the threads within the bore. The pitch of the first portion of the screw will generally be approximately the same as the pitch of the second portion of the screw. In this way, the shell will not be made to move as the screw is advanced through the bone and through the bore in the flange.

0032The material of the screws should be selected for compatibility with the material of other components of the joint prosthesis with which they will come into contact, directly or indirectly (for example through the action of body fluids) when in use. The screws should be capable of withstanding the forces which are applied to them in use, during temporary fixation in the case of the fixation screw, and after implantation in the case of the fixation screws. The screws will usually be made from a metallic material. Materials which are commonly used in the manufacture of bone screws are known, and include for example titanium and its alloys, certain stainless steels, and certain alloys which include cobalt and chromium.

0033Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is an isometric view of an acetabular component of a hip joint prosthesis, with temporary and fixation screws located in respective bores in the flange of a shell.</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> is an enlarged view of the flange on the shell of the component shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is a view from above of a first embodiment of an acetabular component of a hip joint prosthesis, with a guide sleeve located in each of the fixation holes in its flange.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 4</figref> is a perspective view from below of the acetabular component shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 5</figref> is a sectional elevation through the acetabular component shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 6</figref> is a cross-section through the flange of the acetabular component shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, on the line IV-IV.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 7</figref> is a side view of a fixation screw which can be used with the acetabular component shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 8</figref> is a view from above of a first embodiment of an acetabular component of a hip joint prosthesis.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 9</figref> is a view from one side of the acetabular component shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 8</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 10</figref> is an cross-section through the flange of the acetabular component shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 8</figref>, on the line VIII-VIII.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 11</figref> is a view from one side of a fixation screw which can be used with the acetabular component shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 8</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 12</figref> is a sectional elevation through the fixation screw shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 10</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 13</figref> is a side view of a temporary screw which can be used in the system of the invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 14</figref> is a perspective view of a guide sleeve which can be fitted into a bore in the flange on an acetabular component.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 15</figref> is a side view, partially in section, of the guide sleeve shown in <figref idref="f0004">Figure 14</figref>.</li></ul>

0034Referring to the drawings, <figref idref="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref> show the shell 2 of an acetabular cup component of a hip joint prosthesis. The shell has an outwardly extending flange 4 at its open face. The flange has three bores formed in it. First and second bores 6, 8 have a larger diameter than a third bore 10. The third bore is located between the first and second bores, displaced outwardly from the first and second bores.

0035As shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref>, each of the first and second bores 6, 8 has a bearing surface 12 which is defined by part of a sphere. The first and second bores can receive bushings which have an external surface which is defined by part of a sphere. The bushings can be articulated within their respective bores by virtue of the mating spherical surfaces on the bushings and the bores. These features are also incorporated in the embodiment which is shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figures 8 to 12</figref> and are described below in relation to that embodiment.

0036The bushings have a threaded bore which extends through them which can be aligned with the respective bore in the flange 4 when the bushings are located in the bores. Each of the bushings is split so that it can be expanded by means of an outwardly flared portion on a screw which is inserted in the bushing. The bushings therefore provide threads in the first and second bores in the flange of the shell.

0037The cup component includes a temporary screw 20. The temporary screw has a threaded distal portion 22 and a threaded proximal portion 24. The diameter of the shank of the distal portion is 2.4 mm. The diameter of the shank of the proximal portion is 3.1 mm. The pitch of the threads on the proximal and distal portions is 0.5 mm. The thread on the distal portion of the temporary screw is configured so that it cuts a thread in bone tissue. The thread on the proximal portion of the temporary screw is configured so that it can engage the thread in the third bore 10.

0038The distal end of the temporary screw is configured so that it can drill a bore in a bone. For example, it can have the bore cutting features which are disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0010" dnum="US5925048A"><text>US-5925048</text></patcit>.

0039The cup includes first and second fixation screws 26, 28. Each of these screws has a thread which extends from the distal tip to close to the head. The thread is configured so that it can cut a thread in bone into which it is screwed. The threads are also configured to engage the threads in the bushings in the first and second bores 6, 8. Each of the fixation screws has an outwardly flared portion at its head which, when screwed into the bushing, causes the bushing to expand radially outwardly so that it is gripped against internal surfaces of the bores against articulation.

0040Implantation of the cup component shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref> involves the following steps: <ol id="ol0002" compact="compact"><li>1. Prepare the acetabulum to receive the shell 2.</li><li>2. Locate the shell in the prepared acetabulum using a shell manipulator, for example as disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0011" dnum="WO2004069107A"><text>WO-A-2004/069107</text></patcit>.</li><li>3. Pass the distal 22 portion of the temporary screw 20 through the third bore 10 in the flange 4 of the shell until the tip of the screw engages the surface of the patient's bone or the proximal portion 24 of the screw engages the thread in the third bore.</li><li>4. Turn the temporary screw to cause it to drill a bore in the bone and to cause the thread on the distal portion to cut a thread in the bore in the bone and so to threadingly engage the bone, and also to cause the thread on the proximal portion of the screw to engage the thread in the third bore in the flange of the shell, until the shell is held rigidly relative to the patient's bone.</li><li>5. Remove the shell manipulator.</li><li>6. Use a power drill to cut bores in the bone to receive first and second fixation screws, the bores in the bone being aligned with the first and second bores in the flange.</li><li>7. Insert the first and second fixation screws 26, 28 into the first and second bores in the flange of the shell.</li><li>8. Turn the screws so that they engage the threads in the bushings within the bores and pass through the bores, and then pass into the bores which have been drilled in the bone.</li><li>9. Continue to turn the first and second fixation screws to cause them to cut threads in the bores in the bone until the heads of the screws become seated in the bushings, so as to cause the bushings to expand outwardly so that they are gripped by the mating surfaces of the bores in the flange.</li><li>10. Optionally, remove and discard the temporary screw.</li></ol>

0041<figref idref="f0002">Figures 3 to 5</figref> show the shell 52 of an acetabular component of a hip joint prosthesis. The shell has an outwardly extending flange 54 at its open face. The flange has two bores 56, 58 formed in it. As shown in more detail in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 6</figref>, the axes 60 of the bores are arranged so that they are not parallel to a line 62 which is perpendicular to the flange. Each of the bores has an enlarged socket 64 at one end.

0042Each of the bores is threaded internally. As shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figures 3 and 4</figref>, each of the bores has within it a guide sleeve 60. The guide sleeves are described in more detail below with reference to <figref idref="f0004">Figures 14 and 15</figref>. Each of the guide sleeves has a threaded external surface, in which the thread on the guide sleeves can engage the threads. A guide sleeve can be threaded internally so that it can be engaged by the thread on a temporary screw. A guide sleeve can be used to guide the cutting bit on a drill in a step which involves preparing the bone to receive a fixation screw.

0043<figref idref="f0002">Figure 7</figref> shows a fixation screw 66 which comprises a head 68 which is a snug fit in the socket 64 in the flange, and a threaded shank 70. The screw can be threadingly received in one of the bores 56, 58 in the flange 54 on the shell, and can be threadingly engaged with a prepared bore in a bone to fix the acetabular component in place. The screw has bore cutting flutes 72 at its distal tip.

0044<figref idref="f0003">Figures 8 to 10</figref> show the shell 82 of an acetabular component of a hip joint prosthesis. The shell has an outwardly extending flange 84 at its open face. The flange has two bores 86, 88 formed in it. The axes 90 of the bores are arranged so that they are not parallel to a line 92 which is perpendicular to the flange. Each of the bores 86, 88 has a threaded portion 94 which can receive the threaded portion of a guide sleeve (not shown) in the same way as is shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figures 3 and 4</figref>. The guide sleeve is described in more detail below with reference to <figref idref="f0004">Figures 14 and 15</figref>.

0045Each of the bores 86, 88 has a bearing surface 96 which is defined by part of a sphere.

0046The shell 82 which is shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figures 8 to 10</figref> can be used with a polyaxial screw of the kind which is shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figures 11 and 12</figref>. The polyaxial screw has a threaded shank 110, in which the thread is suitably configured so that it can cut into and engage with bone.

0047The head of the screw has a portion 112 with a rounded external surface, whose shape approximates to part of a sphere. The rounded portion of the head of the screw has a plurality of splits, of which one 114 is visible in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 11</figref>. The head of the screw has a bore extending into it which has an inwardly tapered initial portion 116 and a threaded distal portion 118. The bore contains an expander screw 120 which is threaded towards its tip. The thread on the expander screw is configured to engage the thread in the distal portion of the bore.

0048The polyaxial screw can be located in either of the bores 86, 88 in the flange 84 on the shell so that the shank 110 extends through the bore and the rounded portion 112 of the head sits in the bearing surface 96 of the bore. The orientation of the shank of the screw relative to the axis of the bore can be adjusted to suit the requirements of a particular implantation. The orientation can be locked by screwing the expander screw 120 into the head of the polyaxial screw, so that the action of the tapered portion 116 of the expander screw against the bore in the polyaxial screw causes the rounded portion of the head of the polyaxial screw to expand.

0049<figref idref="f0004">Figure 13</figref> shows a temporary screw which can be used in the system of the present invention. It comprises a threaded shank 130 which has flutes 132 at its tip which can drill a hole in a bone when the screw is screwed into a bone. The thread on the shank is shaped so that it can cut a thread into the bone as the screw is screwed into the bone.

0050The head 134 of the screw has a hexagonal socket 136 formed in it for receiving the hexagonal tip of a driving instrument.

0051<figref idref="f0004">Figures 14 and 15</figref> show a guide sleeve which can be fitted into a bore in the flange on an acetabular component. The guide sleeve comprises a generally cylindrical body 140 which has a thread 142 on its outer surface which can be received in one of the bores in the flange on a shell. The guide sleeve has a bore 144 extending through it. The bore has a hexagonal socket portion 146 at the end which is opposite to the threaded end, for receiving the hexagonal tip of a driving instrument.

0052The bore can have a threaded internal surface when the guide sleeve is intended to receive a temporary screw.

0053The bore can have a plain internal surface when it is not required to be engaged threadingly by a screw, when it can be used to guide a drill bit.