Hip prosthesis

Claim 1

An artificial hip joint comprising an artificial hip socket having a first cavity and an opening in a surface of the socket communicating with the first cavity, an annular groove formed in the first cavity adjacent said opening, a sectionalized bearing insert registerably positioned in the first cavity inwardly of said groove, said bearing insert having a second cavity of spherical configuration greater in scope than hemispherical, a femoral component having a ball extending from a neck of reduced diameter, said neck extending through said socket opening positioning said ball in operative, retained engagement in said second cavity, said bearing insert having inner and outer sections, each section being formed with a complementary component of said second cavity, the cavity component of said inner section being approximately hemispherical, said outer section being annular in shape and having an outer surface portion opposite the cavity component thereof adapted to align with said annular groove when said outer section is in operative position in said first cavity, and an open annular spring locking ring having opposite ends formed with tool engaging openings, said locking ring being removably engaged in said annular groove in abutment with said outer surface portion of the bearing insert outer section, said locking ring, when in said groove engagement, being visibly exposed and removably retaining said annular outer section in said first cavity in operative engagement with the inner section whereby said ball is retained in said second cavity, said annular outer section being formed to expand over said ball when the latter is removed from said first cavity.