Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A support member for a prosthetic hip joint socket for mounting in a cavity of at least approximately hemispherical form in a hip bone, said support member having an outer surface which has the shape of a spherical segment having a radius of curvature originating from a single point so that said segment lies on the surface of an imaginary sphere having a center at said single point, said support member being formed with a self-tapping screw thread which is composed of a succession of thread-cutting teeth projecting from said outer surface so that said outer surface constitutes the root of said teeth, said thread being centered on an axis about which said support member is rotatable for screwing said thread into the cavity, said outer surface having a radius of curvature substantially corresponding to that of the cavity, whereby said support member is positionable within the cavity in any one of a plurality of different orientation positions, said support member being formed to receive an inner part complimentarily fittable into said support member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A support member for a prosthetic hip joint socket for mounting in a cavity of at least approximately hemispherical form in a hip bone, said support member having an outer surface which has the shape of a spherical segment having a radius of curvature originating from a single point so that said segment lies on the surface of an imaginary sphere having a center at said single point, said support member being formed with a self-tapping screw thread which is composed of a succession of thread-cutting teeth projecting from said outer surface so that said outer surface constitutes the root of said teeth, said thread being centered on an axis about which said support member is rotatable for screwing said thread into the cavity, said outer surface having a radius of curvature substantially corresponding to that of the cavity, whereby said support member is positionable within the cavity in any one of a plurality of different orientation positions, said support member being formed to receive an inner part complimentarily fittable into said support member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A support member as defined in claim 1 which has an annular form with a large diameter base and a small diameter base, which bases are spaced apart, along the axis, by a distance which is no greater than the diameter of said support member at said small diameter base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A support member as defined in claim 2 which has a wall thickness and elasticity constant selected for giving said support member generally the same elasticity and deformability as the bone in which the socket is to be mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A support member as defined in claim 1 wherein: each said thread-cutting tooth has a leading end and a sharp outer edge extending from said leading in the direction in which said outer part is rotatable; each tooth having a trailing end which is spaced from the associated leading end such that during screwing of said outer part into the cavity the leading end is forward of the trailing end; and said outer edge of each tooth follows a path which extends toward the axis from the leading end toward the trailing end of the tooth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A support member as defined in claim 1 having an inner generally frustoconical surface for receiving the inner part, and the inner part is insertable into said support member after said support member has been screwed into the hip bone cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A support member as defined in claim 5 wherein the inner part has a recess for supporting a femur ball, and said inner surface of said support member extends at least partially generally perpendicular to the normal direction of force from a femur having a ball in the recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system for forming a prosthetic hip joint socket for supporting a femur ball, comprising: a support member as defined in claim 1; and a plurality of inner parts each formed to fit complimentarily into said support member and each having a recess for receiving such femur ball, said recess having a respectively different location in each said inner part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A prosthetic hip joint socket comprising a support member as defined in claim 1; and an inner part containing a recess for supporting a femur ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A socket as defined in claim 8 wherein said recess is eccentric to the axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A socket as defined in claim 8 wherein said support member and said inner part have formations that radially interengage in predetermined positions when said inner part is fitted into said support member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A socket as defined in claim 8 wherein: said support member has an inner generally frustoconical surface for receiving said inner part; said inner part has an outer surface complementary to said inner surface; said inner part is provided with structures protruding from said outer surface; and said support member is provided at said inner surface with recesses for receiving a tool during screwing of said support member into a hip bone cavity, and for receiving said structures protruding from said outer surface of said inner part.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A socket as defined in claim 8 wherein said inner part is cup-shaped and has a closed inner end forming, when said inner part is inserted into said support member, a hemisphere with said outer surface of said support member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A socket as defined in claim 12 wherein the hip bone has spongiosa in the region of the cavity and said inner end of said inner part has a structure adapted to the spongiosa.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A socket as defined in claim 13 wherein said structure at said inner end has the form of grooves oriented at right angles to one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A socket as defined in claim 12 wherein each said tooth has a leading end, a trailing end and a sharp outer edge extending from said leading end to said trailing end and relieved in the region of said trailing end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A socket as defined in claim 15 wherein said teeth are disposed in groups spaced apart about the axis, and said outer surface has portions defining transverse relief grooves between successive groups of teeth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A socket as defined in claim 8 wherein said recess in said inner part is formed to snap over a femur ball for immediate securing of such ball to said socket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A support member as defined in claim 1 wherein each said tooth has a leading end, a trailing end and a sharp outer edge extending from said leading end to said trailing end and relieved in the region of said trailing end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A support member as defined in claim 18 wherein said teeth are disposed in groups spaced apart about the axis, and said outer surface has portions defining transverse relief grooves between successive groups of teeth.