United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 4,731,088
Collier [45] Date of Patent: Mar. 15, 1988
US. Patent Mar. 15,1988 Sheet 1 of 3 4,731,088
[54] ENCLOSURE MEMBER FOR PROSTHETIC JOINT
[75] Inventor: John P. Collier, Hanover, N.H.
[73] Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim Corp, Indianapolis, Ind.
[21] Appl. No.: 869,592
[22] Filed: Jun. 2,1986
[51] Int. CI.4 A61F 2/34
[52] U.S. CI 623/22; 623/18
[58] Field of Search 623/16-23
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Goldring, S. R. et al., "The Synovial-Like Membrane at the Bone-Cement Interface in Loose Total Hip Rep. & Its Proposed Role in Bone Lysis", J. Bone and Joint Surgery, 65-A: 575-583, Jun. 1983.
Primary Examiner—Richard J. Apley
Assistant Examiner—David J. Isabella
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Perman & Green
[57] ABSTRACT
A flexible enclosure is applied to a prosthetic joint to isolate wear particles which are produced by interengagement between the components of the joint. The enclosure overlies the joint, and is affixed to the respective joint components proximate to its ends. The enclosure may be impermeable to fluids and contain a synthetic synovial fluid for lubrication of the joint. Alternatively, the enclosure may be porous having pores of a size ranging between 0.1 and 100 microns across so as to maintain larger wear particles which the body cannot assimilate.
8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
