Disposable articulated spacing device for surgical treatment of joints of the human body

Abstract

A disposable articulated spacing device for the treatment of joints of the human body, particularly for temporarily replacing an explanted joint prosthesis, comprises at least one first member able to be secured to a first articulation end and at least one second member able to be secured to the other articulation end, both said members being pre-formed and made entirely of biological compatible and porous material suitable to be added with pharmaceutical and therapeutical products. The pre-formed members are reciprocally coupled in an articulated manner to maintain a suitable joint space and at least a partial articulation for the time necessary to perform the further implantation of a joint prosthesis. The biologically compatible and porous material is chosen among metals, metallic alloys, organo-metals, ceramics, glasses, plastics materials, bone cements and combinations thereof. The articulated spacing device maintains a suitable space in the joint seat while allowing considerable articulated mobility, and re-establishes suitable conditions of implantation of a new permanent joint prosthesis.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A medical method for temporarily replacing an explanted permanent joint prosthesis, comprising: providing a preformed disposable articulated spacing device including at least one first pre-formed member and at least one second pre-formed member, both the pre-formed members being made entirely of biological compatible and porous material suitable to be added with pharmaceutical and therapeutical products, said pre-formed members being initially free of pharmaceutical and therapeutical products, said pre-formed members having a porosity in their base material or suitable cavities formed on their outer surfaces adapted to be filled with pharmaceutical and therapeutical products; 
 securing said first pre-formed member to a first articulation end of a joint of a patient;    securing said second pre-formed member to a second articulation end of the patient's joint;    reciprocally coupling said first pre-formed member and said second pre-formed member to one another in an articulated manner at the patient's joint to maintain a suitable joint space and at least partial articulated mobility for a time necessary to perform implantation of a new permanent joint prosthesis; and    adding at least one pharmaceutical or therapeutical product in the form of a liquid solution to the pre-formed members immediately prior of implantation thereof.    
     
     
         19 . The method defined in  claim 18  wherein the adding of at least one pharmaceutical or therapeutical product in the form of a liquid solution includes direct contact and absorption.  
     
     
         20 . The method defined in  claim 18  wherein the adding of at least one pharmaceutical or therapeutical product in the form of a liquid solution includes insertion thereof in said suitable cavities in said pre-formed members.  
     
     
         21 . The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein said biologically compatible and porous material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metallic alloys, organo-metals, ceramics, glasses, plastics materials, bone cements and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The method defined in  claim 21 , wherein said plastics materials are selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, acrylic resins, polyethylene, polypropylene, and resins thermoformable by blow molding or injection molding.  
     
     
         23 . The method defined in  claim 21 , wherein said plastics materials are cold-formable resins.  
     
     
         24 . The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein said biological compatible and porous material is a bone cement.  
     
     
         25 . The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein said pharmaceutical and therapeutical products are selected from the group consisting of active medical principals, antibiotics and radiopacifiers.  
     
     
         26 . The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein said pre-formed members are configured so as to allow a roto-translatory movement of condyles during a flexing/extending movement of a limb.  
     
     
         27 . The method defined in  claim 26 , wherein said pre-formed members have respective contact surfaces with a minimum coefficient of friction so as to allow a high degree of articular mobility.  
     
     
         28 . The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein said pre-formed members are shaped in a respective size to be adapted to the respective patient.  
     
     
         29 . The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein said pre-formed members are provided with anchoring means for attachment thereof to the articulation ends.  
     
     
         30 . The method defined in  claim 29 , wherein said anchoring means consist of respective projections or rod-shaped distal portions.  
     
     
         31 . The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein said pre-formed members are secured to said joint ends with bone cement.  
     
     
         32 . The method defined in  claim 18 , particularly for a knee joint, wherein said pre-formed members comprise a femoral member and a tibial member.  
     
     
         33 . The method defined in  claim 32 , wherein said femoral member consists of a first body substantially in the shape of a shell to reproduce femoral condyles and that said tibial member consists of a second body of substantially prismatic shape with predetermined thickness to replace a resected tibial flat portion.