Humeral Head Preserving Implant

Abstract

A modular humeral implant for implantation into a humerus that includes a natural humeral shaft and a natural humeral head. The implant includes a humeral stem implantable into the natural humeral shaft, and an adapter couplable to the humeral stem, the adapter including an anchoring projection forming a disk directly insertable into an underside of the natural humeral head.

1 . A modular humeral implant for implantation into a humerus that includes a natural humeral shaft and a natural humeral head, the implant comprising:
 a humeral stem implantable into the natural humeral shaft; and   an adapter couplable to the humeral stem, the adapter comprising an anchoring projection forming a disk directly insertable into an underside of the natural humeral head.   
     
     
         2 . The humeral implant of  claim 2 , wherein the disk defines at least one suturing hole. 
     
     
         3 . The humeral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the disk defines a plurality of suturing holes along a periphery of the anchoring portion for suturing the disk in the natural humeral head. 
     
     
         4 . The humeral implant of  claim 2 , wherein the disk is a substantially circular plate. 
     
     
         5 . The humeral implant of  claim 2 , wherein the disk is a substantially polygonal plate. 
     
     
         6 . The humeral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter includes a tapered projection receivable in a tapered recess of the humeral stem. 
     
     
         7 . The humeral implant of  claim 6 , wherein the tapered projection is substantially conical. 
     
     
         8 . The humeral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the disk is substantially planar. 
     
     
         9 . The humeral implant of  claim 2 , wherein the disk is insertable into a recess in the natural humeral head, and upon implantation, the disk is flush with the underside of the natural humeral head. 
     
     
         10 . The humeral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the stem includes a porous coating. 
     
     
         11 . The humeral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the stem includes a plurality of suturing holes. 
     
     
         12 . A humeral implant for implantation into a humerus that includes a natural humeral shaft and a natural humeral head, the implant comprising:
 a humeral stem for implantation into the natural humeral shaft; and   an anchoring portion in the form of a substantially planar plate including a plurality of suturing holes, the planar plate coupled to the humeral stem with a taper lock connection and adapted for insertion into an underside of the natural humeral head.   
     
     
         13 . The humeral implant of  claim 12 , wherein the planar plate is substantially circular. 
     
     
         14 . The humeral implant of  claim 13 , wherein the suturing holes are arranged along a circular periphery of the planar plate. 
     
     
         15 . The humeral implant of  claim 12 , wherein the planar plate is polygonal. 
     
     
         16 . The humeral implant of  claim 12 , wherein the stem includes a porous coating. 
     
     
         17 . The humeral implant of  claim 16 , wherein the stem includes a plurality of suturing holes. 
     
     
         18 . A humeral implant for implantation into a humerus that includes a natural humeral shaft and a natural humeral head, the implant comprising:
 a humeral stem for implantation into the natural humeral shaft; and   an anchoring portion in the form of a substantially planar circular disk including a plurality of suturing holes, the anchoring portion including a tapered projection received in a tapered recess of the humeral stem, the disk adapted for insertion into a recess formed in an underside of the natural humeral head.   
     
     
         19 . The humeral implant of  claim 18 , wherein the suturing holes are arranged along a circular periphery of the disk. 
     
     
         20 . The humeral implant of  claim 18 , wherein the stem includes a porous coating and a plurality of suturing holes.