Humeral joint replacement component

Abstract

A humeral prosthetic head has a non-spherical articulation surface coupled with an intermediate component connecting the head and the humerus, the intermediate component connected to the epiphysis, metaphysis, or diaphysis, or to one or more additional components connected to the humerus. The intermediate portion provides for axial and angular offset of the head with respect to a connection to the humerus, using a curvilinear tapered engagement.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A device for replacing a portion of a shoulder joint, comprising:
 an articulating member including
 an articulating surface disposed on a first side of said articulating member, said articulating surface having a superior/inferior dimension greater than an anterior/posterior dimension, 
 a chamber formed in a second side of said articulating member and having a chamber surface; 
   an engagement member, connectable to a bone of the joint, and including
 a spherical protrusion disposed upon a first side of said engagement member, 
 said spherical protrusion sized to be inserted, at any of a plurality of angles, at least partially within said chamber, whereby when said spherical surface is mated with the chamber surface, said engagement member is secured to said articulating member by a friction between said mating spherical and chamber surfaces; 
   wherein when said engagement member is connected to the bone of the joint, and said spherical and chamber surfaces are mated at a therapeutically effective angle, said articulating member is therapeutically secured to the bone of the joint.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said mating spherical and chamber surfaces are connected together using a fastener, after being mated at a therapeutically effective angle. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a bone connecting member, said bone connecting member connectable to a bone of the joint, and
 machine taper means for connecting said bone connecting member to said engagement member.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said machine taper means includes a ball taper, at least one end having an axially curved surface, whereby said bone connecting member and said engagement member are connectable at an angle, using said ball taper. 
     
     
         20 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the chamber surface is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the chamber surface is substantially curvilinear. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the spherical protrusion is centrally located in the chamber such that the x-, y-, and z-axes of the spherical protrusion are collinear with the x-, y-, and z-axes of the chamber and a substantially planar lower surface at a stem surface of the spherical protrusion is coplanar with a substantially planar lower surface at the second side of the articulating member. 
     
     
         29 . A method of replacing a portion of a shoulder joint, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an articulating member including
 an articulating surface disposed on a first side of said articulating member, the articulating surface having a superior/inferior dimension greater than an anterior/posterior dimension, 
 a chamber formed in a second side of the articulating member and having a chamber surface; 
   providing an engagement member, including a spherical protrusion disposed upon a first side of the engagement member;   connecting the articulating member to a bone of the joint;   inserting the spherical protrusion, at any of a plurality of angles, at least partially within the chamber;   when the spherical surface is mated with the chamber surface, securing the engagement member to the articulating member by a friction between the mating spherical and chamber surfaces; and   when the engagement member is connected to the bone of the joint, and the spherical and chamber surfaces are mated at a therapeutically effective angle, therapeutically securing the articulating member to the bone of the joint.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , including the step of connecting together the mating spherical and chamber surfaces, after the spherical and chamber surfaces have been mated at a therapeutically effective angle. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , including the steps of:
 providing a bone connecting member;   connecting the bone connecting member a bone of the joint; and   connecting the bone connecting member to the engagement member with machine taper means.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the machine taper means includes a ball taper, at least one end having an axially curved surface, and including the step of connecting the bone connecting member and the engagement member at an angle, using the ball taper. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the chamber surface is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the chamber surface is substantially curvilinear. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , including the step of centrally locating the spherical protrusion in the chamber such that the x-, y-, and z-axes of the spherical protrusion are collinear with the x-, y-, and z-axes of the chamber and a substantially planar lower surface at a stem surface of the spherical protrusion is coplanar with a substantially planar lower surface at the second side of the articulating member.