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 . A device for replacing a portion of a bone joint, comprising:
 a prosthetic head comprising an articulation surface having a shape of a semi-ellipsoid, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface includes a taper feature for engagement with an engagement member connectable to the joint, the engagement member connectable to said prosthetic head and operable to maintain a proper orientation of said semi-ellipsoid shape of said articulation surface with respect to the joint.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further including the engagement member. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bone connecting member, said bone connecting member connectable to a bone of the joint, and
 taper means for connecting said bone connecting member to the engagement member.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said taper means includes at least one taper recess disposed in said engagement member. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said taper means includes a taper surface extending from said bone contacting member, adapted to frictionally engage said at least one taper recess disposed in said engagement member. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said bone connecting member includes at least one taper recess, and
 said taper means includes a double ended taper operative to frictionally engage at least one of said at least one taper recesses in said bone contacting member, and at least one of said at least one taper recess disposed in said engagement member.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said taper means includes a ball taper, at least one end having an axially curved surface, whereby said prosthetic head is connectable to said engagement member at an angle, using said ball taper. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said prosthetic head is a humeral head. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the joint is a shoulder, and wherein said engagement member is sized and dimensioned to be engageable to bone of a humerus. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the joint is a shoulder, and wherein said engagement member is sized and dimensioned to be engageable upon a cut surface of a bone of a humerus. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said engagement member is sized and dimensioned to connect to the epiphysis or metaphysis of a bone adjacent to the joint. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said engagement member is configured to connect to a prosthetic stem associated within the diaphysis of a bone adjacent to the joint. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said engagement member includes a prosthetic stem insertable within the diaphysis of a bone adjacent to the joint. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said engagement member is connectable to a prosthetic stem, the prosthetic stem connected to bone of the joint. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an opposing prosthetic articulating surface mateable with said articulating surface disposed on a first side of said articulating member. 
     
     
         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 spherical chamber formed in a second side of said articulating member; 
   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 spherical chamber, whereby when said spherical surfaces are mated, said engagement member is secured to said articulating member by a friction between said mating spherical surfaces; 
   wherein when said engagement member is connected to the bone of the joint, and said spherical 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 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 . A method of replacing a portion of a joint of a patient, comprising:
 making an incision in the patient and exposing an articulating surface of the joint;   cutting bone of the joint to remove at least a portion of a native articulating surface, and to form a spherical shape;   positioning a prosthetic replacement, at any of a plurality of angles, upon said spherical shape of said cut bone, said prosthetic replacement having a first side including a replacement articulating surface, the replacement articulating surface having a superior/inferior dimension greater than an anterior/posterior dimension, said prosthetic replacement further having a spherical chamber formed in a second side, said spherical chamber sized and dimensioned to conform to the size and dimension of the spherical shape of the cut bone;   inserting the cut bone of the joint into said spherical chamber; and   aligning the articulating surface of said prosthetic replacement with a mating articulating surface in the body, by changing a position of said cut bone within said spherical chamber;   wherein said prosthetic replacement therapeutically replaces the removed portion of a native articulating surface.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said joint is a shoulder. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein cut bone and said articulating surface are connected by means selected from the group consisting of: press fit, porous coated biologic fixation, cement. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the radius of said replacement articulating surface, and the radius of a mating articulating surface in the patient, are not the same. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a region defining a portion of a sphere, disposed upon said articulation surface. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein said sphere region extends to form a strip having a radius matching that of the sphere in both the superior and inferior directions, said sphere region further tapering to form an elliptical radius in both the anterior and posterior directions.