Orthopaedic implant with porous structural member

Abstract

An orthopaedic implant includes an implant body having a first surface with a first peak, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a cavity formed therein that extends through the first surface and second surface. The implant body is substantially non-porous. A load bearing member comprising a substantially porous material is held within the cavity. The load bearing member has a first contact surface that extends out of the cavity past the first peak of the first surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An orthopaedic implant, comprising:
 an implant body having a first surface with a first peak, a second surface opposite said first surface, and a cavity formed therein that extends through said first surface and said second surface, said implant body being substantially non-porous, said implant body further including a third surface with an opening formed therethrough to said cavity and a protrusion formed adjacent to said opening that extends away from said third surface; and   a load bearing member comprising a substantially porous material held within said cavity, said load bearing member having a first contact surface extending out of said cavity past said first peak of said first surface.   
     
     
         2 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said load bearing member has a second contact surface opposite said first contact surface, said load bearing member having interconnecting pores extending from said first contact surface to said second contact surface, said load bearing member having a total volume and said interconnecting pores in aggregate occupying at least 60% of said total volume. 
     
     
         3 . An orthopaedic implant, comprising:
 an implant body having a first surface with a first peak, a second surface opposite said first surface, a cavity formed therein that extends through said first surface and said second surface, and a second cavity formed therein that extends through said first surface and said second surface, said implant body being substantially non-porous; and   a load bearing member comprising a substantially porous material held within said cavity, said load bearing member having a first contact surface extending out of said cavity past said first peak of said first surface.   
     
     
         4 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second load bearing member comprising a substantially porous material held within said second cavity, said second load bearing member having a third contact surface, said third contact surface of said second load bearing member extending out of said second cavity past said first peak of said first surface. 
     
     
         5 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 4 , wherein said first contact surface defines a first thickness relative to said first surface and said third contact surface defines a second thickness relative to said first surface, said second thickness being at least equal to said first thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 5 , wherein said second thickness is greater than said first thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 4 , wherein a porosity of said second load bearing member is different than a porosity of said load bearing member. 
     
     
         8 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 4 , wherein said load bearing member is formed of a first material and said second load bearing member is formed of a second material which is different than said first material. 
     
     
         9 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 3 , wherein said load bearing member has a second contact surface opposite said first contact surface, said load bearing member having interconnecting pores extending from said first contact surface to said second contact surface, said load bearing member having a total volume and said interconnecting pores in aggregate occupying at least 60% of said total volume. 
     
     
         10 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second load bearing member comprising a substantially porous material held within said second cavity, said second load bearing member having a third contact surface, said third contact surface of said second load bearing member extending out of said second cavity past said first peak of said first surface. 
     
     
         11 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 10 , wherein a porosity of said second load bearing member is different than a porosity of said load bearing member. 
     
     
         12 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 10 , wherein said load bearing member is formed of a first material and said second load bearing member is formed of a second material which is different than said first material. 
     
     
         13 . The orthopaedic implant according to  claim 3 , wherein said implant body includes a third surface with an opening formed therethrough to said cavity and a protrusion formed adjacent to said opening that extends away from said third surface