Mechanical assembly including exterior surface preparation

Abstract

A system and method for further improving upon an ability of a surgeon to reduce or eliminate impaction forces when installing or assembling a prosthesis. An implant includes a surface treatment for aiding operations with the implant. For example, some surface treatments provide an asymmetry in installation versus removal to bias the associated implant deeper into an installation site.

what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A method for installing a prosthesis into a prepared cavity in a portion of bone, the prepared cavity providing a first resistive force for a cementless installation of non-surface treated prosthesis into the prepared cavity, comprising:
 a) preparing a surface treatment for the non-surface treated prosthesis in advance of the cementless installation defining a surface-treated prosthesis, said surface-treated prosthesis configured to define a second resistive force, less than the first resistive force, between said surface-treated prosthesis and the prepared cavity for a cementless installation of said surface-treated prosthesis; and   b) installing said surface-treated prosthesis into the prepared cavity using an installation force less than the first resistive force responsive to said surface treatment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said surface treatment includes a temporary treatment configured to temporarily reduce said installation force, wherein said temporary treatment dissipates after a period wherein an extractive force to remove said surface-treated prosthesis operates with respect to the first resistive force after said period. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said surface treatment includes incorporation of an exterior frozen layer of sterile water that melts when said surface-treated prosthesis is installed into the undersized cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said surface treatment includes incorporation of a slurry that is absorbed into the prepared cavity when said surface-treated prosthesis is installed into the prepared cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said surface treatment includes a transitory surface treatment that is absorbed into a body including the portion of bone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the prosthesis includes a coefficient of friction with respect to a first region of the prosthesis physically contacting a second region of the portion of bone and wherein said preparing said surface treatment includes reducing, responsive to said surface treatment, said coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein coefficient of friction includes a static coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein coefficient of friction includes a kinetic coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said installation force includes a vibratory profile. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said vibratory profile consists essentially of a set of longitudinal vibrations parallel to an installation path of the prosthesis into the portion of bone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said vibratory profile consists essentially of a set of rotational vibrations perpendicular to an installation path of the prosthesis into the portion of bone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said vibratory profile consists essentially of both a first set of rotational vibrations perpendicular to an installation path of the prosthesis into the portion of bone and a second set of longitudinal vibrations parallel to said installation path. 
     
     
         13 . A method for installing a prosthesis into prepared cavity in a portion of bone, the prepared cavity providing a resistive force for an installation of an non-surface treated prosthesis into the prepared cavity, comprising:
 a) applying a transitory surface treatment to the non-surface treated prosthesis prior to an installation of the non-surface treated prosthesis into the portion of bone producing a surface-treated implant during a treated installation, wherein the prosthesis includes a coefficient of friction with respect to a first region of the prosthesis physically contacting a second region of the portion of bone and wherein said transitory surface treatment is configured to provide a first reduction in said coefficient of friction during said treated installation; and   b) installing, while said transitory surface treatment is applied to the prosthesis, said surface-treated implant into the prepared cavity using an installation force less than the resistive force responsive to said transitory surface treatment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said transitory surface treatment is further configured to be absorbed after said installation by a body including the portion of bone producing a modified post-installation surface treatment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said wherein said modified post-installation surface treatment is configured to reduce said first reduction in said coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said installing step b) further comprises:
 b1) communicating a vibratory installation force to said surface-treated implant, said vibratory installation force having a vibration profile configured to provide a second reduction in said coefficient of friction during said installation using said vibratory installation force. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of claim  19  wherein said vibratory profile includes one or more of a first set of rotational vibrations perpendicular to an installation path of the prosthesis into the portion of bone, a second set of longitudinal vibrations parallel to said installation path, and combinations thereof.