Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed is an acetabular prosthetic cup positioning instrument for use in positioning such cup during total hip surgery. The acetabular cup has a convex outer portion that is disposed in the patient's reamed and prepared acetabulum, the cup has an inner cavity and the cup has a rearward-most portion between such outer portion and inner cavity defining a rim portion. The instrument has an interchangeable ball and flange for respective engagement with such cup's inner cavity and rim portion to mount, orient and align such cup relative to such instrument. A drive mechanism, operatively connected through a drive coupling rod, flexible drive cable and drive member and carrying such ball, effects translatory movement of such ball away from such flange while such ball maintains its engagement with such cup's inner cavity to thereby disengage such flange away from such cup's rim portion. Also disclosed is an interchangeable ball and flange for use with an instrument for positioning an acetabular prosthetic cup of a particular size and type during total hip surgery. Such interchangeable ball and flange mounts, orients and aligns a particular size and type of cup relative to such instrument. Such interchangeable ball and flange can be replaced by another interchangeable ball and flange of a different, particular size and type to mount, orient and align an acetabular cup of such correspondingly different, particular size and type.

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First Claim