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Abstract

A proximal femoral sealing device is disclosed for use in the application of bone cement under pressure to a surgically prepared medullary canal of a femur prior to the implantation of a hip prostesis. The proximal femoral sealing device is formed of a generally solid body member with a passageway and a flexible annular wall member extending from the body member. The sealing device has an anatomically shaped outer surface, corresponding to the exposed endosteal surface of a prepared medullary canal. A chamber defined by a flexible annular wall and the body member opens into the medullary canal. In turn, the passageway communicates with the chamber and permits insertion of a cement nozzle therethrough into the chamber. In operation, the proximal femoral sealing device is placed within the proximal end of a surgically prepared medullary canal. The canal and chamber of the sealing device are filled with cement resulting in the expansion of the flexible annular wall member against the exposed endosteal walls of the medullary canal by cement pressure within the chamber thereby forming a pressure seal. The escape of cement through the open end of the excavated medullary canal is prevented via this pressure seal insuring that the applied cement is properly pressurized and that the medullary canal is prepared for implementation of the prosthetic device. A method of providing cement under pressure to the exposed endosteal surface of a medullary canal is also disclosed using this proximal femoral sealing device.

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