Importance

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Abstract

An acetabular cup prosthesis assembly has an outer shell, a bearing insert, a locking collar, and a locking ring. The bearing insert is retained within the outer shell, which has a generally smooth, hemispherical outer surface. The bearing insert is adapted to receive the femoral head of a hip prosthesis. An opening of the insert has a first diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the femoral head, and is elastically expandable to a second diameter to allow for passage of the femoral head through the opening. The locking collar is movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position adjacent the bearing insert to prevent the opening from expanding to the second diameter so as to lock the femoral head in position within the insert. The locking ring is disposed within a first circumferential groove in the inner surface of the outer shell, and serves to maintain the locking collar in position adjacent the bearing insert. The outer shell, the bearing insert, and the locking ring may be assembled into a sub-assembly which may be separately packed and sterilized for use by an orthopedic surgeon. The sub-assembly and locking collar form a two-component system which is easily manipulated during the implantation procedure.

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First Claim