Intracorporeal Component for a Percutaneous Device

Abstract

An intracorporeal portion of a percutaneous device for a joint disarticulation prosthesis or joint replacement prosthesis, the intracorporeal portion having an extracorporeal portion or having means for rigidly coupling directly to an extracorporeal portion, the extracorporeal portion being for location exterior to the skin, the intracorporeal portion having an articulating component for articulating with an articulating surface, wherein the articulating component is intracorporeal when installed in a human or animal subject.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an intracorporeal portion or intracorporeal component for a percutaneous device for use in a joint disarticulation prosthesis or a joint replacement prosthesis, including shoulder or hip disarticulation prostheses.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Disarticulation is the amputation of a limb through a joint. Often, disarticulation occurs without the cutting of bone. For example, hip disarticulation is an amputation through the hip joint, removing the entire leg at the hip joint. Shoulder disarticulation is an amputation through the shoulder joint, removing the entire arm at the shoulder joint. Disarticulation is also known as exarticulation.[0003]Amputees who have undergone either disarticulation often wish to be fitted with prosthetic equipment that will allow them to replicate at least a portion of the function of the missing limb.[0004]Unlike in a transhumeral amputation or transfemoral amputation, where the shoulder and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026]Preferably the articulating surface is a hip socket or a shoulder socket of a subject, or is a prosthetic bearing surface installed in a hip socket or shoulder socket of a subject in use. For example, for a hip disarticulation, the articulating component may be a ball component that may articulate with a prosthetic socket liner such as a prosthetic acetabular shell or cup. The percutaneous device is able to pivot relative to the subject's pelvis / scapula, and provides a stable means for coupling an external limb prosthesis to the subject and for transmitting the load from the external limb prosthesis through the subject's bone, rather than through the subject's soft tissues. Unlike in prior art percutaneous devices for attachment of external limb prostheses, the intracorporeal portion of this aspect of the invention is not osseointegrated, and hence the percutaneous device can be pivoted relative the subject's bone, allowing replication of the action of the patient's joint. The present invention therefore provides a means for coupling an external limb prosthesis to a subject's skeleton, via an articulating joint, without rigidly fixing the percutaneous prosthesis to the subject's bone.

[0046]According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an intracorporeal component for a percutaneous device, the intracorporeal component having means for attachment to a bone, the device further comprising a flange extending outwardly from the intracorporeal component in use, the flange being non-circular in shape in the plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal component. The non-circular flange or enlarged distal portion provides rotational stability to a socket of an exoprosthesis installed on the stump and prevents spinning of the socket on the stump. The flange may be an enlarged distal portion that extends outwardly from the intracorporeal component. The longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal component is the axis parallel with the axis of implantation of the component in a subject. The flange may be oval in cross-sectional shape for example.

Problems solved by technology

It is therefore difficult and cumbersome to reliably secure shoulder / hip disarticulation prostheses to patients.

Such hip and shoulder disarticulation prostheses are uncomfortable to wear and use and suffer from numerous problems at the skin-socket interface.

Focal points of increased stress caused by non-uniform pressure distribution can lead to skin-related complications, whilst the unnatural microbial environment generated in the socket is detrimental to the maintenance of healthy tissues.

Furthermore, disarticulation exoprostheses are difficult to secure to a patient and can be unstable.

Even in transhumeral or transfemoral amputation, where the patient has a humeral or femoral stump to attach an external jointed limb prosthesis to, the patient will still have difficulty using the prosthesis as it is difficult for the patient to control and move the joint(s) of the external prosthesis.

However, such body-powered prostheses are not cosmetically pleasing and are difficult to control.

However, the link is crude and the movements which can be produced are therefore relatively crude.

Such prostheses are also heavy and difficult to use.

Images