| abstract |
A joint prosthesis for replacing a damaged or diseased joint between two or more skeletal members, including a distal joint component formed with a sleeve connected to a stem adapted to mount to one skeletal member, a proximal joint component having a housing connected to a stem adapted to mount to an adjoining skeletal member, and a hinge element comprising a hollow cylinder, a pin disposed within the cylinder and a layer of elastomeric material bonded therebetween. The joint components are pivotally interconnected by inserting the cylinder of the hinging element for rotation within the sleeve of the distal joint component, and fixing the ends of the pin of the hinging element to the housing of the proximal joint component so that the distal joint component is pivotal about the hinging element relative to the proximal joint component. The elastomeric material within the hinging element cushions the stems from shock, impact and lateral and compressive loads applied to the joint prosthesis to lessen the magnitude of the loads transmitted to the connection between the stems and skeletal members. |