| US 7,462,180 B2 | ||
| Inserter for a flexible acetabular cup | ||
| Patrick Raugel, Ramsey, N.J. (US); and Loic Pinot, Bernieres sur Mer (France) | ||
| Assigned to Benoist Girard SAS, (France) | ||
| Filed on Nov. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/289,728. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 0426385.1 (GB), filed on Dec. 01, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0167462 A1, Jul. 27, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/58 (2006.01); A61B 17/60 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—91 [606/99] | 20 Claims |
| 1. An insertion instrument for a flexible prosthetic acetabular cup, the acetabular cup having a part-spherical outer shell
and an inner bearing element with the shell and inner bearing element having at least one opening therein extending from an
open end of the shell and bearing element toward a polar area of the shell comprising the opening having a curved periphery:
a shaft having a mounting element for contacting the open end of the shell at a first end of said shaft;
a retractable rod element connected to at least one engagement element for resiliently engaging side walls of the opening
in the shell and bearing element, the engagement element having curved outer periphery and edges for engaging the curved periphery
of the outer shell and bearing element sidewalls, the engagement element having a width greater than a non-expanded width
of the opening in a direction parallel to a circumference of the open end and the edges of the engagement element are chamfered;
and
a retractor mounted adjacent a second end of the shaft for moving said engagement element on said rod out of engagement with
the sidewalls of the shell while maintaining the mounting element in engagement with the open shell end.
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