ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SECURING AN ADDITIONAL PORTION TO AN IMPLANT

摘要

A prosthetic implant includes a base portion (10) and an additional portion (20) which is to be securely attached to the base portion. The additional portion (20) includes at least one post (32) extending therefrom which is adapted to be readily received in a corresponding reverse tapered hole (14) in the base portion (10). The post (32) is adapted to be mechanically spread out to cause at least a portion of the post to become wider than the opening of the hole (14), thus resisting subsequent separation of the post from the hole. This secures the additional portion (20) to the base portion (10) of the implant. The post (32) may be a stud-type extension integrally formed with or secured to the additional portion (10), or the post may be a separate chamber which is received in a post hole in the additional portion such that the post portion of the separate member extends from the additional portion. The post may be solid or may have a channel therethrough. The additional portion (20) may include a substrate (26) with a porous surface (24) bonded or secured thereto. The spreading of the post may be effected by a protruding member (18) on the bottom of the hole (14) or by a separate plunger (50) forced into a channel (40) in the post.