Shock-absorbing resilient elements and elastic damping elements as prosthetic components

摘要

The invention relates to shock-absorbing resilient elements and elastic damping elements, predominantly for use in endoprosthetics, especially for use in hip joint and knee joint prostheses. These damping elements are made of an elastic damping material. In addition, there are adjoining and/or integrated materials which are mainly intended to take over further functions, above all sliding capacity, compatibility with the bone, stabilisation and shaping. Attachment and/or integration of these damping elements is to take place in the force path; attachement is preferably effected at several sites, above all in the vicinity of the bone, in the vicinity of sliding surfaces and as intermediate element between the load-bearing components. Preferably, elastic escape and equalisation spaces which are preferably made of bubble-like, gas-filled cavities are integrated in the elastic damping composition; the bubbles are preferably provided with an elastic capsule. In principle, any shape can be chosen; dowel-like shapes are intended, for example, as anchorage components. These damping elements have the task of eliminating as far as possible the bone-damaging loads that occur, i.e. to absorb those loads that are above a predetermined tolerance threshold. This is to eliminate a factor predisposing to premature loosening of the prosthesis. IMAGE