US-12624715-B2 - Coupling systems and methods

Abstract

Various systems and methods are disclosed for joining multiple components of a prosthesis. For example, a system includes a first component having a body extending from a first end to a second end. Each of the first and second ends including a coupling element. At least one end including a male coupling element including a detent disposed within a hole defined by a protrusion, the detent being biased by a biasing member. A method includes coupling a first component to a second component. Coupling the first component to the second component includes aligning a female engagement element provided by the first component with a male coupling component provided by the second component and inserting the male coupling element into the female coupling element.

Inventors

• Meghan R. KUBACKI

Assignees

• WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220207

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system, comprising: a first component having a body extending from a first end to a second end, each of the first and second ends including a coupling element, at least one end including a male coupling element including a protrusion having a detent disposed within a hole defined in a side of the protrusion, the detent including at least one angled surface arranged to facilitate coupling the first component to a second component, the detent being biased by a biasing member so as to be moveably coupled to the protrusion; and a second component having a body including at least one female engagement element defining a hole further defined by a shelf circumferentially disposed within the hole that is sized and configured to engage the detent of the male coupling element of the first component.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detent is retained within the hole.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring.
4. 4 . A system, comprising: a first component having a body including at least one female engagement element sized and configured to be engaged by a male coupling element of second component, wherein the female engagement element includes a hole extending through the body and a shelf circumferentially disposed within the hole that is sized and configured to engage a biased detent projecting from a portion of a male coupling element of the second component.
5. 5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the body includes a pair of spaced apart rails that together define a channel, and wherein the hole extends from an upper surface into the channel.
6. 6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second component includes a second coupling element that is configured to engage a stem component of a multi-component prosthesis stem.
7. 7 . A method, comprising: coupling a first component to a second component, wherein the first component includes at least one female engagement element defining a hole that is further defined by a shelf circumferentially disposed within the hole and the second component includes a protrusion having a detent disposed within a hole defined in a side of the protrusion, the detent including at least one angled surface arranged to facilitate coupling the first component to a second component, the detent being biased by a biasing member so as to be moveably coupled to the protrusion, wherein coupling the first component to the second component includes: aligning the female engagement element provided by the first component with the male coupling component provided by the second component; and inserting the male coupling element into the female coupling element so that the angled surface of the detent slidingly engages the shelf while being biased inwardly against the biasing member so as to allow the shelf to pass the hole in the side of the protrusion to thereby couple the first component to the second component when the detent biased outwardly by the biasing member.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: coupling the second component to another component.
9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein coupling the second component to another component includes rotating the second component relative to the another component.
10. 10 . A system comprising: a first component including a male coupling element having a protrusion, the protrusion defining an opening in a side with a detent disposed within the opening with a biasing member disposed to bias the detent outwardly from the opening and moveably coupled to the protrusion; and a second component including a female engagement element defining a hole sized to receive the protrusion and further defining a shelf circumferentially disposed within the hole, the shelf sized to engage the detent when the protrusion is received in the hole, wherein during coupling the detent is deflectable into the opening against the biasing member as the shelf slides past the opening and, after passage, the biasing member urges the detent outward to bear against the shelf to retain the first and second components in a coupled configuration.
11. 11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring disposed within the opening and acting between the detent and the protrusion to urge the detent outwardly from the opening.
12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the detent is retained within the opening by a cross-pin such that the detent remains coupled to, but is moveable relative to, the protrusion.
13. 13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the detent includes an angled face sized to slidingly engage the shelf during coupling.
14. 14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the shelf is formed by a circumferential recessed area of the second component within the hole to provide an annular shoulder positioned to engage the detent in the coupled configuration.
15. 15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the detent is moveable between a retracted position in which the detent is displaced into the opening against the biasing member and an extended position in which the detent projects outwardly from the opening to engage the shelf.
16. 16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein disengagement of the first and second components is effected by depressing the detent into the opening against the biasing member and separating the first and second components.
17. 17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the opening is oriented laterally through a side of the protrusion and intersects the shelf when the first and second components are in the coupled configuration.
18. 18 . A method of coupling components, comprising: providing a first component including a male coupling element having a protrusion that defines an opening in a side surface; positioning a detent within the opening such that the detent is moveably coupled to the protrusion and biased outwardly by a biasing member; providing a second component including a female engagement element defining a hole sized to receive the protrusion and further defining a shelf circumferentially disposed within the hole; inserting the protrusion into the hole while aligning the shelf with the opening; sliding the first and second components together so that an angled surface of the detent slidingly engages the shelf while the detent is biased inwardly into the opening against the biasing member to allow the shelf to pass the opening; and releasing the biasing member to urge the detent outward to bear against the shelf to retain the first and second components in a coupled configuration.
19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising disengaging the first and second components by depressing the detent into the opening against the biasing member and separating the first and second components.
20. 20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring disposed within the opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/169,306, filed Apr. 1, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF DISCLOSURE The disclosed systems and methods relate to implants. More particularly, the disclosed systems and methods relate to the joining of two or more components of a prosthesis or implant. BACKGROUND Medical prostheses are available to address any number of abnormalities. For example, a prosthesis may be provided to replace a joint, such as a shoulder, elbow, knee, or ankle. Each prosthesis may include one or more components, such as a stem that is to be inserted into a passageway formed along an axis of a bone, and a tray that is to be coupled to the stem. The tray may support one or more additional components, such as an articular surface formed from metal or polymer that may be coupled to the tray. In order to speed recovery and reduce complications, surgical techniques seek to minimize the size or length of an incision or access site needed to install a prosthesis. As a result, there continues to be a need to minimize the size of the implant to be installed. SUMMARY In some embodiments, a system includes a first component having a body extending from a first end to a second end. Each of the first and second ends including a coupling element. At least one end including a male coupling element including a detent disposed within a hole defined by a protrusion, the detent being biased by a biasing member. In some embodiments, a system includes a first component having a body. The body has at least one female engagement element sized and configured to be engaged by a male coupling element of another component. The female engagement element includes a hole extending through the body and a shelf disposed within the hole. In some embodiments, a method includes coupling a first component to a second component. Coupling the first component to the second component includes aligning a female engagement element provided by the first component with a male coupling component provided by the second component, and inserting the male coupling element into the female coupling element. In some embodiments, a system includes a first component having a body extending from a first end to a second end. Each of the first and second ends includes a coupling element. At least one end includes a female coupling element having a recess that inwardly extends into the body. In some embodiments, a system includes a first component having a body with an upper surface. The first component includes a male engagement element extending from the upper surface of the body. The male engagement element includes a protrusion and at least one projection extending from an upper surface of the protrusion. In some embodiments, a method includes coupling a first component to a second component. Coupling the first component to the second component includes aligning a male engagement element provided by the second component with a female coupling component provided by the first component, and inserting the male coupling element into the female coupling element. In some embodiments, a system includes a first component having a body extending from a first end to a second end. Each of the first and second ends includes a respective coupling element. At least one end having a male coupling element including a protrusion with an extension that defines a circumferential undercut. In some embodiments, a system includes a first component and a locking device. The body includes an upper surface defining a slot that extends inwardly from a front end of the body. The locking device is configured to be received slideably within the slot defined by the first component. In some embodiments, the system includes a second component having a second body extending from a first end to a second end. At least one end includes a male coupling element having a protrusion with an extension that defines a circumferential undercut sized and configured to receive a portion of the locking device therein. In some embodiments, a method includes aligning a male coupling element provided by a first component with a female coupling element provided by a second component, coupling the second component to the first component by engaging the male coupling element and the female coupling element, and securing the second component to the first component using a locking device. In some embodiments, a system includes a first component having a body. The body includes a fin extends upwardly from an upper surface of the body. The fin includes at least one extension that extends laterally from the fin. In some embodiments, a system includes a first component extending from a first end to a second end. Each of the first and second ends including a coupling element. At least one end including a female engagement element that includes a slot that extends through the body of the fir