Prosthetic knee and hip joints with a microtextured bearing surface to create (elasto)hydrodynamic lubrication that reduces friction and wear and, thus, improves longevity.

More than 200,000 total hip replacement (THR) surgeries are performed in the United States each year. THR surgery is needed when the articular cartilage cushioning of the joint deteriorates, causing pain and disability.
Over time, polyethylene wear particles absorb into the tissue around the prosthetic joint, which may cause inflammation, mechanical instability, or dislocation of the prosthetic joint components. As a result, patients seek revision THR surgery or live in discomfort.

A new microtexturing technology places microscale texture features or “dimples” on the CoCrMo bearing surface of the prosthetic joint. The microtexture features form microhydrodynamic bearings that reduce friction and polyethylene wear.

Proof of Concept

• Utilizes a mature and reliable laser surface texturing process.
• Integrates easily into existing workflows and manufacturing machinery and configurations.
• Improves prosthetic joint reliability and patient comfort.
• Extends the longevity of the prosthetic joint.
• Initial experiments show 50 percent reduction of highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene pins articulating with microtextured CoCrMo discs compared to untextured discs.

Borjali A., Langhorn J., Monson K., Raeymaekers B. (2017). Using a patterned microtexture to reduce polyethylene wear in metal-on polyethylene prosthetic bearing couples. Wear, 392–393:77–83. doi: 10.1016/j.wear.2017.09.014

Qiu M., Raeymaekers B., (2015). The load-carrying capacity of incompressible textured parallel slider bearings with surface roughness inside the texture features. Journal of Engineering Tribology. 229(4):547-556. doi: 10.1177/1350650114545352

Publication Number: US-2015-0148910-A1
Patent Title: Prosthetic Joint
Jurisdiction/Country: United States
Application Type: Non-Provisional

Huy Tran
(801) 581-7792
huy.tran@utah.edu