Appeal No. 2002-2198 Page 4
Application No. 09/408,409
promoting the attachment of fibrous tissue to the annular rim 21 of the shell 14. As best
seen in Figure 1A, the collar 62 defines a surface 64. Preferably, the surface 64 of the
collar 62 is arranged in a manner similar to surface 22 of the acetabular component as
just described. Thus, the surface 64 of the collar 62 preferably includes a groove 66 for
containing a surface treatment 68 as shown in Figure 1C. This groove 66 can be
omitted, however, depending on the type of surface treatment employed as long as the
surface treatment 68 is provided on or in the surface 64 of the collar 62. The surface
treatment 68 is provided for the purpose of promoting the attachment of fibrous tissue
to the femoral component. Kwong describes in detail the surface treatments provided
on both the acetabular and femoral components at column 5, lines 6-53.
As shown in Figure 4, the implanted femoral 54 and acetabular 12 components
are situated such that the rim surface 22 of the acetabular cup is oriented in opposing
relation with the surface 64 of the collar 62 of the femoral component 54. The surface
treatments on the opposing surfaces promote the attachment of fibrous tissue to the
acetabular and femoral components. The fibrous tissue, when fully developed, extends
between the surface of the collar or base of the neck of the femoral component and the
surface of annular rim of the acetabular cup thereby forming a substantially sealed
capsule 82. Any wear debris 83 resulting from the rubbing together of the aforesaid
articulating surfaces is confined within the capsule 82 and away from the boundary of
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