Appeal No. 2006-3075 Page 5
Application No. 10/313,205
thickness on articulating surfaces of the prosthesis3 and (2) irregular surface
structures adapted to accommodate tissue ingrowth on a portion of the
prosthesis body.4 Hunter illustrates “[a] typical hip joint assembly” in Figure 1,
wherein the femoral head 6 of the prosthesis fits into and articulates against the
inner lining 8 of an acetabular cup 10. . . .” Hunter, page 6, lines 4-7. Further
referencing Figure 1, Hunter teaches that “[a] porous metal bead or wire mesh
coating 12 may be incorporated to allow stabilization of the implant by ingrowth of
surrounding tissue into the porous coating.” Hunter, page 6, lines 7-9. Hunter
provides a method for producing a low friction, wear resistant oxide coating of
uniform thickness on articulating surfaces of a prosthesis. See e.g., Hunter,
pages 8-10.
Amrich provides a method for producing irregular surface structures on a
prosthesis (e.g., an artificial hip5) adapted to accommodate tissue ingrowth on a
portion of the prosthesis body. No doubt the “irregular surfaces contemplated by
Hunter . . . were the conventional irregular surfaces used on prosthetic devices at
the time of Hunter . . . .” Brief, page 12. This does not, however, preclude a
combination wherein Hunter’s “irregular surfaces” are replaced by Amrich’s
improved irregular surface structures.6
3 See, e.g., Hunter, page 5, lines 21-24; and page 10, lines 16-20.
4 See, e.g., Hunter, page 5, lines 21-24; and page 6, lines 7-10.
5 Amrich, column 1, lines 22-32.
6 The reverse is equally tenable, wherein Amrich is modified by Hunter resulting in a prosthetic
metallic substrate with improved irregular surface structures for bone ingrowth and oxidized
regions where the prosthetic articulates.
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