Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Enhanced Off-Center Liner for Acetabular Cup with Textured Surface and Bio-Compatible Coating

Publication ID: 24-11857423_0001_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Off-Center Liner for Acetabular Cup with Textured Surface and Bio-Compatible Coating,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857423_0001_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857423_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,423.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An improved off-center liner for acetabular cups in hip joint replacement surgeries, featuring a textured surface for enhanced stability and a bio-compatible coating to reduce wear and tear on the acetabular cup.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed an off-center liner for acetabular cups, addressing the need for improved alignment and stability in hip joint replacement surgeries. However, the original design had limitations, such as potential instability and wear on the acetabular cup. The new inventive concept builds upon the original design by introducing a textured surface on the concave bearing surface to enhance stability and a bio-compatible coating on the outer convex surface to reduce wear and tear.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced off-center liner features a proximal surface, an outer convex surface configured to at least partially extend into an acetabular cup, and a concave bearing surface recessed relative to the proximal surface. The concave bearing surface includes a textured surface to enhance stability of the hip joint, ensuring proper alignment and reducing the risk of dislocation. Additionally, the outer convex surface is coated with a bio-compatible material to reduce wear and tear on the acetabular cup, prolonging the lifespan of the implant. The liner can be implanted using an impactor aligned with visual indicators on the liner to ensure proper alignment.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces two key innovations: the textured surface on the concave bearing surface and the bio-compatible coating on the outer convex surface. These features address the limitations of the original patent, providing enhanced stability and reduced wear and tear on the acetabular cup.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include different textures or patterns on the concave bearing surface, varying levels of bio-compatible coating, or alternative materials for the liner. Additionally, the visual indicators on the liner could be modified or replaced with alternative alignment systems.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced off-center liner has significant commercial potential in the orthopedic industry, particularly in hip joint replacement surgeries. The improved stability and reduced wear and tear on the acetabular cup could lead to increased adoption and market share for the inventive concept.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61F2/34
A A61 A61F2/4609
A A61 A61F2002/30617
A A61 A61F2002/3453
A A61 A61F2002/4681

Field of Art

Orthopedic medical devices, specifically hip joint replacement implants and surgical techniques, requiring advanced knowledge of biomechanical engineering, materials science, and surgical intervention strategies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or orthopedic medical device designer with expertise in prosthetic joint design, materials compatibility, surgical implantation techniques, and understanding of biomechanical constraints in joint replacement technologies

Obviousness Rationale

A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the PTD's disclosed variations represent predictable engineering modifications to the source patent's acetabular liner design. The textured surface and bio-compatible coating are well-known strategies in medical implant technology for improving joint stability and reducing wear. These incremental improvements would be considered routine design optimizations within the capabilities of an ordinary skilled practitioner in orthopedic medical device engineering.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Off-center liner with concave bearing surface
PTD Variation
Adding textured surface to concave bearing surface to enhance joint stability
Obviousness Reasoning
Surface texturing is a known technique for improving implant interface friction and alignment, representing a predictable solution to potential joint movement issues
Source Patent Element
Acetabular cup liner with visual alignment indicators
PTD Variation
Implementing impactor alignment with visual indicators during surgical placement
Obviousness Reasoning
Precise surgical placement techniques are standard practice, and using existing visual indicators for alignment represents an obvious implementation of known surgical protocols
Source Patent Element
Outer convex surface configured to extend into acetabular cup
PTD Variation
Adding bio-compatible coating to outer convex surface to reduce wear
Obviousness Reasoning
Material surface modification to reduce wear is a standard engineering approach in medical implant design, representing a finite and predictable solution to implant longevity challenges
Source Patent Element
Liner designed for femoral stem head reception
PTD Variation
Configuring liner to accommodate smaller femoral stem head with same acetabular cup size
Obviousness Reasoning
Dimensional optimization and component interchangeability are routine design considerations in medical device engineering, representing a predictable variation within known design parameters
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง 103, the variations disclosed in the published technical disclosure would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, with reasonable expectation of success, when considered in light of the teachings of US Patent 11857423. The incremental technical modifications represent routine engineering adaptations within the established knowledge of orthopedic medical device design, thereby rendering potential claims covering similar technical variations unpatentable as obvious variations of the prior art.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,423
TitleOff-center liner for acetabular cup
Assignee(s)Arthrology Consulting, LLC