Off-center Liner for Acetabular Cup in Specialized Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857423_0009_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Off-center Liner for Acetabular Cup in Specialized Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857423_0009_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857423_0009_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

This inventive concept adapts the off-center liner for acetabular cups to cater to specific, narrow markets or unique operational environments, such as high-security needs, disaster relief, or extreme weather conditions, ensuring enhanced performance and reliability in these demanding settings.

Background and Problem Solved

The original off-center liner for acetabular cups, as described in the original patent, has limitations in terms of its material selection and design, which may not be suitable for use in extreme weather conditions, high-security situations, or disaster relief scenarios. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing specialized variations and niche solutions tailored to these specific environments.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises an off-center liner for an acetabular cup, specifically designed for use in extreme weather conditions, high-security situations, or disaster relief scenarios. The liner is made of weather-resistant materials and features visual indicators to facilitate accurate impaction force application. In high-security situations, the liner is made of high-security materials and may be secured to the acetabular cup using a high-security fastening system. The inventive concept also encompasses a method for hip joint replacement or revision surgery in these specialized environments, utilizing the adapted off-center liner.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel and non-obvious features, such as the use of weather-resistant materials, visual indicators, and high-security materials, which provide a distinct advantage in specialized environments. The inventive concept's unique combination of design elements and materials enables it to overcome the limitations of the original patent, offering a significant improvement in performance and reliability.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include variations in material selection, such as using advanced composites or smart materials, or incorporating additional features, like sensors or monitoring systems, to enhance the liner's performance in extreme environments. Other variations may involve modifying the liner's design to accommodate different types of femoral stem implants or acetabular cups.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the areas of hip joint replacement and revision surgery. The specialized variations and niche solutions offered by this concept cater to specific market needs, such as high-security facilities, disaster relief organizations, or medical centers operating in extreme weather conditions.

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 surgical implants, specifically acetabular cup liner design for hip joint replacement, requiring advanced knowledge of biomechanical engineering, materials science, and surgical prosthetic design

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or orthopedic surgical device designer with expertise in prosthetic joint design, materials selection, and understanding of surgical implantation techniques, typically holding an advanced degree and 3-5 years of specialized experience

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that adapting the off-center liner design to specialized environments represents a predictable variation of the source patent's core technical concept. The fundamental structural elements of the acetabular liner remain consistent, with modifications primarily involving material selection and contextual application. These variations represent standard design optimization strategies well within the ordinary skill set of a prosthetic device engineer.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Off-center liner with concave bearing surface configured to extend into an acetabular cup
PTD Variation
Incorporating weather-resistant materials for extreme environment applications
Obviousness Reasoning
Material selection for environmental adaptation is a routine engineering design choice with predictable outcomes in medical device development
Source Patent Element
Visual indicators on proximal surface of liner
PTD Variation
Adding visual indicators specifically for impaction force location in surgical procedures
Obviousness Reasoning
Refining existing visual indicator techniques to improve surgical precision represents an obvious technical improvement
Source Patent Element
Liner configured to receive femoral stem implant
PTD Variation
Developing high-security material configurations for specialized surgical environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Modifying material properties for specific use cases is a standard engineering approach with predictable performance expectations
Source Patent Element
Acetabular cup liner with offset axis configuration
PTD Variation
Adapting liner design for disaster relief and high-security medical contexts
Obviousness Reasoning
Contextual adaptation of existing prosthetic designs represents a straightforward engineering problem with multiple known solution approaches
Source Patent Element
Basic liner structural configuration with proximal and bearing surfaces
PTD Variation
Incorporating advanced composite or smart materials with sensor integration
Obviousness Reasoning
Material and functionality enhancement through known technological substitution is an obvious design iteration for a skilled engineer
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง 103, the variations disclosed herein would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, as taught by US Patent 11857423, with the published technical disclosure demonstrating predictable variations that do not rise to the level of non-obvious innovation. The proposed modifications represent standard engineering design choices within the established technological framework of orthopedic prosthetic liner development.

Original Patent Information

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