Tool for controlling the mutual angle between the parts of an artificial hip joint

1. A method of ensuring the desired mutual positioning of the main components of a femoral prosthesis during an operation for implantation thereof into a human patient, wherein said femoral prosthesis includes a prosthesis stem with a ball head neck and a cup that is adapted to be in the patient's pelvic cavity, wherein said cup comprises a recess linked with an exterior surface via a side face, in which the prosthesis stem is attached to a femur of the human patient, and the cup is placed on the pelvis of the human,

said method comprising:

placing a tool on the neck of the prosthesis stem attached to the femur, wherein the tool comprises a guide ball configured for insertion into the recess of the cup and a support selected from the group consisting of an abutment surface and one or more legs, wherein the support is adapted for contact with at least a part of the side face of the cup that links the recess of the cup with the exterior surface of the cup;

controlling the mutual angle between the prosthesis stem and the cup with said tool, such that the prosthesis stem and cup are aligned at an optimum mutual angle defined by the contact of the support of the tool with the side face of the cup, wherein the femur that is undergoing surgery is then oriented in a pre-determined position; and

placing the cup in its final desired position with the aid of the patient's femur, having said prosthesis stem attached thereto, and the tool placed on the implanted prosthesis stem for controlling the mutual angle between the prosthesis stem and the cup.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the femur is maintained in position until cement for fixing the cup has hardened.

3. A tool for use during an operation for implantation of a femoral prosthesis, said tool being configured to establish the mutual positioning of the main components in the femoral prosthesis upon assembly of the prosthesis components, wherein said femoral prosthesis includes a prosthesis stem with a neck, wherein the prosthesis stem is capable of being implanted in a patient's femur, and a cup that is adapted to be in the patient's pelvic cavity, wherein said cup comprises a recess linked with an exterior surface, via a side face, said tool comprising:

a cutout formed in the tool, wherein said cutout is designed to receive a part of the prosthesis stem and/or neck, a guide ball configured for insertion into the recess of the cup, and a support selected from the group consisting of an abutment surface and one or more legs, wherein the support is adapted for contact with at least a part of the side face of the cup that links the recess of the cup with the exterior surface of the cup; wherein the tool is adapted to be placed on the implanted prosthesis stem and configured to establish an optimal pre-determined mutual angle between the prosthesis stem and the cup in the pelvic cavity.

4. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the cutout comprises a bore designed for engagement with a part of the prosthesis stem.

5. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the cutout is designed for engagement with the neck of the prosthesis.

6. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the cutout is designed for engagement with a part of the prosthesis stem and the neck of the prosthesis.

7. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more legs which abut at least a part of that part of the cup that links the exterior of the cup with the recess in the cup, are an integrated part of the guide ball.

8. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more legs which abut at least a part of that part of the cup that links the exterior of the cup with the recess in the cup, are removably mounted on the guide ball.

9. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the support designed to abut at least a part of that part of the cup that links the exterior of the cup with the recess in the cup, comprises a collar with a diameter that is greater than that of the recess in the cup.

10. The tool according to claim 9 , wherein the collar is mounted on the guide ball, such that said collar may be removed from said guide ball.

11. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more legs comprise three or more legs designed to abut at least a part of that part of the cup that links the exterior of the cup with the recess in the cup.

12. The tool according to claim 11 , wherein the legs can be retracted from abutment with the cup.

13. The tool according to claim 12 , wherein the tool is adapted to be placed on a prosthesis stem temporarily implanted in the patient's femur.

14. A method of ensuring the desired mutual positioning of the main components of a femoral prosthesis during an operation for implantation thereof into a human patient, wherein said femoral prosthesis includes a prosthesis stem with a neck and a cup that is adapted to be in the patient's pelvic cavity, wherein said cup comprises a recess linked with an exterior surface via a side face, in which the prosthesis stem is attached to a femur of the human patient, and the cup is placed on the pelvis of the human,

said method comprising:

placing a tool on the neck of the prosthesis stem attached to the femur, wherein the tool comprises a guide ball configured for insertion into the recess of the cup and a support selected from the group consisting of an abutment surface and one or more legs, wherein the support is adapted for contact with at least a part of the side face of the cup that links the recess of the cup with the exterior surface of the cup;

placing the cup on said tool such that at least part of the side face of the cup contacts the support and the guide ball is inserted in the recess;

controlling the mutual angle between the prosthesis stem and the cup with said tool, such that the prosthesis stem and cup are aligned at an optimum mutual angle defined by the contact of the support of the tool with the side face of the cup, wherein the femur that is undergoing surgery is then oriented in a pre-determined position; and

placing the cup in its final desired position with the aid of the patient's femur, having said prosthesis stem attached thereto, and the tool placed on the implanted prosthesis stem for controlling the mutual angle between the prosthesis stem and the cup.

15. A tool for use during an operation for implantation of a femoral prosthesis, said tool being configured to establish the mutual positioning of the main components in the femoral prosthesis upon assembly of the prosthesis components, wherein said femoral prosthesis includes a prosthesis stem with a neck, wherein the prosthesis stem is capable of being implanted in a patient's femur, and a cup that is adapted to be in the patient's pelvic cavity, wherein said cup comprises a recess linked with an exterior surface, via a side face, said tool comprising:

a cutout formed in the tool, wherein said cutout is designed to receive a part of the prosthesis stem and/or neck, a support selected from the group consisting of an abutment surface and one or more legs, wherein the support is adapted for contact with at least a part of the side face of the cup that links the recess of the cup with the exterior surface of the cup, and a guide ball configured for insertion into the recess of the cup when at least a part of the side face of the cup contacts the support; wherein the tool is adapted to be placed on the implanted prosthesis stem and configured to establish an optimal pre-determined mutual angle between the prosthesis stem and the cup in the pelvic cavity.