Implants

1. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis comprising:

at least one joint defining element defining a bone-engaging surface, said bone-engaging surface including an anchoring mechanism operative for enhancing anchoring and adhesion of the joint defining element to the bone to enhance the stability and longevity of the prosthesis without the use of cement, wherein said bone-engaging surface is configured with a hexagonal configuration pattern, said hexagonal configuration pattern defined by a plurality of protruding hexagonal contact surface portions sized and shaped for direct contact with bone, each surrounded by a peripheral channel.

2. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one joint defining element is formed of a material having mechanical properties which are characterized by a nonlinear stress strain relationship.

3. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one joint defining element defines a generally hemispherical convex bone-engaging surface.

4. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 3 and wherein said at least one bone engagement surface has formed thereon a generally annular outwardly extending protrusion.

5. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 4 and wherein said protrusion defines a generally annular undercut.

6. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said at least one bone-engaging surface is arranged for snap fit engagement with a bone.

7. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to any of claims 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , or 5 , wherein said at least one bone-engaging surface is arranged for press fit engagement with a bone.

8. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 1 and wherein said channels are each defined by wall surfaces and a bottom surface.

9. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 1 and wherein said channels are defined to provide an undercut engagement portion.

10. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 8 and wherein said channels are defined to provide an undercut engagement portion.

11. An implantable artificial joint prosthesis according to claim 10 and wherein said undercut engagement portion comprises a relatively wider cross sectional dimension near said bottom surface and a relatively narrower cross sectional dimension away from said bottom surface.

12. An implantable acetabular prosthesis comprising:

an acetabular cup formed of a polymer having a non-linear stress-strain relationship, the acetabular cup having an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the outer surface including a bone-engaging portion having a partially hemispherical convex shape including a plurality of recessed channels oriented to define a plurality hexagonal contact surfaces, the plurality of recessed channels having a dovetail shape defined by a bottom surface and opposing side surfaces extending at an oblique angle with respect to the bottom surface such that the opposing side surfaces are separated by a first distance at a first position adjacent the bottom surface and separated by a second distance, less than the first distance, at a second position spaced from the bottom surface.

13. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 12 , wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular protrusion extending annularly around the outer surface of the acetabular cup between an apex of the acetabular cup and a rim of the acetabular cup.

14. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 13 , wherein the annular protrusion defines an annular undercut.

15. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 14 , wherein the annular protrusion is arranged for snap-fit engagement with a prepared portion of an acetabulum.

16. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 15 , wherein the annular protrusion bounds the bone-engaging portion of the outer surface.

17. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 16 , wherein the bone-engaging portion is positioned closer to the apex of the acetabular cup than the rim of the acetabular cup relative to the annular protrusion.

18. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 17 , wherein the acetabular cup has a generally uniform thickness between the outer surface and the opposing inner surface.

19. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 18 , wherein the acetabular cup is formed of an injection molded polyurethane.

20. An implantable acetabular cup comprising:

a body formed of a flexible polymer having a non-linear stress-strain relationship, the body having an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the outer surface including a bone-engaging portion having a partially hemispherical convex shape including a plurality of bone contact portions bounded by a plurality of recessed channels, the plurality of recessed channels having a dovetail cross-section generally defined by a bottom surface and opposing side surfaces extending at an oblique angle with respect to the bottom surface such that the opposing side surfaces are separated by a first distance adjacent the bottom surface and are separated by a second distance, less than the first distance, adjacent the bone contact portions, wherein the body is configured for implantation into a prepared acetabulum without the use of cement such that at least the bone contact portions of the body directly contact the prepared acetabulum.

21. The implantable acetabular cup of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of bone contact portions have a geometrical profile.

22. The implantable acetabular cup of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of bone contact portions have a generally hexagonal profile.

23. The implantable acetabular cup of claim 20 , wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular protrusion extending annularly around the outer surface of the body between an apex of the body and a rim of the body.

24. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 23 , wherein the annular protrusion defines an annular undercut.

25. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 24 , wherein the annular protrusion is arranged for snap-fit engagement with a prepared portion of an acetabulum.

26. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 25 , wherein the annular protrusion bounds the bone-engaging portion of the outer surface.

27. The acetabular prosthesis of claim 26 , wherein the bone-engaging portion is positioned closer to the apex of the acetabular cup than the rim of the acetabular cup relative to the annular protrusion.

28. An implantable acetabular cup comprising:

a body formed of a flexible polymer having a non-linear stress-strain relationship, the body having an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the outer surface including a bone-engaging portion having a partially hemispherical convex shape including a plurality of bone contact portions bounded by a plurality of recessed channels, the plurality of recessed channels having a dovetail cross-section generally defined by a bottom surface and opposing side surfaces extending at an oblique angle with respect to the bottom surface such that the opposing side surfaces are separated by a first distance adjacent the bottom surface and are separated by a second distance, less than the first distance, adjacent the bone contact portions;

wherein at least the bone-engaging portion of the outer surface includes a bioactive coating.

29. The implantable acetabular cup of claim 28 , wherein the bioactive coating comprises an elastomer.