REVERSE SHOULDER ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANT HAVING AN ELLIPTICAL GLENOSPHERE COMPONENT

1 . A reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant, comprising:

a glenosphere component having (i) a curved lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with a humeral cup of a humeral prosthesis, and (ii) a medial surface having a tapered bore formed therein,

wherein the glenosphere component has (i) an anterior/posterior width defined by the distance between an anterior-most point of the lateral bearing surface and a posterior-most point of the lateral bearing surface, (ii) a superior/inferior width defined by the distance between a superior-most point of the lateral bearing surface and an inferior-most point of the lateral bearing surface, and (iii) the anterior/posterior width of the glenosphere component is greater than the superior/inferior width of the glenosphere component.

2 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 1 , wherein the lateral bearing surface is hemi-ellipsoidal in shape.

3 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 1 , wherein:

an imaginary line segment extends from a superior-most point of the medial surface to an inferior-most point of the medial surface, and

the center of the tapered bore is positioned between the midpoint of the imaginary line segment and the superior-most point of the medial surface.

4 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 1 , wherein:

an imaginary line segment extends from a superior-most point of the medial surface to an inferior-most point of the medial surface, and

the center of the tapered bore is positioned at the midpoint of the imaginary line segment.

5 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 1 , wherein the glenosphere component is metallic.

6 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 1 , further comprising a metaglene component having an annular-shaped platform with an elongated stem extending outwardly from a medial surface thereof, wherein a tapered outer surface of the annular-shaped platform is taper locked in the tapered bore of the glenosphere component.

7 . A reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant, comprising:

a glenosphere component having (i) a curved lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with a humeral cup of a humeral prosthesis, and (ii) a medial surface having a bore formed therein to receive a metaglene component,

wherein the glenosphere component has (i) an anterior/posterior width defined by the distance between an anterior-most point of the glenosphere component and a posterior-most point of the glenosphere component, (ii) a superior/inferior width defined by the distance between a superior-most point of the glenosphere component and an inferior-most point of the glenosphere component, and (iii) the anterior/posterior width of the glenosphere component is greater than the superior/inferior width of the glenosphere component.

8 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 7 , wherein the lateral bearing surface is hemi-ellipsoidal in shape.

9 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 7 , wherein:

an imaginary line segment extends from a superior-most point of the medial surface to an inferior-most point of the medial surface, and

the center of the bore is positioned between the midpoint of the imaginary line segment and the superior-most point of the medial surface.

10 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 7 , wherein:

an imaginary line segment extends from a superior-most point of the medial surface to an inferior-most point of the medial surface, and

the center of the bore is positioned at the midpoint of the imaginary line segment.

11 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 7 , wherein the glenosphere component is metallic.

12 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 7 , further comprising a metaglene component having an annular-shaped platform with an elongated stem extending outwardly from a medial surface thereof, wherein:

the bore formed in the glenosphere component comprises a tapered bore, and

a tapered outer surface of the annular-shaped platform is taper locked in the tapered bore of the glenosphere component.

13 . A reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant, comprising:

a glenosphere component having a lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with a humeral cup of a humeral prosthesis, the lateral bearing surface being hemi-ellipsoidal in shape with its longitudinal axis extending in the anterior/posterior direction, and

a metaglene component secured to the glenosphere component.

14 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 13 , wherein:

an anterior/posterior width of the glenosphere component is defined by the distance between an anterior-most point of the lateral bearing surface and a posterior-most point of the lateral bearing surface,

a superior/inferior width of the glenosphere component is defined by the distance between a superior-most point of the lateral bearing surface and an inferior-most point of the lateral bearing surface, and

the anterior/posterior width of the glenosphere component is greater than the superior/inferior width of the glenosphere component.

15 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 13 , wherein:

a medial surface of the glenosphere component has a tapered bore formed therein, and

a tapered outer surface of the metaglene component is taper locked in the tapered bore of the glenosphere component.

16 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 15 , wherein:

an imaginary line segment extends from a superior-most point of the medial surface to an inferior-most point of the medial surface, and

the center of the tapered bore is positioned between the midpoint of the imaginary line segment and the superior-most point of the medial surface.

17 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 15 , wherein:

an imaginary line segment extends from a superior-most point of the medial surface to an inferior-most point of the medial surface, and

the center of the tapered bore is positioned at the midpoint of the imaginary line segment.

18 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 13 , wherein both the glenosphere component and the metaglene component are metallic.

19 . The reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant of claim 13 , wherein the metaglene component has a number of screw holes extending therethrough.