Implant insertion tool for implanting an acetabular component and associated surgical method

1. An implant insertion tool for use during a surgical procedure to implant an acetabular cup component into a surgically-prepared acetabulum of a patient's hip, comprising:

a metallic elongated shaft having (i) an impact head on its proximal end, (ii) a set of implant-engaging threads on its distal end, the implant-engaging threads being configured to engage a threaded hole formed in the acetabular cup component, and (iii) a set of locking threads formed therein at a location between its proximal end and its distal end,

a removable polymeric grip having a smooth bore that extends from a distal end of the grip to a proximal end of the grip, wherein (i) the shaft is received into the bore of the grip such that the grip is removably secured to the shaft, and (ii) the grip comprises an elongated outer surface that extends parallel to the grip's bore and is configured to be gripped during impaction of the shaft's impact head, and

a locking nut threadingly engaged to the locking threads of the shaft so as to clamp the grip between the locking nut and the shaft's impact head thereby non-rotatably securing the grip to the elongated shaft.

2. The implant insertion tool of claim 1 , wherein:

tightening of the locking nut urges the proximal end of the grip in a direction toward the impact head of the elongated shaft, and

loosening of the locking nut allows the proximal end of the grip to slide in a direction away from the impact head of the elongated shaft.

3. The implant insertion tool of claim 1 , wherein:

the proximal end of the elongated shaft has a number of flanges formed therein,

the proximal end of the grip has a number of slots formed therein, and

each of the number of flanges is received into a corresponding one of the number of slots so as to prevent the grip from rotating relative to the elongated shaft.

4. The implant insertion tool of claim 1 , wherein:

the elongated shaft includes a body having the impact head formed therein, and

the implant-engaging threads are formed in a tip that is removably secured to the body.

5. The implant insertion tool of claim 1 , further comprising a wrench, wherein:

an outer annular surface of the locking nut has a number of facets formed therein, and

the wrench has an engaging surface configured to engage the facets of the locking nut.

6. The implant insertion tool of claim 5 further comprising a pin, wherein:

the proximal end of the elongated shaft has a bore extending therethrough in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and

the pin is positioned in the bore of the shaft so as to create a T-shaped handle for use by a user to counter torque created during use of the wrench.

7. The implant insertion tool of claim 1 , wherein:

the distal end of the grip has a faceted surface formed therein,

a proximal end of the locking nut has a faceted surface formed therein, and

the faceted surface of the locking nut is engaged with the faceted surface of the grip so as to prevent loosening of the locking nut.

8. An implant insertion tool for use during a surgical procedure to implant an acetabular cup component into a surgically-prepared acetabulum of a patient's hip, comprising:

a metallic elongated shaft having (i) an impact head on its proximal end, and (ii) a set of implant-engaging threads on its distal end, the implant-engaging threads being configured to engage a threaded hole formed in the acetabular cup component,

a removable polymeric grip having a smooth bore that extends from a distal end of the grip to a proximal end of the grip, wherein (i) the shaft is received into the bore of the grip such that the grip is removably secured to the shaft, and (ii) the grip comprises an elongated outer surface that extends parallel to the grip's bore and is configured to be gripped during impaction of the shaft's impact head, and

a removable fastener secured to the elongated shaft so as to clamp the grip between the fastener and the shaft's impact head thereby non-rotatably securing the grip to the elongated shaft.

9. The implant insertion tool of claim 8 , wherein:

tightening of the fastener urges the proximal end of the grip in a direction toward the impact head of the elongated shaft, and

loosening of the fastener allows the proximal end of the grip to slide in a direction away from the impact head of the elongated shaft.

10. The implant insertion tool of claim 8 , wherein:

the proximal end of the elongated shaft has a number of flanges formed therein,

the proximal end of the grip has a number of slots formed therein, and

each of the number of flanges is received into a corresponding one of the number of slots so as to prevent the grip from rotating relative to the elongated shaft.

11. The implant insertion tool of claim 8 , wherein:

the elongated shaft includes a body having the impact head formed therein, and

the implant-engaging threads are formed in a tip that is removably secured to the body.

12. The implant insertion tool of claim 8 , further comprising an assembly tool, wherein the assembly tool has an engaging surface configured to engage the fastener.

13. The implant insertion tool of claim 8 further comprising a pin, wherein:

the proximal end of the elongated shaft has a bore extending therethrough in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and

the pin is positioned in the bore of the shaft so as to create a T-shaped handle for use by a user during use of the assembly tool.