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1.1 These test methods cover the evaluation of the cyclic fatigue strength of ceramic modular femoral heads, mounted on a cone as used on the femoral stem of the total hip arthroplasty.

1.2 These test methods were primarily developed for evaluation of ceramic (Specification F603, ISO 6474-1, ISO 6474-2, ISO 13356) head designs on metal cones but may have application to other materials.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

4.1 These test methods can be used to determine the effects of head and cone materials, design variables, manufacturing, and other conditions on the cyclic load-carrying ability of modular femoral heads mounted on the cones of femoral stem prostheses.

4.2 The loading of modular femoral heads in vivo will, in general, differ from the loading defined in these methods. The results obtained here cannot be used to directly predict in-vivo performance. However, these methods are designed to allow for comparisons between the fatigue performance of different ceramic modular femoral head designs, when tested under similar conditions.

4.3 These test methods may use actual femoral prostheses or neck-cone models of simplified geometry with the same geometrical and material characteristics as in the implants. In either case, the matching metallic cone region of the test specimen selected shall be of the same material, tolerances, and finish as the final femoral stem prosthesis.

4.4 In the fatigue test methods, it is recognized that actual loading in vivo is quite varied, and that no one set of experimental conditions can encompass all possible variations. Thus, the test methods included here represent a simplified model for the purposes of comparisons between designs and materials. These test methods are intended to be performed in physiological solution.

4.5 The test data may yield valuable information about the relative strengths of different head and cone designs.