Correspondence between John Charnley and members of staff at Chas. Thackray Ltd, relating to discussion and critique of production, experiments, testing, naming and modifications of prostheses and instruments, with reference made to cost of products, staffing at Thackray and product packaging.
Also included is discussion of Charnley’s disinclination to sell instruments on the open market, and complaints at the speed at which Thackray are able to produce and supply products.
There are notes on product and instrument catalogues and leaflets produced by Charnley, and also on a draft statement to accompany the prosthesis for low-friction arthroplasty of the hip.
There are requests for permission from Charnley to fulfil orders for Charnley products, discussion of the methods by which orders from abroad might be approved, including reference to production in North America, and a potential collaboration for research and production with the North American Rockwell Corporation, and a centre for hip surgery being established in California.
Also included is discussion of control of production of the Charnley prosthesis by other companies, potential infringements by other inventors, and trade marks in North America, including Charnley’s name.
There is correspondence relating to a patent for the cement restrictor, with a statement from Charnley on the invention, a patent application form, and a draft specification for a patent on the hip socket.
There is also reference to the removal of Charnley’s name from the Charnley-Mueller prosthesis. Also included are a diagram of proposed moulding for polystyrene for hip prostheses, 1968, a prototype of the mesh gauze cement restrictor, and discs and short tubes for aluminium buttons.