Implants, instruments, and methods are presented for fixing adjacent bone portions to promote fusion of the bone portion.

A prosthetic device for use as an artificial meniscus is disclosed. The prosthetic device restores stress distribution, stability, and function to the knee joint after removal of the damaged natural meniscus. In some embodiments, the prosthetic device includes an anti-migration feature that inhibits extreme movement within the joint while permitting free floating over a significant range. In one aspect, the anti-migration feature is an enlarged anterior structure or a posterior meniscus remnant engaging channel while in another aspect, the anti-migration feature includes a tethering member. Still further, removable radiopaque features are provided to enhance trialing of the implant prior to final implantation within the joint.

A lubrication device for lubricating a joint of a human or mammal patient, which is entirely implantable in a patient's body, comprises a reservoir for storing a lubricating fluid and a fluid connection for introducing the lubricating fluid into the joint when the device is implanted in the patient's body. Further, the fluid connection comprises a fluid connection device connecting the reservoir with the joint such that a lubricating fluid flow is established from the reservoir into the joint. The fluid connection comprises either an infusion needle adapted to be intermittently placed into the joint for injecting the lubricating fluid, or a tube adapted to be permanently placed into the joint for continuously injecting the lubricating fluid.

Devices and methods are disclosed for joint replacement.

A subtalar implant for arthroereisis of the talocalcaneal joint. The implant is intended to be inserted into the talocalcaneal joint via its lateral orifice and has an oblong shape that extends longitudinally along an axis of insertion of the implant. The implant includes: a head with the shape of a cone of revolution centred on the axis of insertion; an anchoring thread; and a rod having the shape of a cylinder of revolution. The rod has, on its surface, the anchoring thread and being configured to be inserted up to the axis of rotation of the talocalcaneal joint. The head has, on its radially outer surface, a retaining element for retaining the implant in rotation about the axis of insertion, the retaining element exerting retention against a colonising tissue.

Pathology of the human knee can arise from excessive and/or uneven loading of regions within the joint. Methods and apparatus are disclosed that enable displacement of soft tissue around the knee, without displacing or severing bone thereby altering the mechanical load distribution within the joint in a less invasive manner than previous techniques.

A medical device for treating hip joint osteoarthritis by providing at least one hip joint surface for a human patient is provided, wherein said medical device has a largest diameter or a largest cross-sectional distance, and an opening, and wherein said largest diameter or cross sectional distance is adapted to be changed during an operation. Furthermore, a method of treating a hip joint of a human patient by providing said the medical device is provided. The hip joint comprising a caput femur and an acetabulum, the method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of the patient, dissecting an area of the pelvic bone on the opposite side from the acetabulum, creating a hole in said dissected area, said hole passing through said pelvic bone and into the hip joint of the patient, and providing said medical device to the hip joint, through said hole in the pelvic bone of the patient.

An implant can be used for the treatment of fat pad atrophy. The implant can be installed in the ball of the foot, the heel of the foot, the hands, or other areas. The implant can supplement or replace a patient's fat pads. In some instances, the implant can include an implant pad having a non-permeable external lining and an internal cavity enclosed by the external lining. The internal cavity can include a filler material. The implant can include features that resist rupture and/or migration.

In some examples, a method for preparing one or more bones involves inserting a spacer into a space defined between a first bone and a second bone, such as a joint space between a first metatarsal and medial cuneiform. A bone preparation guide can be aligned with opposed ends of the first bone and the second bone using the spacer as an alignment reference. For example, the bone preparation guide may include an opening such that the guide can be installed across the joint space with the spacer received in the opening. A clinician may use the bone preparation guide to guide a tissue removing instrument to cut or otherwise prepare the ends of the first bone portion and second bone portion.

A bone positioning guide may include a main body member, a shaft, and a bone engagement member. The shaft can be movably connected to the main body member and have the bone engagement member rotatably coupled to its distal end. The bone engagement member can have a surface configured to engage a bone. The main body member can also include a tip opposite the bone engagement member for engaging a second bone. In use, the bone engagement member may be positioned in contact with a medial side of a first metatarsal while the tip is positioned in contact with a lateral side of a different metatarsal, such as a second metatarsal. The shaft can then be moved to advance the bone engagement member toward the tip, causing realignment of the first metatarsal.