The present invention relates to a medical implant for cartilage and/or bone repair at an articulating surface of a joint. The implant comprises a contoured implant body and at least one extending post. The implant body has an articulating surface configured to face the articulating part of the joint and a bone contact surface configured to face the bone structure of a joint, where the said articulating and bone contact surfaces face mutually opposite directions and said bone contact surface is provided with the extending post. A cartilage contact surface connects the articulating and the bone contact surfaces and is configured to contact the cartilage surrounding the implant body in a joint. The articulating surface has a layer that consists of titanium nitride (TiN) as the wear-resistant material. The cartilage contact surface has a coating that substantially consists of a material having chondrointegration properties.

Medical implants disclosed herein may include an interior space and at least one bone on-growth structure within the interior space. The bone on-growth structure may include a root coupled to an interior surface of the implant, or to a mesh insert disposed within the interior space of the implant. The root may extend into the interior space toward another opposing interior surface of the implant. The bone on-growth structure may include a plurality of branches coupled to the root via a plurality of junctions. The plurality of branches may project at a plurality of different angles with respect to the root. The plurality of branches may each terminate within the interior space, or alternatively, one or more branches may contact opposing interior surfaces of the implant. The medical implants may also include one or more channels to enhance bone growth within the interior space.

An implant is provided for performing spinal fusion. The implant includes an implant body having a leading side and a trailing side at opposing ends along a longitudinal axis. Between the leading side and trailing side are an upper surface, a lower surface, an anterior side, and a posterior side. At least one keel structure is provided extending from the implant body for penetration into an adjacent vertebral body. A trial sizer and keel cutter may be utilized to form keel channels within the vertebral body to receive the keel structure.

A two-layer gradient coating article is provided that is operable to cause selective adhesion and directional migration of endothelial cells. The first layer includes cell-resisting polymers that repels cells, the second layer includes one layer of peptides that has affinity to and binds specifically to endothelial cells. Furthermore, the peptides are distributed in a gradient, in which attached ECs migrate towards the direction of increased concentration, thus enriching the ECs to a desired locus. The combination of a cell-repelling layer and a graded affinity peptide produces a unique result of selective adhesion, directional migration, thus local enrichment of endothelial cells. A method for using such gradient coating article and its potential use in treating cardiovascular diseases are also provided. The invention provides an inexpensive, stable and effective means for attracting ECs to desirable locations.

An implant stabilizes two adjacent bones of a joint, while enabling a natural kinematic relative movement of the bones. Support components are connected to each bone of the joint, and a flexible core is interposed between them. The core and at least one of the support components are provided with a smooth sliding surface upon which the core and support component may slide relative to each other, enabling a corresponding movement of the bones. The surfaces may have a mating curvature, to mimic a natural movement of the joint. The core is resilient, and may bend or compress, enabling the bones to move towards each other, and or to bend relative to each other.

A spinal stabilization system for use in a vertebral column of a patient, comprising: a multi-layer osteogenic carrier device comprising: a delivery layer comprising a porous material and an osteogenic material; and a support layer in communication with the delivery layer, the support layer capable of substantially conforming to an anatomical feature in the vertebral column of the patient, wherein the support layer holds the delivery layer in proximity to the anatomical feature; at least one rod; at least one rod clip; and at least one fastener are disclosed. The multi-layer osteogenic carrier device can further comprise an adhesive layer capable of adhering the carrier to at least a portion of an anatomical feature, the adhesive layer in communication with at least a portion of the delivery layer.

A bone structural device including a plurality of bone structural segments, wherein adjacent bone structural segments are pivotally connected to one another about a pivot axis, and the bone structural segments are expandable in height, which is in a direction generally parallel to the pivot axis.

Provided is a composition for a scaffold having a mineral coating similar to bone. Also provided is a method for mineral coating a scaffold so as to promote mineral coating of the scaffold with a plate-like nanostructure and a carbonate-substituted, calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite phase.

Various embodiments of implant systems and related apparatus, and methods of operating the same are described herein. In various embodiments, an implant for interfacing with a bone structure includes a web structure, including a space truss, configured to interface with human bone tissue. The space truss includes two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes. Implants are optimized for the expected stress applied at the bone structure site.

An implant is provided for performing spinal fusion. The implant includes an implant body having a leading side and a trailing side at opposing ends along a longitudinal axis. Between the leading side and trailing side are an upper surface, a lower surface, an anterior side, and a posterior side. At least one keel structure is provided extending from the implant body for penetration into an adjacent vertebral body. A trial sizer and keel cutter may be utilized to form keel channels within the vertebral body to receive the keel structure.