An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. The device and method can be used to treat compression fractures. The compression fractures can be in the spine. The device can be deployed by compressing the device longitudinally resulting in radial expansion.

An implant including a first segment at a first end, a second segment at a second end, and an intermediate segment coupled to the first segment on a first end and coupled to the second segment on a second end. The first segment may include an insertion tip at the first end of the implant and a body portion adjacent to the insertion tip, the insertion tip extending out from the body portion. The second segment may include an end member at the second end of the implant and a body portion adjacent to the end member, the end member extending out from the body portion. The second segment may include a plurality of tip portions spaced about a longitudinal axis of the second segment, and the tip portions each including at least one barb formed by a taper portion and an engagement portion extending radially into the tip portion.

A method for performing a surgical procedure on a patient using a robotic system and a navigation system. The robotic system includes a cutting tool. The navigation system has at least one locating device to track a portion of the patient during the surgical procedure. The navigation system provides information as to a position of the portion of the patient. An optical cutting guide is projected onto the portion of the patient to enable cutting of the portion of the patient with the cutting tool of the robotic system while the optical cutting guide is projected onto the portion of the patient.

A dental implant made of a material comprising titanium. The implant includes a head portion having a non-rotational feature, a lowermost end opposing the head portion, and a threaded bottom portion for engaging bone between the head portion implant and the lowermost end. The implant further includes a nanocrystalline surface formed on at least a portion of the implant. The nanocrystalline surface includes discrete nanocrystals deposited on a roughened surface of the implant. The roughened surface includes at least one of a grit-blasted surface or an acid-etched surface. A portion of the roughened surface is exposed between at least some of the discrete nanocrystals such that the exposed roughened portion between the discrete nanocrystals is capable of contacting bone.

A prosthetic head for a femoral component has a metal shell with a tapered cavity. The shell has a part-spherical outer surface defining an inner portion terminating in an open end. A polymeric material completely fills the inner portion of the hollow shell extending from an inner surface of the shell to the open end. The polymeric material includes a conically tapered socket centered about the polar axis intermediate ends of the open end wherein the shell is a hollow titanium shell having an inner surface with a porous structure for receiving a portion of the polymeric material. The hollow titanium shell inner surface has at least one rib extending inwardly toward the conically tapered socket.

An orthopaedic implant can replace a joint in a patient. The orthopaedic implant includes a first component having a first component surface and a second component having a second component surface. The first component surface and the second component surface mate at an interface. The first component surface includes a metal substrate, a nanotextured surface, a ceramic coating, and a transition zone. The nanotextured surface is disposed directly upon the metal substrate and has surface features in a size of 10.sup.−9 meters. The ceramic coating conforms to the nanotextured surface and includes a plurality of bio-active sites configured to attract and retain calcium and phosphorous cations. The transition zone is disposed between the metal substrate and the ceramic coating. The transition zone includes a concentration gradient transitioning from the metal substrate to the ceramic coating and there is no distinct interface between the metal substrate and the ceramic coating.

The application is directed to devices and methods where one or more magnetic or magnetizable implants provides therapeutic benefits to a patient. The implant may be useful for expanding the range of motion of joints or dynamically providing different responses to changing conditions in the body where the implant is placed. An electromagnet is placed on or in a bone on one side of a joint, and another electromagnet or magnetically active material is placed on or in a bone on the opposing side of the joint. The electromagnet may be continuously energized to relieve pressure in the joint space, or may be energized in response to forces applied to the joint.

The fusion device for fusing a synovial joint of a human or animal patient, in particular a human facet joint, finger joint or toe joint, includes two pin-shaped anchorage portions and arranged therebetween a stabilization portion. The anchorage portions include a thermoplastic material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration. The stabilization portion preferably has a surface which is equipped for enhancing osseointegration. The anchorage portions have a greater thickness and a greater depth than the stabilization portion. Then the fusion device is pushed between the articular surfaces and mechanical vibration, in particular ultrasonic vibration, is applied to the proximal face of the fusion device. Thereby the liquefiable material is liquefied where in contact with the bone tissue and penetrates into the bone tissue, where after re-solidification it constitutes a positive fit connection between the fusion device and the bone tissue.

The invention relates to a knee joint prosthesis comprising a femoral component (1) and a tibial component (2), each having a front face constituting the joint and a rear face (4) facing the bone, and a polyethylene (PE) liner (3). In order to allow the knee joint prosthesis to be implanted without metal and without cement, the femoral component (1) and the tibial component (2) consist of a full ceramic material and both components (1, 2) have integrated porous osseointegrative rear faces (4) facing the bone.

A bone graft delivery system for delivering graft material into a surgical site. The delivery system includes an elongate hollow tube constructed to receive the bone graft material and having a hollow interior and indicia formed on an exterior surface of the elongate hollow tube. The delivery system also includes a plunger adapted to extend in the elongate hollow tube and to form a substantially congruent fit with the hollow interior of the elongate hollow tube such that the plunger is precluded from rotating within the elongate hollow tube. The plunger is adapted to urge bone graft material through the elongate hollow tube to deliver bone graft material through an opening thereof.