A method of manufacturing an implant is disclosed. The method includes preparing a wax template assembly based upon anatomical characteristics of an implantation site. Post formation of the template assembly, a lamination layer is provided over the template assembly resulting in a laminated template assembly. The lamination layer is composed of at least one polymer dissolved in one or more solvents. One or more coating layers of a pre-defined coating material are provided over the laminated template assembly to prepare a mold. The mold may then be sand-rained to form a sand coated mold. The sand coated mold may be de-waxed and baked for melting out the template assembly to form a de-waxed mold. A casting material is then poured over the de-waxed mold to form a casted mold which is cooled and solidified to form a casted implant which is further heat treated and finished to form the implant.

A vertebral body system and method having a polyaxial fastener receiving member, adjustable width plates and a pedicle screw having a pedicle threaded portion and a threaded portion for fastening to the vertebral body.

Placement apparatus and methods of use for impanation of spacers within an inter-vertebral disc space. In one embodiment, the load-bearing superstructure of the implant is subdivided and the bone forming material is positioned within an internal space of the placement instrument but external to the load bearing elements themselves. At least a portion of the bone graft material is freely contained within the disc space. A method of using the device is also described. In one embodiment, the placement device is used to place the implantable spacers at opposing ends of the disc space using a directly lateral surgical approach.

In accordance with one or more embodiments herein, a patellofemoral implant arrangement 200 for repairing damage in a patellofemoral articulation of a patient is provided. The patellofemoral implant arrangement 200 comprises a femoral trochlear implant 250, comprising an articulating surface 255, and a patellar implant 300, configured to be inserted, preferably with press-fit, into a recess 620 in a patella 600 in such a way that the perimeter of an articulating surface 310 of the patellar implant 300 does not extend beyond a surrounding articulating surface of the patella 600. The articulating surfaces 255, 310 of the femoral trochlear implant 250 and the patellar implant 300 are designed to allow that they at least partly interact with each other when the implants 250, 300 are implanted into the knee joint and the patella 600 lies in the intercondylar groove of the femur. Preferably, the articulating surface 255 of the femoral trochlear implant 250 is a metal or ceramic surface; and the articulating surface 310 of the patellar implant 300 is not a metal or ceramic surface. The articulating surface 310 of the patellar implant 300 may be designed to correspond to the curvature of a simulated healthy articulating surface of the undamaged patella 600 at the site of diseased cartilage. The contour curvature of the articulating surface 310 may be generated based on the determined surface curvature of the cartilage and/or the subchondral bone in a predetermined area comprising and surrounding the site of diseased cartilage and/or bone in the patella 600, to mimic the original, undamaged, articulating surface of the patella 600.

The invention is generally related to an intervertebral implant for replacing an intervertebral disc of the human spine. The intervertebral implant includes a first conformable endplate, the first conformable endplate being conformable to a boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load, a second endplate and a core between the endplates, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the boney vertebral endplate. The invention is also directed to a method of replacing an intervertebral disc. The method includes removing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc to form an intervertebral disc space, implanting a first conformable endplate, into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a first boney vertebral endplate, the first conformable endplate being conformable to the first boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load; implanting a second endplate into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a second boney vertebral endplate; and implanting a core between the first conformable endplate and the second endplate, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the first boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the first boney vertebral endplate.

An implant for insertion into a disc space between vertebrae, wherein the implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, two bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively backing-out of the plate portion. The retention mechanism may be in the form of a spring biased snapper element that is biased into communication with the bone fixation elements so that once the bone fixation element advances past the snapper element, the snapper element is biased back to its initial position in which the snapper element interfaces with the bone fixation elements. Alternatively, the retention mechanism may be in the form of a propeller rotatable between a first position in which the bone fixation elements are insertable to a second position where the bone fixation elements are prevented from backing-out.

An interbody fusion cage having upper and lower canals for receiving the heads of bone screws that have been pre-installed in opposing vertebral body endplates. The proximal wall of the cage preferably has a vertical slot that communicates with each canal and is adapted to allow access by a screwdriver and tightening of the screws.

Medical devices in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ one or more coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms include a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing the device to expand.

A spinal implant comprises a first member, a second member and an actuator defining a transverse pivot axis, A first link is connected to the first member and the actuator adjacent the pivot axis. The first link includes an inner surface defining a cavity. A second link is connected to the second member and the actuator adjacent the pivot axis. The actuator is rotatable for translating the pivot axis such that the second link is movable within the cavity to move the members between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.

Disclosed is a cage which is inserted between vertebral bodies of a cervical vertebra or spine during an operation for treating a cervical disc disease, myelosis, or fracture of the cervical vertebra or spine, and more particularly, to a cage with spikes, including upper and lower spikes which are attached to a clip inserted into a main body of the cage, unfolded upward and downward from the main body, and locked to vertebral bodies of a cervical vertebra or spine positioned at the top and bottom of the cage such that the cage is fixed and locked between the vertebral bodies.