A spacer member is provided that is configured to be implanted adjacent an anatomical structure. The spacer member defines a curved bore, a first opening in a side wall of the spacer member and a second opening in one of a top wall and a bottom wall of the spacer member. Each of the first opening and the second opening are in fluid communication with the curved bore. A flexible anchoring member is configured to be inserted through the side opening and through the curved bore of the spacer member such that a distal end portion of the flexible anchoring member extends out of the second opening at an angle relative to the one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the spacer member.

A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer includes a first endplate configured to engage a first bone of the joint; a second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint; tissue engaging projections, wherein the tissue engaging projections are moveable from a retracted position to a deployed position; and an actuation subassembly that extends between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the actuation subassembly comprise a drive nut, a drive screw coupled to the drive nut, and a cam frame coupled to the drive screw, wherein the cam frame is disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate to engage the tissue engaging projections.

A patellar implant is provided being of a two part construction having a strong base portion 32, 54, 72 and 92 (manufactured from a metal material or other medical grade strong material) with a molder outer material 34, 62, 80 and 100 (manufactured from a polymeric material or other softer, smoother material) at least on one side to provide a smooth friction surface to contact the femoral portion of a patient's knee.

A method for placing an implant on a patient in a robotic surgical procedure using a robotic system. During the robotic surgical procedure, a navigation system tracks the patient. The navigation system also provides information to the robotic system to guide movement of a cutting tool to remove material from the patient such that a cut surface is created to receive the implant. The implant is then robotically placed on the cut surface.

An intervertebral disc prosthesis (1) having at least one upper plateau (4, 4′) and at least one lower plateau (5, 5′), which are separated by two movable cores (6, 6′) whose lower face (62, 62′) and upper face (61, 61′) respectively match a concave surface (54, 54′) of the upper plateau (4, 4′) and a convex surface (44, 44′) of the lower plateau (5, 5′). An intervertebral prosthetic unit (10) is also described having an intervertebral disc prosthesis and a posterior articular prosthesis (11) provided with two adjacent and partially tangent articular blades (12, 13), which are each coupled to a vertebra (3, 3′) by coupling devices (14) and are connected by guide devices that allow them to move along a curve whose center C3 is provided on the same side as the implantation of said coupling means.

A knee replacement prosthesis comprising a femoral component and a tibial component that enable anterior-posterior translation of the femur relative to the tibia and enable the tibia to rotate about its longitudinal axis during flexion of the knee. The femoral component connects to the distal end of a resected femur and includes medial and lateral condyles having distal, articulating surfaces, and a patellar flange having a patellar articulating surface. The tibial component connects to the proximal end of a resected tibia and includes a proximal bearing surface with medial and lateral concavities that articulate with the medial and lateral condyles. The condylar articulating surfaces and the said concavities are substantially defined by non-uniform, rational B-spline surfaces (NURBS).

A method of pressure forming a brown part from metal and/or ceramic particle feedstocks includes: introducing into a mold cavity or extruder a first feedstock and one or more additional feedstocks or a green or brown state insert made from a feedstock, wherein the different feedstocks correspond to the different portions of the part; pressurizing the mold cavity or extruder to produce a preform having a plurality of portions corresponding to the first and one or more additional feedstocks, and debinding the preform. Micro voids and interstitial paths from the interior of the preform part to the exterior allow the escape of decomposing or subliming backbone component substantially without creating macro voids due to internal pressure. The large brown preform may then be sintered and subsequently thermomechanically processed to produce a net wrought microstructure and properties that are substantially free the interstitial spaces.

A bone graft delivery kit includes a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end. The hollow tube is configured to convey graft material to a graft receiving area in a patient. The hollow tube can be connected to an implant. The kit further includes a plunger to facilitate moving the graft material through the hollow tube.

An intervertebral disc prosthesis designed to be substituted for fibrocartilaginous discs ensures a connection between the vertebra of the vertebra column or the end of the latter. The prosthesis includes a pair of plates spaced from each other by a nucleus. The prosthesis has increased stability by providing the nucleus with a translation or rotation stop, or by inducing an angular correction between its plates contacting vertebra, or a combination of these characteristics. The stop includes parts external to the nucleus and contact surfaces perpendicular to their contact directions. Surgical methods and instrumentation for implanting the prosthesis are also described.

A surgical access device including a frame, first and second supports, and first and second retractor blades releasably coupled with the first and second supports, respectively. The frame has first and second arms. The first support is releasably coupled with the first and second arms. The second support is slidably mounted on the first and second arms. The second support is movable between a first position with the retractor blades in close cooperative position and a spaced apart position with respect to the first support. The first and second retractor blades each have a distal end portion configured and adapted to engage a vertebral body. In one method of use, the retractor is inserted through an incision in first orientation with the blades in close approximation and rotated approximately 90°, before spreading the retractor blades to retract tissue.