Devices and methods for restructure and stabilization of a fractured or weakened head of a bone are disclosed herein. A device includes a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, an inner void for passing at least one light sensitive liquid, and an inner lumen; an expandable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter; and a light conducting fiber sized to pass through the inner lumen of the delivery catheter and into the expandable member. The expandable member moves from a deflated state to an inflated state when the light sensitive liquid is passed to the expandable member. When the light conducting fiber is in the expandable member, the light conducting fiber is able to disperse the light energy to initiate hardening of the light sensitive liquid within the expandable member to form a photodynamic implant.

The present invention concerns an elbow prosthesis, including: at least one ulnar section, including a stem portion extending along a substantially longitudinal axis (x-x) between a proximal end and a distal end; at least one humeral section, including a stem portion extending along a substantially longitudinal axis (y-y) between a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the humeral section delimiting an engagement seat with the proximal end of the ulnar section; articulation means between the distal end of the humeral section and the proximal end of the ulnar section, available along an axis (z-z) perpendicular with respect to the substantially longitudinal axis (y-y) of the humeral section. The proximal end of the ulnar section is engageable in the housing seat.

A novel and improved elbow prosthesis and method of implanting same including a novel aggregate prosthesis having a retaining system in conjunction with a set plate.

An improved modular rotational device includes a first and second threaded coupler for affixation along the stem of an endoprosthetic device, for example, a humeral prosthesis or a femoral prosthesis. The rotational device axis of rotation is coaxial with the stem, and its axis of rotation is located in close proximity to the intramedullary stem of the prosthesis or in close proximity to the distal articulation of the prosthesis. A housing has a proximal and distal end with an axial bore therethrough for receiving an elongated stem of the device. A lobe ring may be utilized to limit the axis of rotation of the device. Additional endoprosthetic devices may be attached to male or female threaded couplers, or to Morse tapers. A plurality of suture attachments facilitates attachment of soft tissue thereto.

Prosthetic component provided with a stem, adapted to be implanted in use at a bone of a patient, such as for example a tibial and/or femoral component of a knee prosthesis or a femoral component of a hip prosthesis or a humeral component of a shoulder prosthesis, or a component of an elbow prosthesis, including a device adapted to externally cover and/or to house at its interior at least the stem of the prosthetic component, wherein the device is in use placed between the prosthetic component and the bone of the patient, suitable to stably constrain in use the prosthetic component to the bone of the patient and to prevent the direct contact between prosthetic component and bone of the patient.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for measuring forces in the space of a knee during surgery. Such forces can be caused by tension in the ligaments of the knee. A femoral member is engaged with a distal femur. While the knee is flexed, partially extended, or fully extended, a force sensor and a gauge shim can be placed in the gap between the femoral member and the tibial plateau to measure the forces therebetween. The force sensor provides an accurate and quantifiable measurement of force, making knee replacement surgery and ligament tension balancing more accurate, standardized and repeatable. The force sensor comprises an elongate housing which comprises a thin force sensing distal portion and a proximal handle portion.

A bone joint repair and replacement assembly. A first portion comprising a bone plate is configured to attach to a distal or proximal end of a bone proximate the joint, generally coaxially with an axis defined by the bone. A second portion comprising an articular surface is configured to attach to the first portion, generally normal with respect to the axis, and inserted into the joint. Although versions of the assembly can be configured for use with several different pivotal joints, the invention is particularly suitable for full or partial replacement of an elbow, wherein the articular surface is pivotally attached to the first portion. Another embodiment of the invention is provided to repair a fractured bone head proximate the joint, and still another embodiment of the invention is provided to repair rotator cuff-related shoulder injuries.

The invention primarily relates to fastening and stabilizing tissues, implants, and/or bondable materials, such as the fastening of a tissue and/or implant to a bondable material, the fastening of an implant to tissue, and/or the fastening of an implant to another implant. This may involve using an energy source to bond and/or mechanically to stabilize a tissue, an implant, a bondable material, and/or other biocompatible material. The invention may also relate to the use of an energy source to remove and/or install an implant and/or bondable material or to facilitate solidification and/or polymerization of bondable material.

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 system and method serves in facilitating replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints. The system and method employs a prosthesis to replace at least a portion of the comminuted bone fractures. The prosthesis serves in reproducing the articular surface of the portion or portions of the comminuted bone fractures that are replaced. In doing so, the prosthesis serves in restoring joint viability and corresponding articulation thereof.