The present invention provides a uni-compartmental knee joint prosthesis (1) which includes a tibial component (2) and a femoral component (3). The tibial component (2) has a fixation portion (10) adapted to be fixed to an upper end of a prepared tibia (T) in a patient, and a bearing portion (30) presenting an articulation surface (32) formed from a ceramic material, wherein the bearing portion (30) is adapted for movement relative to the fixation portion (10). The femoral component (3) is adapted to be fixed to a lower end of a prepared femur (F) in a patient, and comprises a body portion (50) presenting an articulation surface (56) formed from a ceramic material for engagement with the articulation surface (32) of the tibial component (2). The articulation surfaces (32, 56) of the tibial and femoral components are adapted for essentially congruent engagement over a full range of movement of the prosthesis.

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 orthopedic measurement system is disclosed to measure leg alignment. The measurement system includes a tri-axial gyroscope configured to measure movement of a leg. The gyroscope is coupled to a tibia of the leg. For example, the gyroscope can be placed in an insert or tibial prosthetic component that couples to the tibia. The gyroscope is used to measure alignment relative to the mechanical axis of the leg. The leg alignment measurement is performed by putting the leg through a first leg movement and a second leg movement. The gyroscope outputs angular velocities on the axes the sensor is rotated about. The gyroscope is coupled to a computer that calculates the alignment of the leg relative to the mechanical axis from the gyroscope measurement data.

An apparatus and method for aligning an acetabular cup. The apparatus may include an acetabular cup (150, 10) and/or a protractor (30) and/or a depth gauge tool (90) and may be provided in the form of a surgical kit. Components of the apparatus may allow an angle of rotation of an acetabular cup about an axis (111) of the cup relative to an anatomical feature of a patient to be determined when the acetabular cup implant is placed in the acetabulum of the patient. Components of the apparatus may allow an amount of overhang between a rim (12, 162) of an acetabular cup and an edge of the acetabulum to be determined. The acetabular cup may be an acetabular trial cup (10) or and acetabular cup implant (150). Embodiments of the invention may allow both the angle of rotation about the cup axis and the amount of overhang between the rim and the acetabulum edge to be determined.

An implantable electronic device (12) and an endoprosthesis activity monitoring system (10) with a knee prosthesis (11) are developed. Knee prosthesis (11) has at least two blind cavities (35.1, 35.2), one in a lateral aspect of a femoral component (11.1) or tibial component (11.2), within which devices (12) are removably mounted and remote device (18) in wireless communication with devices (12) to receive data transmitted from it. Devices (12) are configured to track movement of the prosthesis (11) and to report same to the remote device (18). Devices (12) are self-contained and include an accelerometer (13), memory (15), a wireless communication module (14), processor (17) and a battery (16). Activity information analysed allows for early diagnosis of implant specific problems like loosening of the prosthesis. Location of devices (12) in the lateral aspects improves accessibility. Devices can be removed by minor surgery without compromising structural integrity of the knee prosthesis.

A system and method for allowing any surgeon, including those surgeons who perform a fewer number of a replacement procedure as compared to a more experienced surgeon who performs a greater number of procedures, to provide an improved likelihood of a favorable outcome approaching, if not exceeding, a likelihood of a favorable outcome as performed by a very experienced surgeon with the replacement procedure. Force sensing is included to aid in quantifying installation of an implant, particularly a cup into a pelvic bone.

Medical devices coupled to a sensor, and systems including such devices, can generate data and analysis based on that data, which may be used to identify and/or address problems associated with the implanted medical device, including incorrect placement of the device, unanticipated degradation of the device, and undesired movement of the device. Also provided are medical devices coupled to a sensor, and devices and methods to address problems that have been identified with an implanted medical device.

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

A system and method for allowing any surgeon, including those surgeons who perform a fewer number of a replacement procedure as compared to a more experienced surgeon who performs a greater number of procedures, to provide an improved likelihood of a favorable outcome approaching, if not exceeding, a likelihood of a favorable outcome as performed by a very experienced surgeon with the replacement procedure. Force sensing is included to aid in quantifying installation of an implant, particularly a cup into a pelvic bone.

An orthopedic measurement system is disclosed to measure leg alignment. The measurement system includes a tri-axial gyroscope configured to measure movement of a leg. The gyroscope is coupled to a tibia of the leg. For example, the gyroscope can be placed in an insert or tibial prosthetic component that couples to the tibia. The gyroscope is used to measure alignment relative to the mechanical axis of the leg. The leg alignment measurement is performed by putting the leg through a first leg movement and a second leg movement. The gyroscope outputs angular velocities on the axes the sensor is rotated about. The gyroscope is coupled to a computer that calculates the alignment of the leg relative to the mechanical axis from the gyroscope measurement data.