A stem (3) includes: a body section (10) which is inserted into a narrowing hole (Ha) formed in a femur (H) and osseointegrated; a neck section (20) which is joined to a tip of the body section (10) and protrudes from the narrowing hole (Ha) to transmit a load from an acetabular side to the body section (10); and a leg section (25) which is joined to a distal end of the body section (10) to hold a posture of the body section (10), wherein the neck section (20) and the leg section (25) are made of a biocompatible resin, and the body section (10) is made of a biocompatible metal, a biocompatible ceramic, or a biocompatible resin.

A total knee prosthesis to be implanted in a human patient includes a femoral element having a longitudinal axis, a tibial plateau having a longitudinal axis and a mobile plate. The mobile plate is interposed between the femoral element and the tibial plateau to form two joints with them wherein: a) the surfaces of mutual friction of the femoral element with the mobile plate and the surfaces of mutual friction of the tibial plateau with the mobile plate are entirely constituted by one and the same massive ceramic material; and b) the mobile plate includes two condylar bowls, and the femoral element includes two condyles, the condyles and the condylar bowls each having surfaces of mutual friction spaced apart from each other by a distance smaller than 100 m when the longitudinal axes of the femoral element and the tibial plateau form an angle of 0 to 75.

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.

An elongate inserter has a distal end releasably connected to an expandable device for expanding body tissue and a proximal end including a trigger actuator. The expandable device comprises a superior endplate and an inferior endplate that are movable in an expansion direction relative to each other between opposing tissue surfaces of a body. The inserter includes a lifting platform comprising ramp surfaces that upon operation of the trigger actuator cooperatively engage complementary surfaces of expansion structure within the device to cause the superior and inferior endplates to move relatively away from each other. A driver is supported by the inserter for pushing an insert between the superior and inferior endplates after expansion of the device.

A total knee prosthesis to be implanted in a human patient includes a femoral element having a longitudinal axis, a tibial plateau having a longitudinal axis and a mobile plate. The mobile plate is interposed between the femoral element and the tibial plateau to form two joints with them wherein: a) the surfaces of mutual friction of the femoral element with the mobile plate and the surfaces of mutual friction of the tibial plateau with the mobile plate are entirely constituted by one and the same massive ceramic material; and b) the mobile plate includes two condylar bowls, and the femoral element includes two condyles, the condyles and the condylar bowls each having surfaces of mutual friction spaced apart from each other by a distance smaller than 100 m when the longitudinal axes of the femoral element and the tibial plateau form an angle of 0 to 75.

A prosthetic system that includes a prosthetic implant and a support structure secured to an inner surface of a cavity of a bone is disclosed. The support structure defines a channel that extends through the length of the support structure. The prosthetic implant is received in the channel, and a portion of the prosthetic implant is secured to an inner surface of the support structure by an adhesive. The support structure may comprise a pair of partially hemispherical components arranged in spaced apart relationship thereby defining the channel between the pair of components.

Fired magnesium oxide stabilized zirconia ceramic body having a highly smooth, polished or otherwise equivalent surface has, on at least part of the surface, a metal/metal alloy coating. The fired ceramic body can be a magnesium oxide stabilized tetragonally toughened zirconia. The coating can be from a metal or metal alloy other than by tantalum vapor deposition, and can include a titanium metal or alloy. The coating can be a macro coating, up to less than about 0.015 of an inch in thickness. The coated magnesium oxide stabilized zirconia ceramic can be a tool or an orthopedic implant or component for an orthopedic implant, which can be a load bearing implant or component for a load bearing implant having an articular surface and a nonarticular surface where the metal or metal alloy coating is on at least part of the nonarticular surface. Plasma arc spraying under vacuum may be employed.

A method of delivering a fusion cage to an intervertebral disc space bounded by adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising the step of delivering the fusion cage into the disc space without contacting its teeth to the vertebral endplates during delivery, wherein a sheath is interposed between a cage surface and the endplates to prevent contact therebetween during delivery.

A prosthetic system that includes a prosthetic implant and a support structure secured to an inner surface of a cavity of a bone is disclosed. The support structure defines a channel that extends through the length of the support structure. The prosthetic implant is received in the channel, and a portion of the prosthetic implant is secured to an inner surface of the support structure by an adhesive. The support structure may comprise a pair of partially hemispherical components arranged in spaced apart relationship thereby defining the channel between the pair of components.

An expandable interbody device for placement between adjacent vertebrae having an upper structure, a lower structure and a screw mechanism, wherein actuation of the screw mechanism moves the upper and lower structures between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A deployment tool couples to the expandable interbody device for positioning the device between adjacent vertebrae, actuating the screw mechanism and delivering a material to a chamber of the expandable interbody device.