A modular acetabular cup assembly for use with multiple bearing liners is disclosed. The acetabular cup assembly includes a shell having a tapered inner wall and two circumferential grooves. The shell may be used with polyethylene, ceramic, metal, and other types of liners.

This invention improves upon prior art total disc replacements (TDRs) by more closely replicating the kinematics of a natural disc. The preferred embodiments feature two or more fixed centers of rotation (CORs) and an optional variable COR (VCOR) as the artificial disk replacement (ADR) translates from a fixed posterior COR that lies posterior to the COR of the TDR to facilitate normal disc motion. The use of two or more CORs allows more flexion and more extension than permitted by the facet joints and the artificial facet (AF). AF joint-like components may also be incorporated into the design to restrict excessive translation, rotation, and/or lateral bending.

An orthopedic implant in the form of a femoral component of a knee endoprosthesis has sliding tribological surfaces formed by inserts of a ceramic material based on zirconium dioxide or aluminum oxide, which are inserted and transition flushly into a metallic base body. The inserts are connected to the base body by a silicate ceramic solder, which is solidified or hardened in a ceramic firing, and by a silicate glass solder. Discharge channels in the metallic base body help to produce a homogeneous glass solder layer and to avoid an excessively intense heat treatment of the solder connection, which could lead to fractures in the titanium oxide layer of the base body. Because a coating of a softer glass solder may be additionally provided on the sliding tribological surfaces of the inserts, the abrasive wear is further reduced and the service life is further increased.

An expandable device for expanding and supporting body tissue comprises an inferior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact one body tissue surface and a superior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact an opposing body tissue surface. The inferior endplate and the superior endplate are movable relative to each other in a direction of expansion. The device includes an elevator captively supported between the inferior endplate and the superior endplate for independent movement along the direction of expansion. In the first direction the elevator is moved toward said superior endplate to lift the superior endplate and expand the device. In the second direction the elevator moves away from said superior endplate toward said inferior endplate to create a space for insertion of an insert into the expanded device.

Spacerless artificial disc replacements (ADR) are disclosed. One preferred embodiment includes two saddle-shaped components to facilitate more normal spinal flexion, extension, and lateral bending while limit axial rotation, thereby protecting the facet joints and the annulus fibrosus (AF). Either or both of the superior and inferior components are made of a hard material such as chrome cobalt, titanium, or a ceramic including alumina, zirconia, or calcium phosphate. The articulating surfaces of the ADR are also preferably highly polished to reduce friction between the components. Metals, alloys or other materials with shape-memory characteristics may also prove beneficial.

A separate nub component between the plate and an intervertebral fusion cage, wherein the nub is attached to the plate. The nub lessens the undesired pivotal movement of the plate. It is believed that when the nub fits snugly between the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, it acts as a stop against the undesired pivotal movement of the plate.

A modular acetabular cup assembly for use with multiple bearing liners is disclosed. The acetabular cup assembly includes a shell having a tapered inner wall and two circumferential grooves. The shell may be used with polyethylene, ceramic, metal, and other types of liners.

Method for the production of a temporomandibular joint endoprosthesis, skull prosthesis or body part prosthesis, in which, as first step, an image of the prosthesis to be produced is created, subsequently by a computerized machining process, a size-adapted prosthetic blank is made from a ceramic blank, using said image and in a downstream thermal treatment the prosthetic blank is transformed into the intended temporomandibular joint endoprosthesis, skull prosthesis or body part prosthesis and temporomandibular joint endoprosthesis.

A spinal implant is provided including an upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface and a back surface, two side surfaces extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the two side surfaces extending between the front surface and the back surface and an opening positioned closer to the back surface than the front surface. The opening is provided to contain graft material that spans between a cortical rim of the upper vertebral body and the cortical rim of the lower vertebral body. The method includes packing the opening with graft material, wherein the graft material spans between the decorticated cortical rim of the upper vertebral body and the decorticated cortical rim of the lower vertebral body.

A problem with total disc implant surgery appears to be the positioning of the implant which if not correct may lead to pain and eventually new surgery. The present invention relates to an improved disc implant for total disc replacement, that includes two inter-vertebral elements which are flexibly connected via a coupling mechanism. Following surgery, the relative movability of the two inter-vertebral elements is decreased overtime, as bone ingrowth occurring around the implant and specifically through osseointegrative sections gradually decrease the movability of the elements relative to each other. Following, the relative movability of the implant elements is replaced by fixation of the elements. The fixation has flowingly occurred in a position affected by the movement of the patient, and is thereby more acceptable to the patient.