A total joint prosthesis that achieves non-invasive length modification and a method of using the same is provided. A gearbox housing within the implant contains a lengthening mechanism comprising a rotatable magnetic rod mechanically coupled to a lengthening screw through a series of parallel gear sets. The lengthening screw is coupled to an internally threaded implant neck. An external magnetic device containing at least one rotatable magnet produces a magnetic field. After total joint arthroplasty, the magnetic field of the external device forces rotation of the internal magnetic rod, causing rotation of the lengthening screw. Rotation of the lengthening screw causes the neck to either compress toward or extend away from the housing, adjusting the overall length of the implant and limb. This invention thus provides non-invasive means for post-operative limb-length modification after total joint arthroplasty and is useful in treating conditions such as limb-length discrepancy.

The process for producing an orthopedic implant having an integrated silicon nitride surface layer includes steps for positioning the orthopedic implant inside a vacuum chamber, mixing nitrogen gas and vaporized silicon atoms in the vacuum chamber, emitting a relatively high energy beam into the mixture of nitrogen gas and vaporized silicon atoms in the vacuum chamber to cause a gas-phase reaction between the nitrogen gas and the vaporized silicon atoms to form reacted precipitate silicon nitride molecules, and driving the precipitate silicon nitride molecules with the same beam into an outer surface of the orthopedic implant at a relatively high energy such that the precipitate silicon nitride molecules implant therein and form at least a part of the molecular structure of the outer surface of the orthopedic implant, thereby forming the integrated silicon nitride surface layer.

Antibacterial coatings and methods of making the antibacterial coatings are described herein. A first branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) layer is formed and a first glyoxal layer is formed on a surface of the BPEI layer. The first BPEI layer and the first glyoxal layer are cured to form a crosslinked BPEI coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with superhydrophobic moieties, superhydrophilic moieties, or negatively charged moieties to increase the antifouling characteristics of the coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with contact-killing bactericidal moieties to increase the bactericidal characteristics of the coating.

Antibacterial coatings and methods of making the antibacterial coatings are described herein. A first branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) layer is formed and a first glyoxal layer is formed on a surface of the BPEI layer. The first BPEI layer and the first glyoxal layer are cured to form a crosslinked BPEI coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with superhydrophobic moieties, superhydrophilic moieties, or negatively charged moieties to increase the antifouling characteristics of the coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with contact-killing bactericidal moieties to increase the bactericidal characteristics of the coating.

Antibacterial coatings and methods of making the antibacterial coatings are described herein. A first branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) layer is formed and a first glyoxal layer is formed on a surface of the BPEI layer. The first BPEI layer and the first glyoxal layer are cured to form a crosslinked BPEI coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with superhydrophobic moieties, superhydrophilic moieties, or negatively charged moieties to increase the antifouling characteristics of the coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with contact-killing bactericidal moieties to increase the bactericidal characteristics of the coating.

The process for producing an orthopedic implant having an integrated silicon nitride surface layer includes steps for positioning the orthopedic implant inside a vacuum chamber, mixing nitrogen gas and vaporized silicon atoms in the vacuum chamber, emitting a relatively high energy beam into the mixture of nitrogen gas and vaporized silicon atoms in the vacuum chamber to cause a gas-phase reaction between the nitrogen gas and the vaporized silicon atoms to form reacted precipitate silicon nitride molecules, and driving the precipitate silicon nitride molecules with the same beam into an outer surface of the orthopedic implant at a relatively high energy such that the precipitate silicon nitride molecules implant therein and form at least a part of the molecular structure of the outer surface of the orthopedic implant, thereby forming the integrated silicon nitride surface layer.

A medical appliance or prosthesis may comprise one or more layers of electrospun nanofibers, including electrospun polymers. The electrospun material may comprise layers including layers of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Electrospun nanofiber mats of certain porosities may permit tissue ingrowth into or attachment to the prosthesis.

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.

Interbody fusion devices and related methods of manufacture are described herein. An example interbody fusion device can include a plurality of vertebral endplates, and a body extending between the vertebral endplates. The body and the vertebral endplates can define an internal cavity. Additionally, each of the vertebral endplates can include a lattice structure and a frame surrounding the lattice structure, where the lattice structure being configured to distribute load. Each of the vertebral endplates can also include a plurality of micro-apertures having an average size between about 2 to about IO micrometers (m), and a plurality of macro-apertures having an average size between about 300 to about 800 micrometers (m).

An artificial hip joint with a composite ball head includes an artificial acetabulum (1) and a composite ball head (2); wherein an internal surface of the artificial acetabulum (1) cooperates with an external surface of the composite ball head (2), and the composite ball head (2) can rotate within the artificial acetabulum (1); the internal surface of the artificial acetabulum (1) is directly in contact with the composite ball head (2) without a liner therebetween; the composite ball head (2) comprises a metal ball head (22) and a non-metallic shell (21) wrapped around an external surface of the metal ball head (22). For the composite ball head (2), the metal ball head (22) is wrapped with a non-metallic shell (21), which has large supporting force capability, has strong bearing capacity, effectively reduces the contact stress of the non-metallic shell (21), is stable and reliable.