A medical device for implantation in a hip joint of a human patient, the natural hip joint having a ball shaped caput femur as the proximal part of the femoral bone with a convex hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint and a bowl shaped acetabulum as part of the pelvic bone with a concave hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint. The medical device comprising; an artificial caput femur, comprising a convex surface towards the center of the hip joint. The artificial convex caput femur is adapted to, when implanted: be fixated to the pelvic bone of the human patient, and be in movable connection with an artificial acetabulum surface fixated to the femoral bone of the patient, thereby forming a ball and socket joint. The medical device further comprises a fixation element comprising a fixation surface adapted to be in contact with the surface of the acetabulum and adapted to fixate the artificial convex caput femur to at least the acetabulum of the pelvic bone.

For a membrane encapsulated joint implant sealed under vacuum, a joint implant includes an outer cup, an inner cup, a joint head, a joint membrane, a lubricant, and an implant stem. The outer cup attached at a proximal bone. The nests within the outer cup and receives a joint head, the inner cup comprising an inner cup rim. The joint head is disposed within the inner cup and forms a bearing that rotates within the inner cup. The joint membrane sealed to the inner cup rim and vacuum seals the joint head within the inner cup to form a capsular space. The lubricant is disposed within the capsular space. The implant stem that is attached to a distal bone and that attaches through the joint head through the joint membrane.

Methods of selecting and implanting prosthetic devices for use as a replacement meniscus are disclosed. The selection methods include a pre-implantation selection method and a during-implantation selection method. The pre-implantation selection method includes a direct geometrical matching process, a correlation parameters-based matching process, and a finite element-based matching process. The implant identified by the pre-implantation selection method is then confirmed to be a suitable implant in the during-implantation selection method. Methods of implanting meniscus prosthetic devices are also disclosed.

An intervertebral device comprises a plurality of struts that are rotatably associated with each adjacent strut to form a modifiable inner volume V for bone graft containment.

A medical device for cooperating with a body surface of a patient includes an elastically deformable substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of pores extending from the first surface towards the second surface to define a plurality of spaced-apart projections. A lubricant is provided in the pores. Applying a compressive force to the substrate with the body surface elastically deforms the projections to displace the lubricant out of the pores and provide hydrodynamic lubrication between the medical device and the body surface.

A prosthetic implant replaces hyaline cartilage in a synovial joint with a flexible polymer sliding surface, preferably of hydrogel, on a segmented support with an array of adjacent segments to which the hydrogel is molded. Adjacent segments are laterally and angularly displaceable permitting the implant to conform to rounded or irregular surfaces or to be rolled or folded for arthroscopic placement. Tension cables threaded through segments along a circuit can cinch segments together for stiffening the supporting layer and/or the cable can pull the implant against a bone surface. Adjacent segments can have inter-engaged structures. In some embodiments the segments are carried on a flexible foil or fibrous sheet.

A prosthetic device that may be utilized as an artificial meniscus is disclosed. The prosthetic device can restore shock absorption, stability, and function to the knee after the damaged natural meniscus is removed and replaced with the prosthetic device. In some embodiments, the meniscus includes an integral fixation anchor and additional features that minimize the requirement for modification of the implant for proper fit during surgery.

A reverse hip prosthesis include an acetabular cup arrangement configured for insertion into an acetabulum of a patient and fixation therein, an acetabular ball configured for threaded attachment to the acetabular cup arrangement, a femoral stem configured for insertion into an intramedullary femoral canal of the patient, and a femoral cup arrangement configured for attachment to the femoral stem and to operatively receive the acetabular ball therein. The acetabular cup arrangement includes an anchor portion which becomes fixed to the patient's acetabulum and is the largest size suitable for the patient, and an insert which comes in different sizes and are connectable to the anchor portion, so that the most appropriate insert for the patient may be used. The acetabular cup arrangement and ball are interconnected with a threaded stem that also functions as an artificial Ligamentum Teres.

A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one particular aspect, the system facilitates absorbing energy between members forming a joint such as between articulating bones. Springs may be used to transfer loads across a joint, and can be used in conjunction with pistons and sleeves.

A metal matrix has a biocompatible solid lubricant in at least a portion of its surface and the solid lubricant functions to protect the interior of the metal matrix and minimize the friction coefficient and related wear induced damage at the articulating surface of the metal device. The lubricated biocompatible metal device is made of materials compatible for in vivo and ex vivo applications in order to minimize wear induced degradation as well as metal ion release. The lubricated biocompatible metal device is suited for use as medical implants.