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.

The three-dimensional lattice structures disclosed herein have applications including use in medical implants, Some examples of the lattice structure are structural in that they can be used to provide structural support or mechanical spacing In some examples, the lattice can be configured as a scaffold to support bone or tissue growth Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. The lattice structures are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

A rotator cuff balloon (10) includes a limiting structure (100) and a protective structure (200) connected to the limiting structure (100). The limiting structure (100) has a curvature along a coronal plane (102). This rotator cuff balloon (10) conforms to the physiological structure of the shoulder joint in the human body, limits itself in the subacromial space and can reduce a patient's foreign body sensation, dislocation, functional failure and other adverse events. The protective structure (200) is configured to be supported in the space between the humeral head and the acromion of the shoulder joint in the human body to provide support. Moreover, the humeral head of a patient with a rotator cuff injury is raised, avoiding pain arising from inter-tissue collisions, increasing the moment arm of the deltoid muscle and resulting in immediate improvements in the functions of the patient's shoulder joint. The limiting structure (100) is configured to fit against at least part of the humeral head of the shoulder joint in the human body, thus providing a position-limiting effect and avoiding displacement of the prosthesis.

Implants are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an implant includes a spacer configured to be implanted within a joint. The spacer includes an elongated central body extending from a first end to a second end with a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and first and second wings extending from the first and second ends of the elongated central body, respectively. The elongated central body has a first maximum height in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and each of the first and second wings has a maximum height greater than the first maximum height. When implanted and in the inflated state, at least one of the first wing and the second wing is configured to mechanically interlock with a portion of the anatomy to thereby self-anchor the spacer to the joint and inhibit migration of the spacer. Implant systems and methods for biomechanically augmenting muscle function are also provided.

An interbody fusion device having an accordion-like structure, wherein the device in inserted into the disc space in its collapsed configuration and then expanded into its expanded configuration by compressing the accordion-like portion of the device. In some embodiments, a pre-formed tube with an accordion-like structure over a portion of its length is inserted in a relaxed (collapsed) configuration, giving the tube a minimum possible diameter. This tube has a cable running through it that is fixed to a distal end portion of the tube and extends past the proximal end portion of the tube to the outside of the patient. Once the tube is positioned on the rim of the endplate, the proximal end of the cable is pulled, thereby tensioning the cable and causing the accordion portion of the tube to become shorter in length but larger in diameter.

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations for inductive heating of a foreign metallic implant are disclosed. A foreign metallic implant may be heated via AMF pulses to ensure that the surface of the foreign metallic implant heats in a uniform manner. As the surface temperature of the foreign metallic implant rises, acoustic signatures may be detected by acoustic sensors that may indicate that tissue may be heating to an undesirable level approaching a boiling point. Once these acoustic signatures are detected, the AMF pulses may be shut off for a time period to allow the surface temperature of the implant to cool before applying additional AMF pulses. In this manner, the surface temperature of a foreign metallic implant may be uniformly heated to a temperature adequate to treat bacterial biofilm buildup on the surface of the foreign metallic implant without damaging surrounding tissue. The AMF pulse treatment can be combined with an antibacterial/antimicrobial treatment regimen to reduce the time and/or antibacterial dosage amount needed to remove the biofilm from the metallic implant.

A device including a delivery port and a method of delivering a material via a delivery port is disclosed. The device includes a body extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. The body is sized and configured to be coupled to an anatomical structure at an implantation site. A first inlet port is formed in a distal surface of the body and is sized and configured to receive a first material. A first outlet port is formed in the proximal surface of the body. The first outlet port is coupled to the first inlet port by a first fluid path defined by the body and the first outlet port is sized and configured to provide the first material to a first predetermined location when the body is coupled to the anatomical structure.

The present disclosure relates to a spinal implant for insertion between two adjacent vertebrae. The spinal implant includes a frame sized to be inserted between the two adjacent vertebrae. The spinal implant also includes a lattice structure disposed at least partially within the frame and exposed on at least one side of the frame to permit bone growth into the lattice structure. The lattice structure comprises a magnesium phosphate material.

An implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint has two endplates each having an opening through the endplate, and at least one ramped surface on a side opposite a bone engaging side. A frame is slideably connected to the endplates to enable the endplates to move relative to each other at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the implant, in sliding connection with the frame. An actuator screw is rotatably connected to the frame. A carriage forms an open area aligned with the openings in the endplates. The openings in the endplates pass through the carriage to form an unimpeded passage from bone to bone of the joint. The carriage has ramps which mate with the ramped surfaces of the endplates, wherein when the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates move closer or farther apart.

An implantable medical device includes a polymer substrate and at least one nanofiber. The polymer substrate includes a surface portion extending into the polymer substrate from a surface of the substrate. The at least one nanofiber includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is interpenetrated with the surface portion of the substrate, and mechanically fixed to the substrate. The second portion projects from the surface of the substrate.