The invention primarily relates to fastening and stabilizing tissues, implants, and/or bondable materials, such as the fastening of a tissue and/or implant to a bondable material, the fastening of an implant to tissue, and/or the fastening of an implant to another implant. This may involve using an energy source to bond and/or mechanically to stabilize a tissue, an implant, a bondable material, and/or other biocompatible material. The invention may also relate to the use of an energy source to remove and/or install an implant and/or bondable material or to facilitate solidification and/or polymerization of bondable material.

An implant or endoprosthesis suitable to be implanted in human or animal tissue includes two (or more than two) parts to be joined in situ. Each one of the parts includes a joining location, the two joining locations facing each other when the device parts are positioned for being joined together, wherein one of the joining locations includes a material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration and the other one of the joining locations includes a material which is not liquefiable by mechanical vibration and a structure (e.g. undercut cavities or protrusions) suitable for forming a positive fit connection with the liquefiable material. The joining process is effected by pressing the two device parts against each other and by applying ultrasonic vibration to one of the device parts when the two parts are positioned relative to each other such that the two joining locations are in contact with each other.

An assembly for determining height and angle of an intervertebral device to be implanted in an intervertebral space. The assembly comprises a sizing instrument (12) comprising a support (18) attached to first and second arms (20), (22) which extend in generally a same direction from the support. The assembly also comprises superior and inferior endplates (14), (16) of the intervertebral device to be implanted. One of the superior and inferior endplates (14), (16) engages with a distal end of the first arm (20) and the other of the superior and inferior endplates (14), (16) engages with a distal end of the second arm (22), the superior and inferior endplates opposing each other when they are engaged with their respective arms. The distal end of the second arm (22) performs first and second forms of movement relative to the distal end of the first arm (20), the first and second forms of movement being independent of each other, the distal end of the second arm moving along different respective paths in the first and second forms of movement, the first form of movement changing separation between the superior and inferior endplates (14), (16), and the second form of movement changing an angle between the superior and inferior endplates (14), (16). The support (18) comprises a user control which is mechanically coupled to at least the second arm (22) of the first and second arms to provide upon user operation of the user control each of the first and second forms of movement of the distal end of the second arm.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of mammalian prosthetics, and more specifically to prostheses for use in total or partial joint replacement, and to a method of use of these prostheses in arthroplasty. Thus, disclosed is a prosthesis for use in hip arthroplasty that comprises an artificial femoral head that includes a head portion constructed totally or partially of a polymeric material, and a connector means designed to connect said head portion in a non-articulating manner to a femoral stem portion. The head portion may be made solely of solid polymeric material or of an outer shell of polymeric material connected in a non-articulating manner to an embedded core. The polymeric material is preferably selected from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or radiation treated UHMWPE having substantially no detectable free radicals. The embedded core comprises, for example, one or more of solid non-polymeric material (e.g., metallic, ceramic, or ceramic-on-metal material), a multiplicity of metallic spokes, a metallic scaffolding, and/or combinations thereof.

A method of forming a composite titanium body for use in forming spinal implant interbodies includes selecting a metal alloy body, carving out a top portion and a bottom portion from the metal alloy body, and bonding a porous material to the carved-out top and bottom portions. Multiple pieces may be cut from the composite titanium body, each having a front face formed of the metal alloy, top and bottom portions formed of the porous material, and with a medial portion of the metal alloy extending from the front face to the back. Methods and devices for spinal interbodies having locking mechanisms to prevent bone screw back-out are also described.

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

A spinal implant system includes at least one interbody implant having a first member including a tissue engaging surface and at least one mating element. A second member includes a tissue engaging surface and at least one mating element. An intermediate member includes at least one mating element. An intra-operative surgical tool is connectable with at least one of the members to engage adjacent mating elements and fix the intermediate member with at least one of the first member and the second member. Implants, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

An orthopaedic implant includes a patella component having a metal base with a polymer bearing molded thereto. A method for making a patella component is also disclosed.

A spinal implant system includes at least one interbody implant having a first member including a tissue engaging surface and at least one mating dement. A second member includes a tissue engaging surface and at least one mating element. An intermediate member includes at least one mating element. An intra-operative surgical tool is connectable with at least one of the members to engage adjacent mating elements and fix the intermediate member with at least one of the first member and the second member. Implants, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

Implantable medical devices are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a body having an external surface defining an outer profile of the device. The body includes a porous matrix including a series of interconnected macropores defined by a plurality of interconnected struts each including a hollow interior. A filler material substantially fills at least a portion of the series of interconnected macropores. The external surface of the body includes a plurality of openings communicating with the hollow interior of at least a portion of the plurality of interconnected struts. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the external surface includes exposed areas of the filler material and porous matrix in addition to the exposed openings. In another aspect, the porous matrix is formed from a bioresorbable ceramic and the filler material is a biologically stable polymeric material. Still, other aspects related to this and other embodiments are also disclosed.