An intervertebral implant for being implanted between adjacent vertebrae is provided. The implant includes a generally elongate implant body having a length extending between opposite longitudinal ends thereof, a superior face and an inferior face. The superior face and inferior face include cortical teeth adjacent to the implant body longitudinal ends. Additionally, the superior and inferior faces include longitudinally central teeth intermediate the cortical teeth and have bone engaging ends. The central teeth have a sharper configuration than that of the cortical teeth bone engaging ends for biting into the softer central bone material of the vertebrae. The cortical teeth are arranged in a first density per unit area and the central teeth are arranged in a second density per unit area that is less than the first density.

A central inflatable distractor and a perimeter balloon are inserted into the disc space in uninflated configurations. The central inflatable distractor is then expanded, thereby distracting the vertebral endplates to the controlled height of the central inflatable distractor. The perimeter balloon is then inflated with a curable substance. The perimeter balloon expands as it is filled with the curable substance and conforms to the void remaining in the disc space around the central inflatable distractor, thereby creating a horseshoe shape. Once the flowable material in the perimeter balloon has cured, the central inflated distractor can be deflated and removed. The remaining void (or inner space) is then packed with graft for fusion.

Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing orthopedic implants that reduces the negative effects of stress shielding on surrounding bone structure. The orthopedic implants are comprised of two portions, a shell portion that forms an articulation interfaces and an intermediate portion that forms a bone interface. The shell portion is designed to reduce absorption of Carticulation forces and evenly distribute incident forces to the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is designed to form a strong interface with native bone and transmit forces from the shell into the bone.

An intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral space between vertebrae. The implant includes a body extending from an upper surface to a lower surface. The body has a front end, a rear end and a pair of spaced apart first and second side walls extending between the front and rear walls such that an internal chamber is defined within the front and rear ends and the first and second walls. The body defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter extending about the internal chamber. At least one of the side walls is defined by an integral porous structure.

The methods disclosed herein of generating three-dimensional lattice structures and reducing stress shielding have applications including use in medical implants. One method of generating a three-dimensional lattice structure can be used to generate a structure lattice and/or a lattice scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. One method of reducing stress shielding includes generating a structural lattice to provide sole mechanical spacing across an area for desired bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. Some methods are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

A central inflatable distractor and a perimeter balloon are inserted into the disc space in uninflated configurations. The central inflatable distractor is then expanded, thereby distracting the vertebral endplates to the controlled height of the central inflatable distractor. The perimeter balloon is then inflated with a curable substance. The perimeter balloon expands as it is filled with the curable substance and conforms to the void remaining in the disc space around the central inflatable distractor, thereby creating a horseshoe shape. Once the flowable material in the perimeter balloon has cured, the central inflated distractor can be deflated and removed. The remaining void (or inner space) is then packed with graft for fusion.

An extended release immunomodulatory implant operatively arranged to facilitate bone morphogenesis, including an inner portion including one or more interleukins, and an outer portion including an immunomodulatory stimulant such as an antigen.

An implantable medical device is disclosed comprising a thermoplastic composite body having anterior, first lateral, second lateral, posterior, superior, and inferior surfaces, and at least one dense portion and at least one porous portion which are integrally formed. The at least one dense portion is formed of a first thermoplastic polymer matrix that is essentially non-porous, and which is continuous through a thickness dimension from the superior surface to the inferior surface. The at least one porous portion is formed of a porous thermoplastic polymer scaffold having a second thermoplastic polymer matrix which is continuous through the thickness dimension. A method for forming the thermoplastic composite body is disclosed comprising disposing a first powder mixture in a first portion of a mold, disposing a second powder mixture in a second portion of the mold, simultaneously molding the first powder mixture and the second powder mixture, and leaching porogen.

A central inflatable distractor and a perimeter balloon are inserted into the disc space in uninflated configurations. The central inflatable distractor is then expanded, thereby distracting the vertebral endplates to the controlled height of the central inflatable distractor. The perimeter balloon is then inflated with a curable substance. The perimeter balloon expands as it is filled with the curable substance and conforms to the void remaining in the disc space around the central inflatable distractor, thereby creating a horseshoe shape. Once the flowable material in the perimeter balloon has cured, the central inflated distractor can be deflated and removed. The remaining void (or inner space) is then packed with graft for fusion.