A customised orthopaedic implant is provided, the implant being formed of metal, the implant being substantially comprised of a lattice-type geometry that has a periodic arrangement and is conformal to a configuration of a region of bone that was resected to remove bone that is diseased and is optimised to substantially restore a biomechanical function of a bone from which the region of bone was resected on implantation of the customised orthopaedic implant in consideration of the anatomical function and of the properties of a bone type corresponding to the region of bone that was resected, together with patient-specific parameters and anticipated loads to which the implant will be subjected during various typical activities and movements.

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 variable or adjustable depth medical implants in this application are capable of depth adjustment prior to implantation. The variable depth implants permit a single implant to provide multiple footprint configurations, allowing a surgeon footprint adjustability in the operating room. The implants can comprise a metallic lattice designed for specific physical properties, such as an elastic modulus. In some examples, the main body of the implant is taller than the adjustable portion of the implant (also referred to as the second implant body) so that the physical properties of the main body of the implant are controlling at the implant site. In some embodiments, the variable implant is constructed in an additive process as a single unit.

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 spinal implant adapted to be positioned within a disc space between adjacent vertebrae includes a first intradiscal element, a second intradiscal element, and a coupling mechanism. The first and second intradiscal elements include respective first and second outer surfaces adapted to be positioned adjacent an endplate of respective first and second adjacent vertebrae. The first and second intradiscal elements further include respective first and second medial surfaces that are opposite the respective first and second outer surfaces, where the second medial surface is adapted to generally face the first medial surface upon assembly of the first intradiscal element with the second intradiscal element. The coupling mechanism is associated with the first and second medial surfaces and is adapted to provide relative rotational movement between the first and second intradiscal elements in a plane generally parallel with the first and second medial surfaces.

A method for producing a customised orthopaedic implant is provided. The method involves scanning a bone from which a diseased region of bone will be resected to obtain a three dimensional digital image of an unresected volume of bone; scanning the bone after a diseased region of bone has been resected to obtain a corresponding three dimensional digital image of a resected volume of bone; and comparing the three dimensional digital image of the unresected volume of bone to the corresponding three dimensional digital image of the resected volume of bone to estimate a volume of bone that has been resected. The estimate of the volume of bone that has been resected is used to design a customised orthopaedic implant that substantially corresponds to the configuration of the resected volume of bone, the implant being configured to substantially restore a biomechanical function of the bone. Finally the customised orthopaedic implant is manufactured and provided for insertion into the resected region of 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 which extends from the outer perimeter to the inner perimeter. The at least one of the side walls is free of vertical solid support structure between the upper and lower surface.

Particular aspects provide novel devices for bone tissue engineering, comprising a metal or metal-based composite member/material comprising an interior macroporous structure in which porosity may vary from 0-90% (v), the member comprising a surface region having a surface pore size, porosity, and composition designed to encourage cell growth and adhesion thereon, to provide a device suitable for bone tissue engineering in a recipient subject. In certain aspects, the device further comprises a gradient of pore size, porosity, and material composition extending from the surface region throughout the interior of the device, wherein the gradient transition is continuous, discontinuous or seamless and the growth of cells extending from the surface region inward is promoted.

The present invention includes a fluid interface system for use in medical implants. The fluid interface system of the present invention can include one or more fluid interface channels disposed within an implant. The fluid interface systems can optionally include fluid redirection channels, fluid interface ports and a corresponding instrument to transfer fluid in or out of the fluid interface ports.

A method for manufacturing an implant including the steps of providing an implant element, the implant element made of a non-metallic material, depositing a thin layer of titanium-based material directly over an outer surface of the implant element, and forming a titanium-based structural body in direct contact with the thin layer by three-dimensional (3D) printing, the structural body being thicker than the thin layer of titanium-based material.