An intervertebral implant includes a core member operably coupled between an upper and a lower base member. An outer cavity extends between the core member upper end and lower end, and radially between the inner cavity and an outer surface of the core member. A core member inner wall is formed between the inner and an outer cavity, and a core member outer wall is formed between the outer cavity and the outer surface of the core member. A first locking member is positioned on at least one of the core member upper end and the core member lower end and at least one second locking member is positioned on an inner surface of at least one of the upper and lower base member for locking engagement. The upper and lower end of the core member are oriented at a lordotic angle ranging from 1 degrees to 20 degrees.

A method of absorbing a force in the hip joint of a human patient using a hip joint prosthesis, wherein the hip joint prosthesis comprises a first proximal area having a first material or part of material adapted to have a first elasticity and a second distal area comprising a second material or part of material, adapted to have a second different predetermined elasticity, such that the difference in elasticity affects the elasticity of the hip joint prosthesis along the length axis, the method comprising the step of the material of the first area of the hip joint prosthesis deforming elastically, when exposed to a force, and the material of the second area of the hip joint prosthesis deforming less elastically than the material of the first area of the hip joint prosthesis, when exposed to the force.

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.

Osteogenesis scaffold such as for spinal fusion or an intermedullary nail includes a number of arcuate struts. The scaffold may have a functional modulus of elasticity that is a result of the modulus of the material of the struts together with the architecture of the struts, and may be within the range of 5 GPa and 75 GPa. An anisotropy of a physical property such as stiffness, compressive strength or elastic modulus corresponds to the same physical property of native bone in the vicinity of the intended implantation site.

A motion preserving spinal implant is presented for use in placement between intervertebral space for total replacement of a degenerated spinal disc. The motion preserving spinal implant has a pair of end plates sandwiched around an inner core and an outer core, with the inner core being concentrically positioned within the outer core. The outer core encapsulates the inner core and provides adequate sealing of the inner core while maintaining flexibility and elasticity to advantageously support physiological movements. The inner core is constructed of an elastomeric material and acts as a solid diaphragm in order to resist and withstand localized compression and other forces. The end plates provide anchoring and fusion with adjoining vertebra and hold the inner and outer cores in place. The motion preserving spinal implant restores the normal height and natural function of the degenerated spinal disc and preserves the natural motion of the spine.

An apparatus for the treatment of canine or other animal hip pathologies, the apparatus (200) comprising a buffer (210) adapted to be disposed between a femur (10) and a hip socket (25), and a fixing (250) adapted to fix the buffer to the femur.

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.

A flexible bone implant includes a proximal stem having a proximal end, a distal end, and a proximal conduit extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the proximal stem, whereby the proximal conduit is open at both the proximal and distal ends of the proximal stem. The implant includes a distal stem having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal conduit extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the distal stem, whereby the distal conduit is open at both the proximal and distal ends of the distal stem. The implant includes a flexible hinge interconnecting the distal end of the proximal stem with the proximal end of the distal stem for allowing the proximal and distal stems to flex relative to one another. A proximal stem protective tube is disposed within the proximal conduit of the proximal stem and has a length that matches the length of the proximal conduit, and a distal stem protective tube is disposed within the distal conduit of the distal stem and has a length that matches the length of the distal conduit. The proximal stem, the distal stem and the flexible hinge comprise a unitary structure made of a polymer material.

A prosthesis for a synovial joint arthroplasty within a human body is provided. The prosthesis includes a first prosthetic component, the first prosthetic component including a first surface and the first prosthetic component being formed of a copolymer elastomer compound, the copolymer elastomer compound including a thermoplastic elastomer, a plurality of long glass fibers, the long glass fibers being randomly dispersed throughout the thermoplastic elastomer, a number of the plurality of long glass fibers protruding outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component and a plurality of beads, the beads being randomly dispersed throughout the thermoplastic elastomer, a number of the plurality of beads protruding outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component; a second prosthetic component, the second prosthetic component including a second surface, the second surface of the second prosthetic component positioned proximate the first surface of the first prosthetic component to engage the plurality of long glass fibers protruding from the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the plurality of beads protruding from the first surface of the first prosthetic component allowing the second surface of the second prosthetic component to slide relative to the first surface of first prosthetic component while contacting the plurality of long glass fibers protruding outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the plurality of beads protruding outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component, a gap, the gap created by the voids between the second surface of the second prosthetic component, the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the plurality of long glass fibers that protrude outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component and between the second surface of the second prosthetic component, the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the plurality of beads that protrude outward from the first surface of the first prosthetic component, the gap further disposed between the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the second surface of the second prosthetic component to allow the passage of fluid between the first surface of the first prosthetic component and the second surface of the second prosthetic component, a first trough, the first trough formed as the plurality of long glass fibers protruding outward from the first surface are forced into the thermoplastic elastomer as the prosthesis is loaded, the first trough positioned proximate the plurality of long glass fibers and extending a perimeter of the plurality of long glass fib