An acetabular cup structure of the present invention includes a ball-and-socket prosthesis and a liner, where a ball wall of the ball-and-socket prosthesis has a groove formed by connecting at least two continuous straight lines, and the groove connects an outer surface of the ball wall to an inner surface of the ball wall, so that an expandable sheet is formed between the groove formed by connecting the at least two continuous straight lines and having an angle there-between and two ends of the groove that are not connected, and the liner, for connecting a femoral stem, is tightly attached to the inner surface of the ball wall, and when the liner is tightly attached to the inner surface of the ball wall, the liner presses the sheet and extends to the groove, so that the liner is attached to the ball-and-socket prosthesis more tightly.

The described devices are spinal implants that may be surgically implanted into the spine to replace damaged or diseased discs using a posterior approach. The discs are prosthetic devices that approach or mimic the physiological motion and reaction of the natural disc.

A bone implant primer is provided. A biodegradable hydrogel component is provided. A plurality of biomolecule release depots are dispersed within the biodegradable hydrogel component wherein the plurality of biomolecule release depots comprise biomolecules for aiding implant osseointegration or biomolecules for mitigation of foreign body response. Different biomolecules may be released by the microspheres at different times.

According to some embodiments, a method of treating a joint of a patient comprises creating a recess in a bone located at or near a targeted joint, wherein the recess includes a generally wedge or truncated cone shape. In one embodiment, the recess in a bone comprises a surface opening along an outer surface of the bone and a bottom opening along the distal end of the recess, such that a diameter of the surface opening is generally smaller than a diameter of the bottom opening. The method additionally comprises providing a joint implant having a wedge or truncated cone shape, wherein a diameter of a top end of the joint implant is generally smaller than a diameter of a bottom end of the joint implant, inserting the joint implant within the recess.

An apparatus and method is provided for interbody fusion including distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.

The present invention relates to a device comprising a cell carrier portion containing regenerative cells, e.g., stem and progenitor cells, and a cell carrier containment portion. The device is useful for the treatment of bone related disorders, including spinal fusion related disorders and long bone or flat bone related defects. The device may be used in conjunction with disclosed automated systems and methods for separating and concentrating regenerative cells.

Systems for minimally invasive disc augmentation include an anulus augmentation component and a nucleus augmentation component. Both are suited for minimally invasive deployment. The nucleus augmentation component restores disc height and/or replaces missing nucleus pulposus. The anulus augmentation component shields weakened regions of the anulus fibrosis and/or resists escape of natural nucleus pulposus and/or the augmentation component. Methods and deployment devices are also disclosed. Method of supporting and augmenting a nucleus pulposus by inserting a flexible biocompatible material into the disc space using an anchoring means are also provided.

An apparatus and method is provided for interbody fusion including distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.

An implant having at least three components, namely, a solid hydrogel, a porous hydrogel adjacent to or surrounding the solid hydrogel (together considered the hydrogel), and a porous rigid base. The solid hydrogel and porous rigid base carry joint load, and the porous hydrogel layer and the porous rigid base allow for cellular migration into and around the implant. The invention is also a novel method of manufacturing the implant, a novel method of implanting the implant, and a method of treating, repairing or replacing biological tissue, more preferably musculoskeletal tissue, with the implant.

In one or more embodiments orthopaedic implants may be provided. The implants may include an expansile structure which may allow for increased contact between an endosteal or periosteal surface for initial fixation and further allow for bone in-growth and/or on-growth. In some embodiments the expansile structure may be made of, for example a NiTiNol structure, which may further be programmed for expansion at body temperatures. In some embodiments the interstices of the expansile structure may further be filled with a shape memory polymer and/or other elastic material which may also be programmed for expansion at body temperatures.