An artificial joint is provided. The artificial joint may comprise: a first joint member including a first bone replacement part, and a (1-1).sup.st branch and a (1-2).sup.st branch branched from opposite sides of the first bone replacement part; a second joint member including a second bone replacement part, and a (2-1).sup.nd branch and a (2-2).sup.nd branch branched from opposite sides of the second bone replacement part; a first main string connecting one side of the (1-1).sup.st branch and one side of the (2-1).sup.nd branch; a second main string connecting the one side of the (1-1).sup.st branch and one side of the (2-2).sup.nd branch; a third main string connecting one side of the (1-2).sup.st branch and the one side of the (2-1).sup.nd branch; and a fourth main string connecting the one side of the (1-2).sup.st branch and the one side of the (2-2).sup.nd branch.

A prosthetic disc can take the form of a sensing artificial disc that includes a resilient core and at least one sensor configured to sense one or more conditions within and/or experienced by the disc. The sensing artificial disc can serve as a replacement to a failed or injured disc between two vertebrae of a spine. The sensing artificial disc can include at least one element configured to change a condition or property of the resilient core in response to a condition sensed by the at least one sensor. A prosthetic disc can include therapeutic system configured to deliver medication to the body, which can include a reservoir of medication.

Devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized portions of the spine, including intervertebral discs, to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. In one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to an expandable interbody spacer. The expandable interbody spacer may comprise a first jointed arm comprising a plurality of links pivotally coupled end to end. The expandable interbody spacer further may comprise a second jointed arm comprising a plurality of links pivotally coupled end to end. The first jointed arm and the second jointed arm may be interconnected at a proximal end of the expandable interbody spacer. The first jointed arm and the second jointed arm may be interconnected at a distal end of the expandable interbody spacer.

A surgical or arthroscopic method for resurfacing at least one surface of a hip joint of a human patient, using a medical device comprising an artificial hip joint surface, wherein the hip joint surface comprising an acetabulum surface and a caput femur surface, said method comprising the steps of: creating at least one hole passing into the hip joint, dissecting and preparing the hip joint, introducing at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising at least one of an artificial acetabulum surface and an artificial caput femur surface, wherein said at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising a first sealing member, creating a sealed hollow space between said first sealing member and one of the acetabulum surface or said artificial acetabulum surface and one of the caput femur surface or said artificial caput femur surface, selecting at least one artificial hip joint surface and injecting a material into said hollow space.

A composite joint implant device replaces or repairs damaged meniscus tissue in an animal or human. In one embodiment, a composite joint implant comprises a polymeric body which is reinforced with a pre-formed engineered ligature mechanism. The ligature reinforces the polymeric body around the circumference and is used for attaching the device within an animal or human body. The ligature mechanism internally supports the transmission of vertical loads into tensile stresses. The ligature mechanism can be coated with a compatible material to promote integration with the polymeric body and coated with an encapsulation material.

An interbody fusion device having an accordion-like structure, wherein the device in inserted into the disc space in its collapsed configuration and then expanded into its expanded configuration by compressing the accordion-like portion of the device. In some embodiments, a pre-formed tube with an accordion-like structure over a portion of its length is inserted in a relaxed (collapsed) configuration, giving the tube a minimum possible diameter. This tube has a cable running through it that is fixed to a distal end portion of the tube and extends past the proximal end portion of the tube to the outside of the patient. Once the tube is positioned on the rim of the endplate, the proximal end of the cable is pulled, thereby tensioning the cable and causing the accordion portion of the tube to become shorter in length but larger in diameter.

A joint replacement system for repairing an articular surface of a first bone of a joint includes an anchor portion and an implant portion. The anchor portion includes an anchor to be secured to the bone, and an anchor fixation head including a bone-facing surface (BFS) extending radially outward from the anchor and an implant facing surface (IFS) extending from a periphery of the BFS. The implant portion is formed from a material (e.g., CoCr) more dense than the material of the anchor portion (e.g., Ti) and includes a fixation cavity to receive at least a portion of the anchor fixation head (AFH), the fixation cavity includes an anchor facing surface (AFS) configured to form a frictional connection with the IFS, and a load bearing surface having a contour for articulating against a cooperating articulating surface of a second bone of the joint.

A prosthetic disc can take the form of a sensing artificial disc that includes a resilient core and at least one sensor configured to sense one or more conditions within and/or experienced by the disc. The sensing artificial disc can serve as a replacement to a failed or injured disc between two vertebrae of a spine. The sensing artificial disc can include at least one element configured to change a condition or property of the resilient core in response to a condition sensed by the at least one sensor. A prosthetic disc can include therapeutic system configured to deliver medication to the body, which can include a reservoir of medication.

An expandable intervertebral implant is provided for insertion into an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebrae. The expandable intervertebral implant includes a pair of outer sleeve portions and an inner core disposed between the outer sleeve portions. Movement of the inner core relative to the outer sleeve portions causes the outers sleeve portions to deflect away from each other, thereby engaging the expandable intervertebral implant with the vertebrae and adjusting the height of the intervertebral space.

A footplate assembly for ankle includes a footplate base; a slider arm that is rotatably coupled to the footplate base, the slider arm being configured to be couplable to external ankle instrumentation; a locking fastener configured to lock the slider arm in a chosen orientation relative to the footplate base; and a knob coupled to the footplate base having a scale to display the angle of the slider arm relative to the footplate base.