An expandable, intervertebral spacer includes a top component and a base component in engagement with the top component, the base component defining at least one channel for receiving a hardening material, and placement of the hardening material within the channel causes the top component to move between a first position in which the top component is a first distance from the base component and a second position in which the top component is a second distance from the base component, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The hardening material can be removed from the channel by a flexible coring tool, and the top component forced toward the base component to collapse the spacer.

The disclosure provides a cartilage substitute, which includes at least one cartilage unit, the cartilage unit including: a base, including a subcutaneous layer portion forming contact friction with a corresponding skeleton, a deep layer area portion contacting with a target skeleton and an intermediate layer portion provided between the subcutaneous layer portion and the deep layer area portion. A fluid storage cavity is disposed in the subcutaneous layer portion. A first communicating passage is disposed in the subcutaneous layer portion. A second communicating passage is disposed in the intermediate layer portion, a third communicating passage is disposed in the deep layer area portion. The fluid storage cavity, the second communicating passage and the third communicating passage are disposed to gradually increase hardness of the subcutaneous layer portion, the intermediate layer portion and the deep layer area portion.

The disclosure provides an articular fossa prosthesis and an articular prosthesis with the articular fossa prosthesis. An outer cup of the articular fossa prosthesis is disposed in a target skeleton, a lining is disposed in the outer cup, an articular head structure may be movably disposed in the lining, a first communicating passage communicated with an articular capsule is disposed on the outer cup, a second communicating passage communicated with the articular capsule is disposed on the lining, and the first communicating passage is communicated with the second communicating passage to guide a synovial fluid to a contact surface between the lining and the articular head structure.

A method of placing an implant for intervertebral fusion between adjacent vertebral bodies in a patient includes inserting the implant in a space between the adjacent vertebral bodies such that both a first intervertebral spacer body and a second intervertebral spacer body contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies. The first intervertebral spacer body is spaced apart from the second intervertebral spacer body. An expandable container portion of the implant disposed between the first intervertebral spacer body and the second intervertebral spacer body is filled with fill material such that the expandable container expands to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies.

The disclosure provides an articular gasket prosthesis and an articular prosthesis with the articular gasket prosthesis. The articular gasket prosthesis includes an elastic gasket disposed between a first skeleton and second skeleton forming a joint, the elastic gasket including: an elastic matrix, having a first contact surface facing the first skeleton and a second contact surface facing the second skeleton; and multiple synovial fluid passages, distributed in the elastic matrix and communicating the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the multiple synovial fluid passages being disposed according to a predetermined manner to gradually increase hardness of the elastic matrix from a center to an edge and gradually decrease elasticity of the elastic matrix from the center to the edge.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft having a distal end connectable with an implant, and a handle connected to a proximal end of the shaft. The instrument defines an internal fluid channel through which a fluid can be passed. A kit includes the instrument and a spinal implant that is expandable through the introduction of the fluid therein. A method of using the instrument includes passing a fluid through an internal fluid channel defined by the instrument and toward the implant.

A partial hip prosthesis for reducing friction and wear in partial hip prosthesis by combining optimized geometry of the articulation and surface treatment of the prosthetic component. In the prosthesis, one of the articulating surfaces—either that of the reamed acetabulum, or that of the femoral head prosthesis is a-spherical so that a fluid-filled gap is formed at the area of major load transfer. The fluid-filled gap is sealed by an annular area of contact, over which the concave and the convex components are congruent. A prosthetic head is fixed to the femur by either a conventional stem, a perforated shell, or a femoral neck prosthesis screwed onto the femur so that it is partially covered by bone and partially exposed on the medial-inferior aspect, where it abuts the reamed cortex of the calcar region.

The present disclosure includes devices, apparatuses, kits, and methods for replacing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc with an implantable nuclear prosthesis filled with a curable silicone material in situ. Configurations of the present spinal implant devices include a flexible body defining an outer fillable enclosure that defines an outer chamber, an inner fillable enclosure that defines an inner chamber, and a proximal plug configured to be coupled to the inner fillable enclosure.

Photodynamic devices for replacement of an articular head of a bone are provided. In an embodiment, a photodynamic device includes a photodynamic support member and an articular member attachable, either fixedly or removably, to the photodynamic support member and having a bearing surface. In an embodiment, the articular member includes a recess designed to receive the photodynamic support member. In an embodiment, the photodynamic support member includes an opening into which a shaft of the articular member can be inserted to attach the articular member to the photodynamic support member.

A spinal disc implant including a body defined by a plurality of interwoven or braided nitinol strands. The body includes a first end and a second end. The nitinol strands come together at the first end and are secured with a first fitting. The nitinol strands also come together at the second end and are secured with a second fitting. The second fitting can include a snare hook. The braided nitinol skeleton is internally assembled within the intervertebral disc. The implant is filled with liquid, gel or silicone when utilized as a motion preserving nucleus pulpous implant. The implant is filled with bone graft material when utilized as an inter-body fusion implant. An instrument and technique that provides a minimally invasive “needle based” solution to address degenerative disc disease with enhanced structural integrity of the spine compared to conventional surgical devices and techniques.