A prosthetic intervertebral disc is formed of first and second end plates sized and shaped to fit within an intervertebral space and to be implanted from the back of the patient, thereby decreasing the invasiveness of the procedure. The posterior approach provides for a smaller posterior surgical incision and avoids important blood vessels located anterior to the spine particularly for lumbar disc replacements. The first and second plates are each formed of first, second and third parts are arranged in a first configuration in which the parts are axially aligned to form a low profile device appropriate for insertion through the small opening available in the TLIF or PLIF approaches described above. The three parts of both of the plates rotate and translate with respect to one another in situ to a second configuration or a deployed configuration in which the parts are axially unaligned with each other to provide a maximum coverage of the vertebral end plates for a minimum of insertion profile. Upon deployment of the disc, a height of the disc is increased.

A methodology for grafting together adjacent bony structures is provided using an implant device having an endplate with an inner disc portion and outer ring portion spaced from the inner disc portion by a connecting wall disposed there between. An endplate interior surface includes a retaining structure for securing the endplate to one of the bony structures, and endplate an exterior surface has an integrally formed socket. A ball-joint rod has a longitudinally extending body and an end, and at least a portion of the ball-joint rod end is curvilinear in shape. The curvilinear ball-joint rod end is rotatably disposed in the endplate socket to fixedly interconnect the bony structures.

Disclosed is a wrist prosthesis, and methods for implanting same, the prosthesis comprising radial component having two sides, the first side comprising a stem and the second side comprising a concave dish; a carpal component having two sides, the first side comprising a stem, and the second side comprising a ball end, the ball end being connected to the carpal component through a neck, the neck being narrower than the diameter of the ball end; and a lunate component having two sides, the first side comprising a cavity adapted to receive said carpal component's ball end, and the second side comprising a convex surface adapted to engage said radial component's concave dish.

A hemi-arthroplasty bone joint implant has a first part (120) with a stem (111) tor intramedullary implanting into a metacarpal, and a second part (110) to engage the trapezium is a translational manner, a hemi-arthroplasty articulating coupling (121). This allows multi-axial motion with translational movement of the second part over the trapezium and rotation of the first part (110) about the articulating coupling (121, 103). There is also a converter to convert the implant to a toral arthroplasty implant in situ during revision surgery. The second part (110) and the hemi-arthroplasty coupling (100, 123, 121) are removable in situ during revision surgery. The first part (120) has an engagement threaded socket (117) for, after removal of the second part and the hemi-arthroplasty coupling, engaging the replacement coupling (200) and allowing mutual articulation of the first (120) and replacement parts (220). This forms a total arthroplasty joint implant.

A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.

Various implementations include intervertebral discs and associated methods of use and imaging. One implementation includes an intervertebral disc capable of imaging under MRI, the disc including: an upper plate including a polyaryletherketone (PAEK) portion having a lower bearing surface and an upper vertebra contacting surface, the upper surface formed at least in part from a metal for improved bone attachment; a lower plate including a PAEK portion having an upper bearing surface and a lower vertebra contacting surface, the lower surface formed at least in part from a metal for improved bone attachment; and a ceramic core to mate and articulate with respect to the bearing surfaces of the upper and lower plates, wherein upon imaging under X-ray the PAEK portion of the upper and lower plates are substantially completely invisible and the upper and lower vertebral contacting surfaces of the upper and lower plates are substantially completely visible.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of mammalian prosthetics, and more specifically to prostheses for use in total or partial joint replacement, and to a method of use of these prostheses in arthroplasty. Thus, disclosed is a prosthesis for use in hip arthroplasty that comprises an artificial femoral head that includes a head portion constructed totally or partially of a polymeric material, and a connector means designed to connect said head portion in a non-articulating manner to a femoral stem portion. The head portion may be made solely of solid polymeric material or of an outer shell of polymeric material connected in a non-articulating manner to an embedded core. The polymeric material is preferably selected from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or radiation treated UHMWPE having substantially no detectable free radicals. The embedded core comprises, for example, one or more of solid non-polymeric material (e.g., metallic, ceramic, or ceramic-on-metal material), a multiplicity of metallic spokes, a metallic scaffolding, and/or combinations thereof.

An artificial replacement disc includes a pair of substantially parallel plates formed to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of the plates including a plurality of spikes on a first surface and a concave trough formed on a second surface opposite of the first surface. A mobile core includes a core rim with opposing convex surfaces extending from opposite sides of the core rim, the mobile core being capable of being disposed between the pair of plates to permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. The spikes on each of the plates extend substantially away from the mobile core and the convex surfaces are formed to integrally fit within the concave trough of at least one of the plates. The core rim limits lateral movement of the mobile core relative to the parallel plates. One or more insertion tools for inserting and implanting the replacement disc are also described.

A methodology for grafting together adjacent bony structures is provided using an implant device having an endplate with an inner disc portion and outer ring portion spaced from the inner disc portion by a connecting wall disposed therebetween. An endplate interior surface includes a retaining structure for securing the endplate to one of the bony structures, and endplate an exterior surface has an integrally formed socket. A ball-joint rod has a longitudinally extending body and an end, and at least a portion of the ball-joint rod end is curvilinear in shape. The curvilinear ball-joint rod end is rotatably disposed in the endplate socket to fixedly interconnect the bony structures.

A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.