A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower plates, a core disposed between the plates, and at least one projection extending from at least one of the upper and lower curved surfaces of the core into at least one recess of one of the inner surfaces of the plates. The recess is oversize with respect to the projection to allow sliding movement of the plate over the core while retaining the core between the plates during such sliding movement. The projection(s) may include a rod extending through an axial hole in the core, multiple surface features of the core, or the like.

An artificial intervertebral disc with shock absorption includes upper and lower plates disposed about a shock absorbing movable core. The upper and lower plates have an outer surface which engages a vertebrae and an inner bearing surface. The shock absorbing core includes a unitary member of a rigid material having at least one lateral cut between upper and lower surfaces of the core to allow the upper and lower surfaces to move resiliently toward and away from each other. This allows the core to absorb forces applied to it by the vertebrae.

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 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.

An artificial joint implant (1) comprising a first element (2) with a socket (4) and a second element (3) with a ball head (5), wherein said ball head (5) is insertable in said socket (4) such as to form a ball-and-socket connection between said first element (2) and said second element (3), and the movement of said ball head (5) in said socket (4) is restricted by means of a protrusion (6.1; 6.2) engaged in a groove (7), whereby said protrusion (6.1; 6.2) has a central axis A2 and is protruding from the surface of said socket (4) and said groove (7) is provided on the surface of said ball head (5) or vice versa; said groove (7) is positioned along a great circle of said ball head (5) or of said socket (4), said protrusion (6.1; 6.2) has a shape allowing rotation of the protrusion around its central axis A2 when received in the groove (7); andthe surface roughness of the protrusion (6.1; 6.2) and/or of the groove (7) is at most 25 micrometers.

Disclosed is a wrist prosthesis, and methods for implanting same, the prosthesis comprising an elongated radial component having two opposite sides, the first side comprising a stem and the second side comprising a concave dish; an elongated carpal component having two opposite sides, the first side comprising a stem, and the second side comprising a ball end; a lunate component having two opposite 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; wherein said lunate component freely rotates and swivels with respect to both of said carpal and radial components; wherein said stem of said carpal component is adapted for rigid engagement with one or more carpal and/or metatarsal bones; and wherein said stem of said radial component is adapted for rigid engagement with a radius bone.

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.

The disclosure provides an implant including first and second interconnected elongated articulating portions with vertebral contacting outer surfaces. The first and second interconnected elongated articulating portions have a first configuration for insertion into a disc space and a second configuration upon deployment in the disc space. In a first configuration the axes of the first and second interconnected elongated articulating portions are substantially axially aligned with each other and in a second configuration the axes of the portions are axially unaligned with each other. The first and second interconnected elongated articulating portions are configured to be deployed in situ from the first configuration to the second configuration by both pivoting. The implant is expandable in the height direction between the vertebral contacting outer surfaces while the implant is inside the disc space by sliding a portion of at least one of the first and second elongated articulating portions.

A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower plates, a core disposed between the plates, and at least one projection extending from at least one of the upper and lower curved surfaces of the core into at least one recess of one of the inner surfaces of the plates. The recess is oversize with respect to the projection to allow sliding movement of the plate over the core while retaining the core between the plates during such sliding movement. The projection(s) may include a rod extending through an axial hole in the core, multiple surface features of the core, or the like.

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.