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.

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.

The present invention provides artificial disc prostheses, methods and instrumentation for implantation and revision thereof. Each prosthesis may comprise superior and inferior end plates and a nucleus positioned between articular surfaces of the end plates. The end plates may have planar bone engagement surfaces with a plurality of self-cutting teeth. The articular surfaces of the end plates may be planar or include a flattened portion. The nucleus includes superior and inferior articular surfaces which may comprise flattened portions such that when the articular surfaces of the nucleus and the end plates are placed in cooperation in a preferred orientation, the flattened and/or planar portions are aligned. Each prosthesis may provide flexion/extension, anterior/posterior translation, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation degrees of freedom. One embodiment comprises a prosthesis with a first joint providing flexion/extension and anterior/posterior translation, and a second joint providing lateral bending and axial rotation.

A reverse hip prosthesis include an acetabular cup arrangement configured for insertion into an acetabulum of a patient and fixation therein, an acetabular ball configured for threaded attachment to the acetabular cup arrangement, a femoral stem configured for insertion into an intramedullary femoral canal of the patient, and a femoral cup arrangement configured for attachment to the femoral stem and to operatively receive the acetabular ball therein. The acetabular cup arrangement includes an anchor portion which becomes fixed to the patient's acetabulum and is the largest size suitable for the patient, and an insert which comes in different sizes and are connectable to the anchor portion, so that the most appropriate insert for the patient may be used. The acetabular cup arrangement and ball are interconnected with a threaded stem that also functions as an artificial Ligamentum Teres.

The present application concerns a shoulder prosthesis assembly. The shoulder prosthesis assembly comprises a humeral stem including a first articulating coupling means, a base portion of a substantially disc shaped geometry including a second articulating coupling means. Said first articulating coupling means and said second articulating coupling means connect the stem to the base portion. The ratio between the circumference of the disc shaped base portion and the peripheral thickness of the disc shaped base portion is at least 18:1.

A facet joint replacement device includes an enclosing element including an enclosing body and an inferior attachment member. The enclosing body includes an inner cavity defined by an interior surface of the enclosing body, wherein a portion of the interior surface of the enclosing body forms a superior articulating surface. The facet joint replacement device also includes an inferior articulating element including an articulating body and a superior attachment member. The inferior articulating body is positioned within the inner cavity of the enclosing body of the enclosing element and is configured to move within the inner cavity of the enclosing body of the enclosing element. The inferior articulating body includes an inferior articulating surface. The movement of the articulating body of the inferior articulating element is constrained in at least one direction within the inner cavity of the enclosing body of the enclosing element.

The glenohumeral component of the invention comprises a first side and a second side, which are opposite each other and which, in an implanted state in which the glenohumeral component is free-floating with respect to a humerus and a glenoid of a human shoulder, are in contact respectively with an end portion of the humerus and with a glenoid component intended to be secured to the glenoid. The first side of the glenohumeral component includes a convex articular surface that is designed to articulate with a concave bone surface prepared within the end portion of the humerus. The second side of the glenohumeral component includes a concave articular surface that is designed to articulate with a convex articular surface of the glenoid component. The corresponding shoulder prosthesis is thus reversed. Moreover, the articular interface between the glenoid component, which is secured to the glenoid, and the rest of the prosthesis has double mobility, which provides a greater range of motion between the glenoid and the humerus.

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); and the surface roughness of the protrusion (6.1; 6.2) and/or of the groove (7) is at most 25 micrometers.

An implant for filling and/or distracting a body region, particularly a non-soft tissue cavity, has a plurality of segments wherein at least two of the segments are flexibly connected. The segments have a crush-strength sufficient to create and/or maintain the distraction of two or more non-soft tissue body surfaces, and to maintain the stability of the body region. The implant may be inserted into a cavity by an applicator having a cannula with a distal opening, and a rotary driver for applying force to move the implant within the cannula.

An intervertebral disc prosthesis designed to be substituted for fibrocartilaginous discs ensures a connection between the vertebra of the vertebra column or the end of the latter. The prosthesis includes a pair of plates spaced from each other by a nucleus. The prosthesis has increased stability by providing the nucleus with a translation or rotation stop, or by inducing an angular correction between its plates contacting vertebra, or a combination of these characteristics. The stop includes parts external to the nucleus and contact surfaces perpendicular to their contact directions. Surgical methods and instrumentation for implanting the prosthesis are also described.