This invention related to a method of forming a polymer component and comprises blending polymer particles with antioxidant to form a mixture in which the antioxidant coats the polymer particles, irradiating the polymer particles to cross-link the polymer particles therein and forming the irradiated mixture into a consolidated component. The invention also relates to a method of forming an articular surface for a prosthesis and a prosthesis having a polymer articular bearing surface wherein at least one predetermined portion of the bearing surface is provided with cross-linked polymer bonds.

The invention concerns an ankle prosthesis (100), comprising a talar component (200) which includes a talar upper face (201) defining a first articular surface (202) and which extends between a talar anterior edge (203) and an opposite talar posterior edge (204) according to a first average direction, said first articular surface (202) being curved according to said first average direction, said first articular surface (202) comprising a first curved portion (202A) and a second curved portion (202B), each extending according to said first average direction, said first curved portion (202A) having a first curvature and said second curved portion (202B) having a second curvature, said prosthesis (100) being characterized in that said first curved portion (202A) and said second curved portion (202B) define respectively an anterior portion and a posterior portion of said first articular surface (202), said first curvature being greater than said second curvature.

A prosthetic glenoid implant may include a polymer bearing component, a metal base component, and a plurality of fixation members. The bearing component may have a first surface adapted to articulate with a humeral head, and an opposing second surface including a first mating feature. The base component may have a first surface and a bone-contacting surface, the first surface having a second mating feature adapted to engage the first mating feature, the bone-contacting surface adapted to contact the native glenoid. The base component may define a plurality of apertures. The fixation members may each have a head and a threaded shaft adapted to pass through a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures, the head of each fixation member adapted to be positioned within a recess defined between the base component and the bearing component in an assembled condition of the prosthetic glenoid implant.

Implant assemblies, systems, and methods for stabilizing a joint between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra may include a plate member coupled to an interbody spacer with at least one fastener that extends superiorly or inferiorly from the implant assembly to anchor within a vertebral body and stabilize the joint. Inserters and methods of insertion may also be included to facilitate fixation of various implant assemblies within the intervertebral space of the joint between the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra.

A patellar implant includes a body and at least one oblique anchoring pin. The body includes a bone-facing surface that is substantially planar and has a lateral end and a medial end. The body also includes an articulating surface opposite the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin extends from the bone-facing surface at an acute angle toward the lateral end of the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin includes a first end attached to the bone-facing surface and a second end spaced from the first end. A longitudinal axis extends from the first end to the second end. The longitudinal axis defines the acute angle with respect to the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin extends into a surgically-prepared patella when the patellar implant is such that the surgically-prepared patella abuts the bone-facing surface.

Implant assemblies, systems, and methods for stabilizing a joint between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra may include a plate member coupled to an interbody spacer with at least one fastener that extends superiorly or inferiorly from the implant assembly to anchor within a vertebral body and stabilize the joint. Inserters and methods of insertion may also be included to facilitate fixation of various implant assemblies within the intervertebral space of the joint between the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra.

An intersomatic cage, an intervertebral prosthesis, an anchoring device and an instrument for implantation of the cage or the prosthesis and the anchoring device are provided. An intersomatic cage or an intervertebral prosthesis fit closely to the anchoring device, which includes a body of elongated shape on a longitudinal axis, of curved shape describing, along the longitudinal axis, an arc whose dimensions and radius of curvature are designed in such a manner that the anchoring device may be implanted in the vertebral plate of a vertebra by presenting its longitudinal axis substantially along the plane of the intervertebral space, where the anchoring device is inserted, by means of the instrument, through a slot located in at least one peripheral wall of the cage or on at least one plate of the intervertebral disc prosthesis to penetrate into at least one vertebral plate.

A fixation device for a knee replacement. The fixation device includes a stem configured to be fixedly attached to one of a tibial component of the knee replacement and a femoral component of the knee replacement. The stem has a continuously tapered outer surface and has a distal end that is distal to said one of the tibial component and the femoral component. A tapered projection is positioned on the continuously tapered outer surface and is tapered in the same direction as the continuously tapered outer surface. The stem and the tapered projection are configured so that the continuously tapered outer surface and the tapered projection engage a patient's bone when the stem is inserted into a bone canal within the patient's bone. In addition, the continuously tapered outer surface of the stem at the distal end of the stem and the tapered projection are configured to mechanically fix the knee replacement to the patient's bone by being wedged within the bone canal.

An implant may include a body having a first portion and a second portion and a structural member having a central member curve. In addition, the structural member may be exposed on an outer surface of the implant. Further, the central member curve may include a winding segment, and the winding segment of the central member curve may wind around a fixed path extending from the first portion of the body to the second portion of the body. Also, the central member curve may make one or more full turns around the fixed path. And, the structural member may have a member diameter at the winding segment, wherein the winding segment has a winding diameter corresponding with the full turn around the fixed path and the member diameter is greater than the winding diameter.

An implant may include a body having a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, and an intermediate portion. The leading edge portion may include a substantially smooth surface forming a substantial majority of a leading edge surface and the trailing edge portion may include a monolithic structure including at least one receptacle configured to receive an insertion tool. The intermediate portion may include a plurality of elongate curved structural members continuously formed with at least one of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion. In addition, the elongate curved structural members may be configured such that the intermediate portion remains substantially rigid under compressive forces during insertion of the implant between bone surfaces of a patient. Also, the elongate curved structural members may include an elongate curved structural member extending longitudinally from the leading edge portion to the trailing edge portion and having a substantially sinusoidal configuration.