An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery on a patient comprises securely mounting a patient onto a patient support table; imaging a spinal region of the patient; building up a three-dimensional image file of the spinal region of the patient; storing the image file; and utilizing the image file for planning and carrying out computer controlled spinal surgery on the patient utilizing the implant. A computer-controlled surgical implant system comprises a steerable endosurgical implanting assembly operative to install the implant at a desired location in a patient; and a computerized controlled, which operates the steerable endosurgical implanting assembly.

A method of performing a computer-assisted surgical procedure on the spine of a patient comprising the steps of: planning, on a computer, a surgical procedure based on at least one of two- and three-dimensional images of the patient's spine; affixing a robotic assembly over an operative region of the patient; determining, with a computer in communication with the robotic assembly, a desired trajectory of a surgical tool along at least one of an access path and an implant path towards the surgical target site; and placing at least a portion of the surgical tool through the aperture along said desired trajectory along at least one of said access path and said implant path towards the surgical target site.

Custom moldable cushions for covering medical implants fastened to a bone are provided. Such cushions inhibit irritation of the surrounding soft tissue by covering the bone-implant interface and by reducing friction caused by movement of soft tissue adjacent the implant. Such cushions may also be employed to spread and absorb forces reducing patient discomfort and risk of injury and infection associated with such implants.

An elastomeric artificial joint and prosthesis system combining motion preservation and shock absorption through the interaction of core and endplate components. The core is comprised of: ahub having congruent concavity with the endplate surface allowing for rotation, translation, flexion and extension, orbital, lateral bending, and compression motion similar to that of a joint or natural intervertebral disc; aflange attached to the hub and able to move congruently with the hub, and having negative spaces providing an internal structure for an elastomer; and a bio-compatible elastomer casted around and through the flange providing shock absorption. The endplate has a low-friction surface and engages the elastomer, and a structural component that engages the vertebral endplate or bone surface. The device has medical applications such as in total joint arthroplasty, disc replacement, and industrial applications such as in robotics that are modeled to move similar to human anatomical motion.

An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery on a patient comprises securely mounting a patient onto a patient support table; imaging a spinal region of the patient; building up a three-dimensional image file of the spinal region of the patient; storing the image file; and utilizing the image file for planning and carrying out computer controlled spinal surgery on the patient utilizing the implant. A computer-controlled surgical implant system comprises a steerable endosurgical implanting assembly operative to install the implant at a desired location in a patient; and a computerized controlled, which operates the steerable endosurgical implanting assembly.

The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support. In another embodiment, the foot includes a gap between a lower front edge of an attachment adapter and the upper element. The gap may be filled with a resilient material.

Surgical methods and tibial implants for accommodating the anterior cruciate ligament during unicompartmental or bi-unicompartmental knee arthroplasty procedures.

Surgical methods and tibial implants for accommodating the anterior cruciate ligament during unicompartmental or bi-unicompartmental knee arthroplasty procedures.

The invention is directed to a meniscus prosthesis comprising an arc-shaped meniscus prosthesis body having a main portion (1) comprising a reinforcing part (2) and two end portions (1A, 1B) comprising fixation parts (2A, 2B), wherein the main portion (1) comprises a part made of a first biocompatible, non-resorbable material extending between the two end portions (1A, 1B), wherein the reinforcing part (2) and the fixation parts (2A, 2B) are made of a second biocompatible, non-resorbable material and wherein the reinforcing part (2) extends between the fixation parts (2A, 2B) and wherein the fixation parts (2A, 2B) have a through hole (3A, 3B), the first biocompatible, non-resorbable material has a tensile modulus of at most 100 MPa as determined by ISO 527-1 and the second biocompatible, non-resorbable material has a tensile modulus of at least 101 MPa as determined by ISO 527-1.

A hemi-prosthesis implant comprises a replacement-joint part with an articulation surface for tribological pairing with a joint surface of a natural joint counterpart. The articulation surface is embodied with a coating applied on a substrate. The substrate provides a relief for the adhesion of the coating. The relief may comprise one or more of a plurality of grooves, a plurality of teeth, a ribbing, and a roughened surface. The relief may be embodied entirely or partially outside the articulation surface. The replacement joint part may optionally comprise a ventilation feature, and the articulation surface may be formed by injection molding on the substrate. The hemi-prosthesis implant may be part of an implant set that includes both a hemi-prosthesis implant and a total prosthesis implant, either of which can be chosen intraoperatively.