An interbody implant system for use in the spine includes a base comprising two or more bone contacting surfaces, at least one recess in at least one of the two or more bone contacting surfaces, the recess configured for containing a tooth, a deployable tooth to provide fixation between the base and the anatomy of a subject, a break-away bridge between the tooth and the base for providing a first relative position between the tooth and the base, and a locking mechanism for providing a second relative position between the tooth and the base.

An implant for repairing an articular cartilage defect site including an implant fixation portion with an upper segment and at least one bone interfacing segment and a top articulating portion with an articulating surface and an engagement surface. The upper segment includes a supporting plate with a first locking mechanism segment. The engagement surface includes a second locking mechanism segment. The first locking mechanism segment with at least two channels is structured to couple to the second locking mechanism segment with at least two protrusions. The at least one bone interfacing segment structured for insertion into the articular cartilage defect site. An implant including an implant fixation portion, a top articulating portion, and a locking mechanism with a first locking segment coupled to the upper segment and a second locking segment coupled to the at least one engagement surface and structured to couple to the first locking segment.

In some aspects, the present invention is a medical implant with an independent endplate structure that can stimulate bone or tissue growth in or around the implant. When used as a scaffold for bone growth, the inventive structure can increase the strength of new bone growth. The independent endplate structures generally include implants with endplates positioned on opposite sides of the implant and capable of at least some movement relative to one another. In most examples, the endplates have a higher elastic modulus than that of the bulk of the implant to allow the use of an implant with a low elastic modulus, without risk of damage from the patient's bone. A method of designing independent endplate implants is also disclosed, including ranges of elastic moduli for the endplates and bulk of the implant for given implant parameters. Implants with elastic moduli within the ranges disclosed herein can optimize the loading of new bone growth to provide increased bone strength.

A method of treating a hip joint of a human patient using a pelvic drill comprising a driving member, a bone contacting and an operating device for operating said driving member. The method comprise the steps of cutting the skin of the human patient, dissecting an area of the pelvic bone on the opposite side from the acetabulum, creating a hole in said dissected area using said pelvic drill, said hole passing through the pelvic bone and into the hip joint of the human patient, and providing at least one hip joint surface to the hip joint, through said hole in the pelvic bone of the human patient. In one embodiment the method includes inserting a needle or tube like instrument into the patient's body for filling a part of the patient's body with gas and thereby expanding a cavity within the body.

According to some embodiments of the invention, an intervertebral disc replacement includes a first layer having a lower surface for contacting a first vertebral bone, a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a plurality of compressible column springs, and a third layer coupled to the second layer, the third layer having an upper surface for contacting a second vertebral bone. Each of the plurality of compressible column springs comprises a plurality of stacked coils, and each of the plurality of stacked coils has a spring constant (K). At least one of the plurality of compressible column springs includes a first coil having a first spring constant and a second coil comprising a second spring constant, wherein the first spring constant is different from the second spring constant.

To reduce the stress of a patient as much as possible during a percutaneous spine surgery for inserting an interbody cage between two vertebrae, between which the intervertebral disk was damaged and was therefore removed, a guide sleeve is provided for the spine surgery, which is characterized by a non-cylindrical jacket. A kit is further provided for spine surgery with at least one guide sleeve of the above-mentioned type and a dilator, having an outer contour that is adapted to the contour of the lumen of the guide sleeve. A kit for spine surgery is further provided including a guide sleeve and an interbody cage, which is to be inserted through this guide sleeve. The lumen of the guide sleeve is adapted to a maximum cross-sectional contour of the interbody cage.

The present invention describes methods, devices and instruments for resurfacing or replacing facet joints, uncovertebral joints and costovertebral joints. The joints can be prepared by smoothing the articular surface on one side, by distracting the joint and by implant insertion.

Implants can be stabilized against a first articular surface by creating a high level of conformance with said first articular surface, while smoothing the second articular surface with a surgical instrument with a smooth mating implant surface.

The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic spinal disc for replacing a damaged disc between two vertebrae of a spine and methods for inserting said discs. The intervertebral prosthetic discs are provided with connections for facilitating implantation and removal and features which enhance primary and secondary stability over time.

The invention relates to a glenoid (shoulder socket) implant prosthesis, a humeral implant prosthesis, devices for implanting glenoid and humeral implant prostheses, and less invasive methods of their use for the treatment of an injured or damaged shoulder.

An implant system for a knee comprising a femur and a patella. The implant system includes a patella implant comprising an implant body. The implant body comprises a bone facing surface, an articular facing surface, and at least one dimple. The bone facing surface engages bone beneath an implant site formed in the patella. The articular facing surface faces towards an articulating surface of the femur and has a non-anatomical shape (such as a dome). The dimples are formed in the articular facing surface and have a load bearing surface to engage against the articulating surface of the femur. The load bearing surface may have a contour that substantially corresponds to a spherical portion of a generally spherical segment or has an elongated, partially oval shape, and may be configured to increase contact area with the articulating surface of the femur, reduce stress concentrations, and increase resistance to dislocation subluxation.