The methods disclosed herein of generating three-dimensional lattice structures and reducing stress shielding have applications including use in medical implants. One method of generating a three-dimensional lattice structure can be used to generate a structure lattice and/or a lattice scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. One method of reducing stress shielding includes generating a structural lattice to provide sole mechanical spacing across an area for desired bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. Some methods are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

Spinal interbody cages are provided that include a bulk interbody cage, a top face, a bottom face, pillars, and slots. The pillars are for contacting vertebral bodies. The slots are to be occupied by bone of the vertebral bodies and/or by bone of a bone graft. The spinal interbody cage has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 3 GPa, and has a ratio of the sum of (i) the volumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1.

Devices and methods for modular mandibular prostheses. The prosthesis includes a plurality of connector links that can be connected together in a desired size and orientation. For example, a ball and socket may provide the ability to configure to most 3D configuration. Each link has a body with engagement structures on first and/or second ends of the body. The engagement structure on the first end of a first link may be received by the engagement structure on the second end of a second link. The connected links can be in a locked and unlocked state. An expansion or compression member engages the connected link to cause the prosthesis to be in the locked state. An end attachment may be used on ends of outermost connected links to attach the prosthesis to a patient's mandible.

A customised orthopaedic implant is provided, the implant being formed of metal, the implant being substantially comprised of a lattice-type geometry that has a periodic arrangement and is conformal to a configuration of a region of bone that was resected to remove bone that is diseased and is optimised to substantially restore a biomechanical function of a bone from which the region of bone was resected on implantation of the customised orthopaedic implant in consideration of the anatomical function and of the properties of a bone type corresponding to the region of bone that was resected, together with patient-specific parameters and anticipated loads to which the implant will be subjected during various typical activities and movements.

An intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral space between vertebrae. The implant includes a body extending from an upper surface to a lower surface. The body has a front end, a rear end and a pair of spaced apart first and second side walls extending between the front and rear walls such that an internal chamber is defined within the front and rear ends and the first and second walls. The body defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter extending about the internal chamber. At least one of the side walls is defined by an integral porous structure.

The methods disclosed herein of generating three-dimensional lattice structures and reducing stress shielding have applications including use in medical implants. One method of generating a three-dimensional lattice structure can be used to generate a structure lattice and/or a lattice scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. One method of reducing stress shielding includes generating a structural lattice to provide sole mechanical spacing across an area for desired bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. Some methods are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

A method for producing a customised orthopaedic implant is provided. The method involves scanning a bone from which a diseased region of bone will be resected to obtain a three dimensional digital image of an unresected volume of bone; scanning the bone after a diseased region of bone has been resected to obtain a corresponding three dimensional digital image of a resected volume of bone; and comparing the three dimensional digital image of the unresected volume of bone to the corresponding three dimensional digital image of the resected volume of bone to estimate a volume of bone that has been resected. The estimate of the volume of bone that has been resected is used to design a customised orthopaedic implant that substantially corresponds to the configuration of the resected volume of bone, the implant being configured to substantially restore a biomechanical function of the bone. Finally the customised orthopaedic implant is manufactured and provided for insertion into the resected region of bone.

A bone fusion device provides stability to bones during a bone fusion period. The bones include, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs attached to the bone fusion device by associated rotating means. The bone fusion device is preferably inserted by using an arthroscopic surgical procedure. During arthroscopic insertion of the device, the tabs are pre-configured for compactness. In this compact configuration, the tabs are preferably deposed along and/or within an exterior surface of the bone fusion device. After the bone fusion device has been positioned between the bones, one or more tab(s) are extended. In the preferred embodiment, the position of each tab is related to a positioning element and extending blocks. Typically, the tabs advantageously position and brace the bone fusion device in the confined space between the bones until the bones have fused.

A bone fusion device provides stability to bones during a bone fusion period. The bones include, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs attached to the bone fusion device by associated rotating means. The bone fusion device is preferably inserted by using an arthroscopic surgical procedure. During arthroscopic insertion of the device, the tabs are pre-configured for compactness. In this compact configuration, the tabs are preferably deposed along and/or within an exterior surface of the bone fusion device. After the bone fusion device has been positioned between the bones, one or more tab(s) are extended. In the preferred embodiment, the position of each tab is related to a positioning element and extending blocks. Typically, the tabs advantageously position and brace the bone fusion device in the confined space between the bones until the bones have fused.

An intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral space between vertebrae. The implant includes a body extending from an upper surface to a lower surface. The body has a front end, a rear end and a pair of spaced apart first and second side walls extending between the front and rear walls such that an internal chamber is defined within the front and rear ends and the first and second walls. The body defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter extending about the internal chamber. At least one of the side walls is defined by an integral porous structure which extends from the outer perimeter to the inner perimeter. The at least one of the side walls is free of vertical solid support structure between the upper and lower surface.