A surgical implant includes a deployable, retractable, or removable ramped nose. During insertion of the implant, the ramped nose is deployed such that the ramped nose can serve to distract a space into which the implant is inserted. At some point during or after insertion, the ramped nose can be collapsed and removed or retracted so that it does not extend beyond the space into which the implant is inserted, while the implant extends at full height throughout the space into which the implant is inserted. The implant includes an implant body having a deployable ramped nose adapted to selectively extend from the body and transition from a first height proximate the implant body to a second, shorter, height distal from the implant body. The deployable ramped nose is adapted to distract an implant site upon insertion of the implantable medical device.

Apparatus and method of removing a liner attached to an implanted acetabular shell. A surgical site is accessed where the acetabular shell has already been implanted into a patient. A rim plate having a through opening is placed over the acetabular shell. A pilot hole is then drilled into the attached liner through the opening in the placed rim plate. After the drilling, the rim plate is removed to expose the drilled hole. A removal tool is inserted into the drilled pilot hole. The attached liner is then disengaged from the implanted acetabular shell with the inserted removal tool.

A system for performing interbody fusion surgery including an expandable intervertebral spacer and specialized instruments for choosing the correct size of implant, implanting the device within the intervertebral space, and for delivery of bone graft or bone substitute to the interior of the implant.

A method of ankle replacement includes forming an anterior cut in a bone and forming a stem hole in a distal end of the bone. The stem hole is formed using a plurality of broaches positioned against the distal end of the bone through the anterior cut. A first portion and a second portion of a stem implant are inserted into the stem hole through the anterior cut in the bone. The first portion is coupled to the second portion using a coupling device inserted through the anterior cut in the bone. The stem implant is impacted into the stem hole using an offset impactor.

An artificial knee that has first and second knee components connected together for rotation between a first, upright position and a second position where one knee component is positioned at an angle to the other, an alignment mechanism associated with the first and second knee components to assure rotation in a vertical plane from the first position to the second position, and a biasing member. One knee component includes an extension member located in a central location, while the other includes a centrally located slot that receives the extension member and allows rotation only in a vertical plane. The biasing member normally holds the knee components in the first position, such that rotation of the first knee component away from the second knee component stretches or elongates the biasing member to provide a force that urges the knee components to move back to the first position.

The present invention relates to a method of inserting an implant comprising providing an expandable vertebral implant. The method further may comprise providing an angling inserter tool. The angling inserter tool comprises a handle portion, a base portion, and a tip assembly, the base portion being disposed between the handle portion and the tip assembly. The method further may comprise distally advancing a central shaft of the tip assembly with rotation into an opening in the expandable vertebral implant to secure the angling inserter tool to the expandable vertebral implant. The method further may comprise positioning the expandable vertebral implant in a patient's spine. The method further may comprise for causing the tip assembly to angulate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the angling inserter tool, wherein the internal shaft is coaxial with an outer cylinder of the base portion.

A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one particular aspect, the system facilitates absorbing energy between members forming a joint such as between articulating bones. In one embodiment, there is provided a system for manipulating energy transferred by members defining a joint, the members collectively defining a path of motion and having a cartilage having an energy absorption component configured therebetween.

A bodiless bone fusion method, apparatus and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together and/or in place of one or more of the bones, such as, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bodiless bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable plates, one or more extending blocks in communication with the extendable plates, one or more positioning elements for adjusting the extendable plates by manipulating the extending blocks, and one or more support panels for holding the positioning elements and guiding the extendable plates. The plates are able to be advantageously positioned in the confined space between the vertebrae to help brace the device until the bone has fused.

Apparatus and method of removing a liner attached to an implanted acetabular shell. A surgical site is accessed where the acetabular shell has already been implanted into a patient. A rim plate having a through opening is placed over the acetabular shell. A pilot hole is then drilled into the attached liner through the opening in the placed rim plate. After the drilling, the rim plate is removed to expose the drilled hole. A removal tool is inserted into the drilled pilot hole. The attached liner is then disengaged from the implanted acetabular shell with the inserted removal tool.

A system for performing interbody fusion surgery including an expandable intervertebral spacer and specialized instruments for choosing the correct size of implant, implanting the device within the intervertebral space, and for delivery of bone graft or bone substitute to the interior of the implant.