An elbow arthroplasty system having a ball and a socket. The ball is configured for coupling to at least one member of one of the following groups: (i) a humerus, and (ii) a radius, an ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna. The socket is configured for coupling to at least one member of the other of the following groups: (i) the humerus, and (ii) the radius, the ulna, or both of the radius and the ulna. The socket defines a cavity that is configured to receive at least a portion of the ball. The ball may be a spheroid, an ellipsoid, a sphere, or a portion of one of the foregoing with a convex surface. The socket may be configured with a concave surface that is spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or spherical and designed to mate with the ball. An elbow arthroplasty method using a ball and a socket.

The disclosure includes methods and systems for making orthopedic connections where there is unique adjustability to the connection. Illustratively, one embodiment provides a connecting assembly for connecting a plurality of orthopedic components. Such connecting assemblies can include a first orthopedic component that provides a female bore. Additionally, the assembly can include a second orthopedic component that can be or include a male-type connecting member that is positionable in the bore of the first orthopedic component. In one preferred form, the male-type connecting member will be a quasi-spherical member. The quasi-spherical member can include a textured outer surface, e.g., for contacting one or more walls or surfaces in the bore in a fashion that removably locks or helps to removably lock or fix the quasi-spherical member in the bore.

A joint replacement device includes a male component with a structure to couple to a bone on one side of a joint, and an outer articulation surface that is attached to the structure via a neck. A female component is configured to couple to a bone on an opposite side of the joint and includes a cavity that is surrounded by an inner articulation surface. An opening of the cavity is shaped to enable insertion of the outer articulation surface into the cavity when the outer articulation surface is aligned with the opening, and to prevent separation of the male component from the female component when rotated so as not to align with the opening. The neck is located within the opening and the outer articulation surface is rotatable within the outer articulation surface with a rotation that is limited by dimensions of the opening and the neck.

A lubrication device for lubricating a joint of a human or mammal patient, which is entirely implantable in a patient's body, comprises a reservoir for storing a lubricating fluid and a fluid connection for introducing the lubricating fluid into the joint when the device is implanted in the patient's body. Further, the fluid connection comprises a fluid connection device connecting the reservoir with the joint such that a lubricating fluid flow is established from the reservoir into the joint. The fluid connection comprises either an infusion needle adapted to be intermittently placed into the joint for injecting the lubricating fluid, or a tube adapted to be permanently placed into the joint for continuously injecting the lubricating fluid.

A disc replacement device including a first body member with a convex articulation surface and a second body member with a concave articulation surface is disclosed. When operably positioned, the convex articulation surface engages the concave articulation surface to provide for movement therebetween. The disc replacement device also includes a first opening in the first body member and a second opening in the second body member, wherein the openings are angled and extends from the front aspects of the body members through the external surfaces. The disc replacement device further includes at least two bone fasteners for insertion into the first and second openings to secure the disc replacement device to a first and second vertebra. An interbody motion device and fusion implant, as well as a surgical method for implantation are also disclosed.

The present invention provides artificial disc prostheses, methods and instrumentation for implantation and revision thereof. Each prosthesis may comprise superior and inferior end plates and a nucleus positioned between articular surfaces of the end plates. The end plates may have planar bone engagement surfaces with a plurality of self-cutting teeth. The articular surfaces of the end plates may be planar or include a flattened portion. The nucleus includes superior and inferior articular surfaces which may comprise flattened portions such that when the articular surfaces of the nucleus and the end plates are placed in cooperation in a preferred orientation, the flattened and/or planar portions are aligned. Each prosthesis may provide flexion/extension, anterior/posterior translation, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation degrees of freedom. One embodiment comprises a prosthesis with a first joint providing flexion/extension and anterior/posterior translation, and a second joint providing lateral bending and axial rotation.

A lubrication device for lubricating a joint of a human or mammal patient, which is entirely implantable in a patient's body, comprises a reservoir for storing a lubricating fluid and a fluid connection for introducing the lubricating fluid into the joint when the device is implanted in the patient's body. Further, the fluid connection comprises a fluid connection device connecting the reservoir with the joint such that a lubricating fluid flow is established from the reservoir into the joint. The fluid connection comprises either an infusion needle adapted to be intermittently placed into the joint for injecting the lubricating fluid, or a tube adapted to be permanently placed into the joint for continuously injecting the lubricating fluid.

A four-component artificial intervertebral disc may provide six degrees of movement: flexion, extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, axial deflection, and anterior/posterior translation. The disc may include a superior endplate, a superior core, an inferior core, and an inferior endplate. The superior endplate may include a concave mating surface, and the inferior endplate may include a spherical mating surface. The superior endplate may roll across the superior core to provide flexion, extension, and lateral bending. The superior endplate may twist or rotate atop the superior core to provide axial rotation, and the superior endplate may slide over the superior core to provide anterior/posterior translation. The superior core may be connected to the inferior core, and the inferior core may be connected to the inferior endplate. The inferior core may be made from a flexible material that may enable the artificial disc to expand or compress vertically.

This invention concerns an artificial intervertebral disc for installation in an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bodies. The artificial intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises an upper plate, a lower plate and a mobile core element, which is, in use, located between the upper and lower plates. The mobile core element includes a first contoured surface that has a flexion/extension radius that is larger by a determined amount than the radius of its second contoured surface that results in an instantaneous centre of rotation below the midline of the intervertebral disc space, thereby approximating the typical instantaneous centre of rotation of a natural disc. The first contoured surface of the mobile core element has a lateral bending radius that is unequal to the value of the flexion/extension radius, thereby allowing the mobile core element to self-centre on the second surface of the upper plate when under preload. The mobile core element may further be compressible and may include a resilient element located within the mobile core element. Deformation of the resilient element may be contained to obtain an exponential increase in spring stiffness of the resilient element during compression.

An orthopaedic implant can replace a joint in a patient. The orthopaedic implant includes a first component having a first component surface and a second component having a second component surface. The first component surface and the second component surface mate at an interface. The first component surface includes a metal substrate, a nanotextured surface, a ceramic coating, and a transition zone. The nanotextured surface is disposed directly upon the metal substrate and has surface features in a size of 10.sup.9 meters. The ceramic coating conforms to the nanotextured surface and includes a plurality of bio-active sites configured to attract and retain calcium and phosphorous cations. The transition zone is disposed between the metal substrate and the ceramic coating. The transition zone includes a concentration gradient transitioning from the metal substrate to the ceramic coating and there is no distinct interface between the metal substrate and the ceramic coating.