According to one example, a tibial prosthesis that optionally includes a baseplate and a tibial keel. The baseplate optionally including: a distal surface sized and shaped to substantially cover a proximal resected surface of a tibia; a proximal surface opposite the distal surface, the proximal surface having a lateral compartment and a medial compartment opposite the lateral compartment; a periphery extending between the distal surface and the proximal surface; a first pocket formed in the baseplate and recessed from the distal surface, wherein the first pocket is configured to receive a bone cement therein; a second pocket formed in the baseplate and recessed from the first pocket, wherein the second pocket is configured to receive a portion of the bone cement. The tibial keel extending distally from the distal surface to define a longitudinal tibial keel axis.

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

An implant for use in a spine includes a body and a plurality of structural members. The plurality of structural members includes outer members that are arranged to contact a vertebra upon implantation and support members that provide reinforcement and stability to the outer members. The outer members may have sections with a generalized helical geometry. The generalized helical geometry provides distal and proximal outwardly facing surface regions and creates a series of protected fusion zones along the superior and inferior surfaces of the implant to foster adjacent bone growth.

Implants include fixation features which slidingly receive fixation elements. The fixation features may be negative or positive features, such as undercut channels or posts. Examples include unicompartmental tibial trays having a ridge protruding from the bone-facing side, an undercut channel formed within the ridge. Instruments are disclosed for preparing a ridge-receiving feature in bone.

An implant includes a body having a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion. The leading edge portion includes a substantially smooth surface forming a substantial majority of a leading edge surface of the leading edge portion. The trailing edge portion includes a monolithic structure including at least one receptacle configured to receive an insertion tool. In addition, the intermediate portion includes a plurality of elongate curved structural members.

An implant including a housing having a peripheral frame including an inner edge defining central opening in a central portion of the implant. The implant may also include a blade located within the central opening, the blade having a retracted position in the housing and an extended position where the blade extends outwardly from the housing. In addition, the implant may include a blade actuating component comprising a driven shaft portion and a blade engaging portion. The blade actuating component may be configured to be translated to move the blade between the retracted position and the extended position. Also, the inner edge of the peripheral frame may include a posterior edge configured to support the blade in two locations.

Systems for distracting a facet joint and positioning a permanent implant in the joint are disclosed. The implants serve to retain a distracted position of the facet joint which is achieved with positioning of the leading end of a distraction tool in the facet joint and then distracting or enlarging the joint a desired amount. The permanent implant could be part of the distraction mechanism which can be separated from the delivery tool once the joint has been distracted or an auxiliary implant may be positioned before the distraction mechanism is removed from the distracted joint. The permanent implants can be solid, mechanical devices that may have fixation means thereon to hold them in place or injected fluids such as hydrogels or fluids confined within balloons.

An implant including a first segment at a first end, a second segment at a second end, and an intermediate segment coupled to the first segment on a first end and coupled to the second segment on a second end. The first segment may include an insertion tip at the first end of the implant and a body portion adjacent to the insertion tip, the insertion tip extending out from the body portion. The second segment may include an end member at the second end of the implant and a body portion adjacent to the end member, the end member extending out from the body portion. The second segment may include a plurality of tip portions spaced about a longitudinal axis of the second segment, and the tip portions each including at least one barb formed by a taper portion and an engagement portion extending radially into the tip portion.

An implant, comprising a body having a superior surface and an inferior surface, a superior-inferior axis, and a lateral axis. The implant further includes a first blade having a first retracted position in the body and a first extended position where the first blade extends outwardly from the body. In addition, the implant may include a blade actuating member that can translate through the body in directions parallel to the lateral axis. When the blade actuating member is moved in a first direction along the first axis, the first blade moves towards the first extended position. When the blade actuating member is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first blade moves towards the first retracted position. Further, in the first extended position, the first blade extends from the superior surface at a first non-zero angle with respect to the superior-inferior axis.

A methodology for grafting together adjacent bony structures is provided using an implant device having an endplate with an inner disc portion and outer ring portion spaced from the inner disc portion by a connecting wall disposed therebetween. An endplate interior surface includes a retaining structure for securing the endplate to one of the bony structures, and endplate an exterior surface has an integrally formed socket. A ball-joint rod has a longitudinally extending body and an end, and at least a portion of the ball-joint rod end is curvilinear in shape. The curvilinear ball-joint rod end is rotatably disposed in the endplate socket to fixedly interconnect the bony structures.