This disclosure relates to shield guide assembly and methods for restoring functionality to a joint. The shield guide assembly disclosed herein include a shield dimensioned to block access through the shield onto an adjacent bone surface region during formation of one or more features along the surgical site.

An intervertebral cage structure that comprises a shell main body, with the shell main body may be configured to receive and substantially encapsulate a main body. The shell main body may be configured in a clam-shell shape that include a first plate and a second plate that are connected by a bridge portion, wherein the first and second plates may comprise a surface pattern.

An implant may include a body having a first portion and a second portion and a structural member having a central member curve. In addition, the structural member may be exposed on an outer surface of the implant. Further, the central member curve may include a winding segment, and the winding segment of the central member curve may wind around a fixed path extending from the first portion of the body to the second portion of the body. Also, the central member curve may make one or more full turns around the fixed path. And, the structural member may have a member diameter at the winding segment, wherein the winding segment has a winding diameter corresponding with the full turn around the fixed path and the member diameter is greater than the winding diameter.

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.

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.

The invention primarily relates to fastening and stabilizing tissues, implants, and/or bondable materials, such as the fastening of a tissue and/or implant to a bondable material, the fastening of an implant to tissue, and/or the fastening of an implant to another implant. This may involve using an energy source to bond and/or mechanically to stabilize a tissue, an implant, a bondable material, and/or other biocompatible material. The invention may also relate to the use of an energy source to remove and/or install an implant and/or bondable material or to facilitate solidification and/or polymerization of bondable material.

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.

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.

A method for securing a stemless humeral includes positioning the stemless humeral anchoring component to the humerus such that a lateral anchoring wing extends in a direction of a lateral side of the humerus into a lateral region and two medial anchoring wings face a medial side of the humerus in a medial region. The lateral region has a lower bone density relative to the medial region. The stemless humeral anchoring component is positioned eccentrically such that the anchoring stud and the two medial anchoring wings are anchored in the medial region. The stemless humeral anchoring component is secured in resected proximal epiphyseal and metaphyseal portions of the humerus without reaching a diaphyseal portion of the humerus.

A spinal facet fusion implant comprising: an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the elongated body being characterized by a superior body surface and an inferior body surface; a superior stabilizer extending outwardly from the superior body surface, the superior stabilizer being characterized by a superior stabilizer surface; and an inferior stabilizer extending outwardly from the inferior body surface, the inferior stabilizer being characterized by an inferior stabilizer surface; wherein (i) the superior body surface and the inferior body surface are tapered relative to one another, and/or (ii) the superior stabilizer surface and the inferior stabilizer surface are tapered relative to one another.