The invention relates to components for fusing vertebral bodies and to methods for the production and use thereof.

The invention relates to biomaterials based on plastics, such as polyaryl polyether ketone (PEK), and to methods for producing and using same. The following describes how a mechanically stable coating made of a porous bone substitute material, e.g. Nano Bone®, is applied to polyaryl polyether ketone (PEK), e.g. polyether ether ketone (PEEK), as a result of which the problem of poor cell adhesion on plastics surfaces of this kind can be solved. The bone substitute material can be applied both dry as a powder and also in a wet spraying method. The coating is a result of briefly melting the polymer surface and the resulting partial penetration of the previously applied layer. In the process, the molten polymer penetrates into nanopores of the bone substitute material and thus establishes a firm connection.

Systems and methods discussed herein provide for fabricating orthopedic implants one or more shape-memory alloys including TiNi and TiNb and shape-setting the alloys to the geometry appropriate for the orthopedic implant. The shape-setting may include tuning the transformation temperature of the one or more alloys, and a single implant may comprise one or more alloys that may differ in composition, shape-setting process, or both.

A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.

An orthopedic implant includes a porous insert having a first insert portion having a first insert thickness and a second insert portion having a second insert thickness. The implant includes a non-metallic structure having a first non-metallic portion having a first non-metallic thickness and a second non-metallic portion having a second non-metallic thickness. The first non-metallic portion is attached to the first insert portion and the second non-metallic portion is attached to the second insert portion. Either or both of the second insert thickness being different from the first insert thickness and the second non-metallic thickness being different from the first non-metallic thickness. The porous insert includes a porous projection extending into the non-metallic structure.

A method for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject is provided, the method including delivering a growth factor to a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. At least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface is implanted in the nucleus pulposus. At least one extra-pulposus exposed electrode surface is implanted in a body of the subject outside the nucleus pulposus. The growth factor is supported by activating control circuitry to drive the intra-pulposus and the extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive nutrient-containing fluid into the nucleus pulposus. Other embodiments are also described.

A spacer for laminoplasty is provided, the spacer including: a first spacer fixed to an upper lamina plate in a state in which an incision surface of the upper laminate plate of a lamina plate of an incised cervical vertebrae is seated on and supported by the first spacer; and a second spacer fixed to a lower lamina plate so that an incision surface of the lower lamina plate of the lamina plate of the incised cervical vertebrae is in contact with and supported by the second spacer, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are in a coupled state in which they are not separated from each other by a fixed bar, while having expandable lengths with respect to each other.

An implant material may comprise a hole in at least one direction, and a member constituting the hole may comprise grooves. The member constituting the hole may be composed of a pillar and/or a plate. The grooves may be provided in the pillars and/or the plates. Further, a method of manufacturing the implant material may include manufacturing the implant material using a 3D modeling method.

A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles and a suspending agent comprising hyaluronic acid. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

The invention relates to a new type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) which co-express at least one mesenchymal marker, preferably at least CD105 and CD34. Also provided are bone-forming cells having an analogous phenotype. The invention also provides the cells and cell populations, as well as further products comprising such and uses thereof in bone therapy.