The biocompatible lattice structures and implants disclosed herein have an increased or optimized lucency, even when constructed from a metallic material. The lattice structures can also provide an increased or optimized lucency in a material that is not generally considered to be radiolucent. Lucency can include disparity, maximum variation in lucency properties across a structure, or dispersion, minimum variation in lucency properties across a structure. The implants and lattice structures disclosed herein may be optimized for disparity or dispersion in any desired direction. A desired direction with respect to lucency can include the anticipated x-ray viewing direction of an implant in the expected implantation orientation.

The three-dimensional lattice structures disclosed herein have applications including use in medical implants, Some examples of the lattice structure are structural in that they can be used to provide structural support or mechanical spacing In some examples, the lattice can be configured as a scaffold to support bone or tissue growth Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. The lattice structures are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

Intervertebral fusion device comprising a superior component, an inferior component, and a core component. The superior component comprises first and second superior parts which are coupled to each other to allow the first and second superior parts to move apart to thereby increase a perimeter of the superior component top side. The inferior component comprises first and second inferior parts which are coupled to each other to allow the first and second inferior parts to move apart to thereby increase a perimeter of the inferior component bottom side. The core component is configured for insertion between the superior and inferior components whereby separation between the superior and inferior components is determined. The core component interengages with each of the superior and inferior components upon insertion. The superior and inferior components are unattached to each other before the core component is inserted between the superior and inferior components. As the core component is progressively inserted between the superior and inferior components, the core component: bears against the first and second superior parts to push the first and second superior parts progressively apart; and bears against the first and second inferior parts to push the first and second inferior parts progressively apart.

The methods disclosed herein of generating three-dimensional lattice structures and reducing stress shielding have applications including use in medical implants. One method of generating a three-dimensional lattice structure can be used to generate a structure lattice and/or a lattice scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. One method of reducing stress shielding includes generating a structural lattice to provide sole mechanical spacing across an area for desired bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. Some methods are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

An orthopaedic joint replacement system is shown and described. The system includes a number of prosthetic components configured to be implanted into a patient's knee. The system also includes a number of surgical instruments configured for use in preparing the bones of the patient's knee to receive the implants. A number of methods for using the surgical instruments to prepare the bones is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a vertebral system comprising a vertebral implant (2) and a plurality of inserts, said implant being designed to be implanted in a vertebral segment composed of at least two vertebrae and including a body (20) the walls whereof delimit a cavity (23) leading to the outside of the body (20) through at least one opening in at least one of said walls, at least one passage (21) passing through the implant (2) from the periphery to an upper or lower surface to receive a bone-anchoring device (1) capable of anchoring the implant (2) in at least one of said vertebrae, the system being characterized in that it includes at least two inserts selected from among the following inserts: at least one graft insert (3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 202, 250) capable of being colonized by bone tissue and/or receiving at least one bone tissue graft and/or at least one substitute; and/or at least one bone-anchoring insert (210) comprising said passage (21) capable of receiving said bone-anchoring device (1).

The biocompatible lattice structures disclosed herein with an increased or optimized lucency are prepared according to multiple methods of design disclosed herein. The methods allow for the design of a metallic material with sufficient strength for use in an implant and that remains radiolucent for x-ray imaging.

An interbody cage which comprises a cage body and a mobile rotational element which, when said mobile element is rotated around a longitudinal axis of the body of the cage, may engage one or both adjoining vertebrae and temporally distract the intervertebral space for easier insertion of the cage body. The rotational element may also be designed to durably engage the adjoining vertebrae after its rotation, so as to allow a durable increase of the distraction of the vertebrae. Methods of insertion of the interbody cage are provided wherein the vertebrae are first distracted by the insertion of the cage or of the mobile element, then further distracted by rotation of the mobile element, before the cage is fully inserted into the intervertebral space without the body's superior and inferior surfaces fully engaging the vertebrae in the process.

A placeholder for vertebrae or vertebral discs includes a tubular body, which along its jacket surface has a plurality of breakthroughs or openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue. The placeholder includes at least a second tubular body provided with a plurality of breakthroughs and openings at least partially inside the first tubular body. The first and second tubular bodies can have different cross-sectional shapes, can be are arranged inside one another by press fit or force fit or can be connected to each other via connecting pins and arranged side by side to one another in the first body.

A placeholder for vertebrae or vertebral discs includes a tubular body, which along its jacket surface has a plurality of breakthroughs or openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue. The placeholder includes at least a second tubular body provided with a plurality of breakthroughs and openings at least partially inside the first tubular body. The first and second tubular bodies can have different cross-sectional shapes, can be are arranged inside one another by press fit or force fit or can be connected to each other via connecting pins and arranged side by side to one another in the first body.