Spinal tissue distraction devices that include a member which has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion between tissue layers and a deployed configuration in which the member, by change of configuration, forms a support structure for separating and supporting layers of spinal tissue.

Placement apparatus and methods of use for impanation of spacers within an inter-vertebral disc space. In one embodiment, the load-bearing superstructure of the implant is subdivided and the bone forming material is positioned within an internal space of the placement instrument but external to the load bearing elements themselves. At least a portion of the bone graft material is freely contained within the disc space. A method of using the device is also described. In one embodiment, the placement device is used to place the implantable spacers at opposing ends of the disc space using a directly lateral surgical approach.

The invention features a glenoid (shoulder socket) implant prosthesis, a humeral implant prosthesis, devices for implanting glenoid and humeral implant prostheses, and less invasive methods of their use for the treatment of an injured or damaged shoulder.

Hard-tissue implants are provided that include a bulk implant, a face, pillars, slots, and at least one support member. The pillars are for contacting a hard tissue. The slots are to be occupied by the hard tissue. The at least one support member is for contacting the hard tissue. The hard-tissue implant has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 3 GPa, and has a ratio of the sum of (i) the volumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1. Methods of making and using hard-tissue implants are also provided.

A surgical component, a kit including the surgical component, and a surgical method. The surgical component includes a body portion. The surgical component also includes an elongate stem for inserting into an intramedullary canal of a patient. The elongate stem extends distally from the body portion. The elongate stem has a longitudinal axis; a proximal end; a distal end; and a plurality of splines located on an outer surface of the stem. The splines are circumferentially arranged around the stem. At least some of the splines are tapered such that each tapered spline is narrower at a distal part of that spline than at a part of that spline that is proximal with respect to the distal part. The surgical component further includes an elongate neck portion extending from the body portion at a non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stem.

The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.

A surgical implant includes a body portion, a first tier, and a second tier. The first tier is attached to an upper surface of the body portion, and the second tier is attached to a lower surface of the body portion. Each of the upper surface and the lower surface of the body portion includes channels formed therein. The first tier includes a first layer including a plurality of first slats and a second layer including a plurality of second slats, where the plurality of first slats and the plurality of second slats intersect one another to form openings therebetween. The second tier includes a third layer including a plurality of third slats and a fourth layer including a plurality of fourth slats, where the plurality of third slats and the plurality of fourth slats intersect one another to form openings therebetween. When the first tier and the second tier are attached to the body portion, a passageway is formed through the openings formed in the first tier to the channels in the upper surface of the body portion, and a passageway is formed through the openings formed in the second tier to the channels in the lower surface of the body portion.

A system of prosthetic implants for a total knee replacement procedure is provided. The system includes a tibial component of a knee joint implant, a tibial insert configured to be positioned against the superior side of the platform of the tibial component, a first femoral component of a knee joint implant, and a second femoral component of a knee joint implant.

A graft cage includes cross-sectional portions and longitudinal members. Each portion includes base transverse members forming a cage base; a first arm including first arm transverse members; a second arm including second arm transverse members; base connecting struts, each base connecting strut extending between first one and second one of the base members; first arm connecting struts, each first arm connecting strut extending between a first one of the first members and a second one of the first members; and second arm connecting struts, each second arm connecting strut extending between first one and second one of the second members. The longitudinal members connect the portions to one another. Intersections of the portions with the longitudinal members forming pores in the first and second arms. The pores receive an arm tip of a further graft cage therein to interlock the cage with the further cage.

The present invention relates generally to medical devices, systems, and methods for use in surgery. In particular, the disclosed system and methods relate to an intervertebral spinal implant sized and dimensioned for the lumbar spine implantable via a posterior approach. The system includes an implant, instruments for delivering the implant.