A distally expanding facet joint implant and delivery device for distally distracting a facet joint. The facet joint implant generally includes an outer part and an inner part. The outer part includes a pair of opposed distally expandable facet plates connected by a hinge. The inner part includes a wedge that is selectively movable against the facet plates to distally expand and contract the facet joint implant into open and closed states. Teeth on the outer part engage indents on the inner part to maintain the facet joint implant in the distally expanded state. The outer and inner parts include outer and inner connectors, and the delivery device includes corresponding outer and inner connectors adapted to be in locked engagement with the outer and inner connectors to hold the implant and selectively cause it to distally expand and contract.

A dynamic disc assembly has a superior end plate, an inferior end plate, and a core. The core has surfaces of an annular Fresnel shape and a linear Fresnel-like shape combined to control the dynamic range of motion (ROM) movement arranged to match anatomical ROM. The core is interposed between and held against interior surfaces of the superior end plate and the inferior end plate. The assembly further has a pair of coupling cords, one coupling cord at each lateral end of the superior and inferior end plates wherein each lateral end of each end plate has one or more cord connections attached and affixed to the coupling cord to form and retain the dynamic disc assembly.

The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic spinal disc for replacing a damaged or degenerated disc between two vertebrae of a spine. The present invention also relates to prosthetic spinal disc designs that have either or both interlocking and magnetic components.

Methods and systems for treating a spinal joint with a facet joint replacement. The prosthesis can include a first component having a first articulating surface and a second component having a second articulating surface. The first component is attached to a superior articulating facet and the second component is attached to an inferior articulating facet. The first articulating surface and the second articulating surface articulate with each other and allow for multiple degrees of movement of the facet joint without fusing the joint.

This invention revolves around medical devices, especially the non-metal ball-headed hip joint prosthesis, including acetabular cup, non-metal femoral head and femoral stem prostheses. In this invention, the acetabular cup is combined with the lining as a metal cup, and the traditional metal or ceramic ball head is replaced by non-metal femoral head prosthesis with metal inner core.

A prosthetic intervertebral disc joint assembly for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc between first and second adjacent vertebrae comprising: a first component 20, 120 for engaging a first vertebra, the first component having an intervertebral portion 20a, 120a insertable between adjacent vertebrae and having a bone-engaging side for engaging an endplate of the first vertebra and an inner side opposite the bone-engaging side, the inner side of the intervertebral portion 20a, 120a having an articulating surface 22, 122 comprising a generally convex surface; a second component 30, 130 for engaging a second vertebra, the second component having an intervertebral portion 30a, 130a insertable between adjacent vertebrae and having a bone-engaging side for engaging an endplate of the second vertebra and an inner side opposite the bone-engaging side, the inner side of the intervertebral portion 30a, 130a having an articulating surface 32, 132 comprising a generally concave surface; wherein the convex articulating surface 22, 122 of the first component is sized and shaped to pivot in the concave articulating surface 32, 132 of the second component, and wherein the first component 20, 120 further comprises a fixation portion 20b, 120b for securing the first component to the anterior side of the first vertebra, said fixation portion 20b, 120b extending from the trailing end of the intervertebral portion 20a, 120a of the first component and wherein the second component 30, 130 further comprises a fixation portion 30b, 130b for securing the second component to the anterior side of the second vertebra, said fixation portion 30b, 130b extending from the trailing end of the intervertebral portion 30a, 130a of the second component.

Disclosed is a wrist prosthesis, and methods for implanting same, the prosthesis comprising an elongated radial component having two opposite sides, the first side comprising a stem and the second side comprising a concave dish; an elongated carpal component having two opposite sides, the first side comprising a stem, and the second side comprising a ball end; a lunate component having two opposite sides, the first side comprising a cavity adapted to receive said carpal component's ball end, and the second side comprising a convex surface adapted to engage said radial component's concave dish; wherein said lunate component freely rotates and swivels with respect to both of said carpal and radial components; wherein said stem of said carpal component is adapted for rigid engagement with one or more carpal and/or metatarsal bones; and wherein said stem of said radial component is adapted for rigid engagement with a radius bone.

A facet joint replacement device includes an enclosing element including an enclosing body and an inferior attachment member. The enclosing body includes an inner cavity defined by an interior surface of the enclosing body, wherein a portion of the interior surface of the enclosing body forms a superior articulating surface. The facet joint replacement device also includes an inferior articulating element including an articulating body and a superior attachment member. The inferior articulating body is positioned within the inner cavity of the enclosing body of the enclosing element and is configured to move within the inner cavity of the enclosing body of the enclosing element. The inferior articulating body includes an inferior articulating surface. The movement of the articulating body of the inferior articulating element is constrained in at least one direction within the inner cavity of the enclosing body of the enclosing element.

An intervertebral disc includes a superior endplate having an upper vertebral contacting surface and a lower bearing surface, wherein the upper vertebral contacting surface of the superior endplate has a central portion that is raised relative to a peripheral portion of the superior endplate, and wherein the lower bearing surface has a concavity disposed opposite the raised central portion. The disc includes an inferior endplate having a lower vertebral contacting surface and an upper surface, wherein the lower vertebral contacting surface of the inferior endplate has a central portion and wherein the upper bearing surface has a concavity disposed opposite the central portion. A core is positioned between the upper and inferior endplates, the core having upper and lower core bearing surfaces configured to mate with the bearing surfaces of the upper and inferior endplates. The upper vertebral contacting surface of the superior end plate has a different shape than the lower vertebral contacting surface of the inferior end plate.

A method for inserting an intervertebral artificial disc is provided with the intervertebral disc including a first endplate having a plurality of protrusions for attaching to an adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards a second adjacent vertebrae. A second endplate is provided with a plurality of protrusions for attaching to a second adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards the first adjacent vertebrae. A flexible member having an upper portion and a lower portion and a slider plate positioned within the upper portion of the flexible member is also provided. The extension portion of the first endplate is adapted to fit within a first cavity in the upper portion of the flexible member and the extension portion of the second endplate is adapted to fit within a second cavity in the lower portion of the flexible member.