An implant for a human includes a body having a superior surface, an inferior surface, a distal surface, and a proximal surface. The proximal surface is configured to engage the talus and the calcaneus of an adult human, and the distal surface configured to engage at least the first and fourth metatarsals of the adult human. The distal surface has a largest distal height and a largest distal width that is greater than the largest distal height, and the proximal surface has a largest proximal height and a largest proximal width that is greater than the largest proximal height.

A system for modifying a talocalcaneal spatial relationship in a foot in a body, including a subtalar spacer having an articulating surface and implanted in the sinus tarsi of the foot and a fastener that fastens the subtalar spacer to a bone surface in the foot, in which the articulating surface of the subtalar spacer directs relative movement between the calcaneus and the talus of the foot.

A subtalar joint prosthesis that is adapted to replace the natural subtalar joint that exists between a patient's talus and calcaneus bones includes talar and calcaneal components. Each of these is configured to have a shape that is herein defined as being a portion of the boundary surface of a frustum. Meanwhile, these components' inner surfaces are configured to: (a) generally follow the anatomic contour of the original joint surface to which each component is to be attached, and (b) minimize each components's average thickness, consistent with providing sufficient strength and rigidity for the components, so as to require minimum bone resection for the implantation of these components.

A subtalar joint implant (20) is disclosed for replacing a natural subtalar joint existing between the talus (102) and calcaneum (104) bones of a patient. In an embodiment the implant comprises talar (22) and calcaneal (24) portions that are configured to slide over each other in the implanted state. The implant is shaped so that the sliding is constrained to trajectories that involve pivoting of the talar portion relative to the calcaneal portion about a pivot point (36) or a line (38) of pivot points.

A novel implant for replacing a portion of an articulation surface of a joint is disclosed. The implant includes a bone-engaging surface, a hydrogel portion forming an articulation surface opposite from the first bone-engaging surface, and a bone plate portion configured for securing the implant to a bone that forms the joint.

An implant is provided for use in an ankle joint between reconditioned end surfaces established on a distal end of an upper tibia bone and an opposing lower talus bone. The implant comprises a substantially porous rigid component adapted to be anchored against the upper tibia reconditioned end surface and the lower talus reconditioned end surface. The component defining an opening therethrough. An intramedullary nail is configured to pass through the opening in the component when the nail is driven through the talus and into the tibia.

The invention provides a method of making a biological disc graft. In one embodiment, the biological disc graft is useful for treating back or neck pain. In one embodiment, the biological disc graft is useful for treating any joint pain. The invention also provides a method of implanting said biological disc graft in a way that is minimally invasive and less dangerous.

An implant is provided for use in an ankle joint between reconditioned end surfaces established on a distal end of an upper tibia bone and an opposing lower talus bone. The implant comprises a substantially porous rigid component adapted to be anchored against the upper tibia reconditioned end surface and the lower talus reconditioned end surface. The component defining an opening therethrough. An intramedullary nail is configured to pass through the opening in the component when the nail is driven through the talus and into the tibia.

Arthroplasty implant systems and procedures are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an arthroplasty implant of an arthroplasty system includes a shape memory material connecting member attached to two points of fixation of the arthroplasty implant.

In some embodiments, a revision implant includes a body extending between a first planar surface and a second planar surface and a head extending from the first planar surface of the body. The head is configured to couple the revision implant to at least one additional component of a multi-component prosthesis. At least one coupling mechanism is configured to couple the body to a first bone.