A medical implant includes a first implant body and a pre-coating covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the first implant body. The pre-coating has a negative Poisson's ratio. A method of making a medical implant includes applying a precursor material on a surface of a first implant body, the first implant body having a positive Poisson's ratio. A stimulus is applied to the precursor material, the stimulus causing the precursor material to form a coating having a negative Poisson's ratio

A method of forming a shoulder prosthesis includes resecting an end portion of a humerus to form a resected end of the humerus and a resected portion separated from the humerus, the resected portion having an outer convex surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the resected portion is processed to include a concave articular surface. The outer convex surface of the resected portion is implanted in the resected end of the humerus. An implant having a convex articular surface is secured to a glenoid. The concave articular surface of the resected portion is articulated with the convex articular surface of the implant.

A prosthesis includes a first and second plate; elements for mounting the plates to pivot about an axis, which include a flexible hinge including a cylindrical plane flexible strip with two cylindrical swellings respectively associated with two edges of the strip, the dimension of the cross-sections of the swellings, taken in a direction perpendicular to the plane containing the pivot axis and passing through the swellings, being greater than the thickness of the strip taken in the same direction, a hole in each plate of shape complementary to the swellings and opening out in a first face of the corresponding plate; a slot made in each plate and opening out into the hole of that plate, in a second of its faces, and in the first face, the hinge and plates being mounted to so that the swellings and the strip are situated respectively in the two holes and slots.

A novel hydraulic implant delivery system for introducing a hydrogel implant into a cartilage repair site is disclosed.

A flexible bone implant includes a proximal stem having a proximal end, a distal end, and a proximal conduit extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the proximal stem, whereby the proximal conduit is open at both the proximal and distal ends of the proximal stem. The implant includes a distal stem having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal conduit extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the distal stem, whereby the distal conduit is open at both the proximal and distal ends of the distal stem. The implant includes a flexible hinge interconnecting the distal end of the proximal stem with the proximal end of the distal stem for allowing the proximal and distal stems to flex relative to one another. A proximal stem protective tube is disposed within the proximal conduit of the proximal stem and has a length that matches the length of the proximal conduit, and a distal stem protective tube is disposed within the distal conduit of the distal stem and has a length that matches the length of the distal conduit. The proximal stem, the distal stem and the flexible hinge comprise a unitary structure made of a polymer material.

Disclosed is a device for assisting in the placement of a trapeziometacarpal prosthesis including a cup to be fixed in the trapezium of a patient and a stem to be fixed in the patient's first metacarpal. The device includes a first guide to be interposed between the trapezium and the first metacarpal, the first guide including a first body having a first surface to be positioned on the articular surface of the trapezium, the first surface congruent with the articular surface of the trapezium and a second surface to face the articular surface of the first metacarpal before resection, the second surface preferably being congruent with the articular surface of the first metacarpal so as to be positionable on the articular surface of the first metacarpal. The first guide also includes locating members carried by the first body and arranged to define resection lines for the first metacarpal.

A device for the repair of a phalangeal joint comprises a first anchor, a second anchor, and a flexible spacer connecting the first and second anchors. The flexible spacer comprises a plurality of elongate fibers extending axially or criss-crossed between the first and second anchors and a polymeric matrix interspersed with the plurality of elongate fibers. Specifically, a prosthetic metatarsophalangeal joint device comprises a porous metallic metatarsal bone anchor, a porous metallic phalangeal bone anchor, and a polymeric spacer element comprising parallel or criss-crossed elongate fibers that can connect the metatarsal bone anchor and the phalangeal bone anchor. Methods for manufacturing prosthetic joint devices comprise using three-dimensional printing processes or molding processes. Methods for implanting prosthetic joint devices comprise positioning porous metallic anchor components adjacent resected bones at planar interfaces and between which a polymeric spacer having axial aligned elongate fibers embedded in a matrix can be disposed.

A biodegradable joint implant comprises a joint scaffold and a film layer coated on the surface of the joint scaffold. The joint scaffold comprises a first anchor fixing, a second fixing and a flexible spacer, and the first anchor fixing and the second anchor fixing are respectively axially connected to opposite sides of the flexible spacer. The joint implant is made of biodegradable material, and the film layer contains at least one substance that can induce tissue growth. A method for preparing the joint implant and a joint replacement method using the joint implant are also provided.

A surgical implant having a plastic (e.g., PEEK) component having an exposed surface, wherein at least a portion of the exposed surface has a plurality of parallel microgrooves that (i) enhance bone growth and osseointegration with adjacent bone and, after the osseointegration, (ii) increase pull-out force of the surgical implant from the adjacent bone. In certain embodiments, the microgrooves have widths of less than or equal to 12 micrometers, depths of less than or equal to 12 micrometers, crests of less than or equal to 12 micrometers, and a periodicity of less than or equal to 24 micrometers.

An artificial joint is characterized by: having a first member including a caput part on which a prescribed curved surface is formed, and a second member including a fossa part having a surface which abuts the prescribed curved surface of the caput part; the second member being rotatable in a flexing direction of a joint with a prescribed point on the caput part being the center of rotation; and the prescribed curved surface of the caput part being defined by a curve which depicts a convex arc toward the side abutting the fossa part when the caput part is viewed from the axial direction of the rotation, and in which, when two arbitrary points are taken on the curve, the radius of curvature of the point positioned further toward the flexing side of the joint on the curve is smaller than the radius of curvature of the other point.