Abstract: An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for soft tissue repair including a device for anchoring sutured tissue to bone are disclosed. In one example, a device can include a body and a member. The body can have a wall with an outer surface thereof configured to engage the bone of a patient. The body can define an inner passage extending generally from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof. The body can have a slit formed by the wall, the slit extending at least a portion of a proximal-distal length of the wall. The member can be configured to be disposed within the body and can be moveable along the inner passage relative to the body between a first position and a second position. The member can be configured with a second passage to receive and pass a suture through the member when the member is in the first position.

Abstract: External fixation systems, and methods for immobilizing joints or fractured bones. An external fixation system may include one or more clamp assemblies connected to one or more rod assemblies at polyaxial joints. Each rod assembly may be length adjustable, and may include a one-way locking mechanism to provisionally lock the length of the rod assembly, and additional locking mechanisms to permanently lock the length of the rod assembly. The system may be deployed pre-assembled as a unit to immobilize a joint or fracture. Another external fixation system further includes a spanning member extending transverse to the rod assemblies. Two or more external fixation systems may be deployed in a stacked configuration on one set of bone pins to immobilize two joints and/or fractures. The systems may be provided in kits including guiding instrumentation, bone pins and pin clamping assemblies for connecting the bone pins to the external fixation systems.

Abstract: A pin placement instrument for placing a pin in a bone comprises an anatomical interface with a hook-like portion being opened in a lateral direction of the instrument to receive a bone therein in a planned position. A drill guide is connected to the anatomical interface and defining at least one guide slot in a longitudinal direction of the instrument. The guide slot has a lateral opening over its full length in the drill guide to allow lateral withdrawal of the instrument in said lateral direction with the pin placed in the bone passing through the lateral opening. A bushing is removably placed in said guide slot via said longitudinal direction in a planned fit, the bushing defining a throughbore aligned with the guide slot and adapted to receive the pin extending in said longitudinal direction when the bushing is in the guide slot for pin placement.

Abstract: A tibial prosthesis, and, particularly, a fixed bearing tibial prosthesis is disclosed that has a two-pronged securement mechanism. The securement mechanism may or may not be angled. Advantageously, the securement mechanism, working alone or in cooperation with other securement features, minimizes micromotion between the tibial tray and tibial bearing component.

Abstract: Methods are provided for manufacturing an orthopedic prosthesis by resistance welding a porous metal layer of the orthopedic prosthesis onto an underlying metal substrate of the orthopedic prosthesis. The resistance welding process involves directing an electrical current through the porous layer and the substrate, which dissipates as heat to cause softening and/or melting of the materials, especially along the interface between the porous layer and the substrate. The softened and/or melted materials undergo metallurgical bonding at points of contact between the porous layer and the substrate to fixedly secure the porous layer onto the substrate.

Abstract: A arthroplasty trial tool for a human shoulder can include a handle, a first sensor, and a user interface. The handle can include a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first sensor can produce a first sensor signal as a function of a sensed shoulder condition. The user interface can be configured to display a first value as a function of the first sensor signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses including apparatuses that can be used in a unicompartmental knee replacement procedure, a bicompartmental knee replacement procedure comprised of two unicompartmental knee replacements, a knee replacement procedure that utilizes a single femoral component and two unicompartmental tibial components, and other types of knee replacement procedures are disclosed. According to one example, an apparatus for guiding a tibial bone cut during knee replacement surgery is disclosed. The apparatus can comprise a mounting portion and a cutting portion. The mounting portion can be configured to couple with an alignment mechanism. The cutting portion can be connected to the mounting portion and can define a capture for a proximal cut. The cutting portion can have an aperture disposed adjacent a first end of the capture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses including apparatuses that can be used for guiding resection of a tibia during a knee replacement surgery procedures are disclosed. According to one example, an apparatus for guiding a tibial bone cut during knee replacement surgery is disclosed. The apparatus can comprise a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be configured to position the apparatus relative to one or more of a medial condyle of a femur, a lateral condyle of the femur, a medial condyle of a femoral component and a lateral condyle of the femoral component. The second portion can be connected to the first portion and can define one or more slots. The slots can be configured for at least one of a first proximal cut and a first sagittal cut to the tibia.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for fixation of a fractured bone with a bone plate. In various embodiments, the systems and plates provide elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to an osteosynthesis plate. This elastic suspension can promote load distribution between the screws that connect a bone segment to the plate, thereby reducing stress risers and load shielding effect. In addition, stress at the screw holes, and within the construct as a whole, is reduced by incorporation of these elastic elements in the plate. Additionally, in some embodiments where fracture healing by callus formation is desired, elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to the osteosynthesis plate can enable small, controlled amounts of relative motion between bone fragments connected by the plate. This relative motion can promote fracture healing by callus formation.

Abstract: An anchor for securing an implant within bone. In one embodiment, the anchor is used to aid in securing an acetabular cup within an acetabulum. The anchor may be implanted within an ischial defect of the pelvis, and is attached to an outer surface of the acetabular cup shell. The anchor is made at least in part of, and may be made entirely of, a porous metal material to facilitate the ingrowth of surrounding bone into the anchor for osseointegrating the anchor into the surrounding bone. The anchor may be secured to the acetabular shell by a screw fastener or by cement, for example. The anchor may be secured to the acetabular shell before the anchor and the acetabular shell are together implanted into the acetabulum, or the anchor may be implanted into the ischial defect, followed by seating the acetabular shell in the acetabulum and then securing the acetabular shell to the anchor.

Abstract: According to one example, a femoral prosthesis system is provided that has a plurality of sizing options using two families of femoral prostheses is disclosed. The second family of femoral prostheses can have a predetermined increase in femoral posterior condylar offset relative to the first family of femoral prosthesis. In one example, the second family of femoral prostheses can have the predetermined increase in the femoral posterior condylar offset while maintaining substantially a same femoral medial-lateral condylar extent relative to a comparably sized one of the first family of femoral prostheses.

Abstract: A clamping device for attaching to an external fixation element of an external fixation system includes a first jaw having an inner surface and an outer surface and includes a second jaw having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the inner surface of the first jaw and the inner surface of the second jaw together forming a passage configured to receive the external fixation element of the external fixation system. A locking system is engageable with the first and the second jaws. A portion of the locking system is moveable relative to the first and the second jaws between a first position where the locking arrangement is configured to prevent release of the external fixation element having a first size from between the first jaw and the second jaw and a second position where the locking arrangement is configured to prevent release of the external fixation element having a second size from between the first jaw and the second jaw.

Abstract: An orthopedic tibial prosthesis includes a tibial baseplate with an asymmetric periphery which promotes proper positioning and orientation on a resected tibia, while also facilitating enhanced kinematics, soft-tissue interaction, and long-term fixation of the complete knee prosthesis. The asymmetric baseplate periphery is sized and shaped to substantially match portions of the periphery of a typical resected proximal tibial surface, such that proper location and orientation is evident by resting the baseplate on the tibia. The baseplate periphery provides strategically positioned relief and/or clearance between the baseplate periphery and bone periphery, such as in the posterior-medial portion to prevent deep-flexion component impingement, and in the anterior-lateral portion to avoid undue interaction between the anatomic iliotibial band and prosthesis components.

Abstract: An integrated instrument for arthroplasty planning comprises a cutting block having an adjustable distance between an anterior cut guide and a posterior cut guide, and a sizer mounted to the cutting block, the sizer comprising medial and lateral posterior feet having an adjustable distance from one of the cut guides and an adjustable angular position relative to the one of the cut guides.

Abstract: The disclosure includes methods and systems for making orthopedic connections where there is unique adjustability to the connection. Illustratively, one embodiment provides a connecting assembly for connecting a plurality of orthopedic components. Such connecting assemblies can include a first orthopedic component that provides a female bore. Additionally the assembly can include a second orthopedic component that can be or include a male-type connecting member that is positionable in the bore of the first orthopedic component. In one preferred form, the male-type connecting member will be a quasi-spherical member. The quasi-spherical member can include a textured outer surface, e.g., for contacting one or more walls or surfaces in the bore in a fashion that removeably locks or helps to removeably lock or fix the quasi-spherical member in the bore.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses including an apparatus for guiding a femoral bone cut during knee replacement surgery are disclosed. The apparatus can comprise a cut guide having a first side, a second side, a third side, and one or more slots. The first side can be configured to interface with a resected surface of a femur. The second side can be spaced from the first side. The one or more slots can be defined by the apparatus and extend from the first side to the second side. The third side can be disposed between the first side and the second side and can have at least one projection extending therefrom. The at least one projection can be configured to guide a cutting tool into the one or more slots.

Abstract: An orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a femoral component which exhibits enhanced articular features, minimizes removal of healthy bone stock from the distal femur, and minimizes the impact of the prosthesis on adjacent soft tissues of the knee.

Abstract: Methods and systems for installing an implant in an intramedullary canal are discussed. In an example, an intramedullary sounder tool has a sounder head including a plurality of teeth extending proximally from a distal tip towards a shank extending from the sounder head, each tooth comprising a distal cutting edge, a middle scraping edge, and a proximal cutting edge. The sounder head can be advanced into the intramedullary canal until the scraping edge engages cortical bone. If the scraping edge does not engage cortical bone, sounder tools having successively larger diameters can be advanced into the intramedullary canal until a scraping edge does engage the cortical wall, thereby avoiding cutting and damaging of the cortical bone. At such point, the width of the intramedullary canal and the implant used therein can be determined using markings on the shank that indicate the diameter of the sounder head.

Abstract: Implementations described herein provide for junctionless monolithic composite implants and methods for manufacturing the same. The implant includes a monolithic composite body having a first region comprising a first metal alloy, a second region comprising a second metal alloy, and a transition region disposed between the first region and the second region formed from a bonded mixture of the first alloy and the second alloy. In one example, the transition region is a sintered mixture of the first alloy and the second alloy. In another example, the transition region is disposed at a region of minimum stress within the monolithic composite body under physiological loading conditions of the implant.