Abstract: Embodiments of a micro-vitreoretinal trocar blade may have a top surface and a bottom surface that converge to form cutting edges. Each of the top surface and bottom surface have a large rounded apex to maximize the area of the blade. Each surface also has concave regions that may form the cutting edges. Advancing the MVR trocar blade into tissue causes the tissue to contact the apexes of the top and bottom surfaces. The apexes draw the tissue into contact with the cutting edges. The cutting edges incise the tissue such that the incision is sized to accommodate a trocar cannula. The geometry of the top surface and bottom surface ensure that the features of the blade do not protrude radially outside of the diametral envelope of the shaft.

Abstract: Artificial implants having reduced area to provide reduced wear are provided. The reduced area is particularly located at areas where greatest wear is exhibited. In a particular embodiment of a mobile bearing knee implant, the area is reduced on the mobile bearing insert underside, where it contacts a tibial component. The reduced area may be any shape of indentations, for example, grooves, dimples, straight patterns, curved patterns, crossing patterns, holes, channels or slots. The indentations may be various sizes, and have been found to be particularly effective if covering about 10% to about 20% of the insert at depths between about 1-2 mm.

Abstract: Artificial implants having reduced area to provide reduced wear are provided. The reduced area is particularly located at areas where greatest wear is exhibited. In a particular embodiment of a mobile bearing knee implant, the area is reduced on the mobile bearing insert underside, where it contacts a tibial component. The reduced area may be any shape of indentations, for example, grooves, dimples, straight patterns, curved patterns, crossing patterns, holes, channels or slots. The indentations may be various sizes, and have been found to be particularly effective if covering about 10% to about 20% of the insert at depths between about 1-2 mm.

Abstract: A method of preparing fretting wear resistant titaniumbase alloy orthopaedic implants includes the steps of shot peening the surface of the implant with spherical ceramic beads of a selected size and density, and with selected intensity such that the fretting wear resistance of the implant is increased and wherein the implant surface is uniformly peened to create a compressively-stressed region within the surface of approximately 100-300 microns depth.