Abstract: A method for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc in a spinal column includes: removing the portion of the intervertebral disc from the spinal column; and inserting an apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc into an intervertebral disc space defined substantially between adjacent vertebral bones of the spinal column, and positioning the apparatus between the vertebral bones, wherein the apparatus is operable to permit the adjacent vertebral bones to articulate relative to one another about at least one of: (i) a first center of rotation for at least one of flexion and extension that is located outside the intervertebral disc space, and (ii) a second center of rotation for lateral bending that is located outside the intervertebral disc space.

Abstract: Instrumentation for implanting a cervical disc replacement device includes cervical disc replacement trials for determining the appropriate size of replacement device to be implanted, an insertion plate for maintaining the elements of the replacement device in fixed relation to one another for simultaneous manipulation, an insertion handle for attachment to the insertion plate for manipulation of the elements, an insertion pusher for releasing the insertion handle from the insertion plate, a drill guide that cooperates with the insertion plate to guide the drilling of tap holes for bone screws to be placed through bone screw holes in the flanges of the replacement device, clips that are applied to the flanges after placement of the bone screws to resist screw backout, and a clip applicator for applying the clips to the flanges.

Abstract: A method for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc in a spinal column includes: removing the portion of the intervertebral disc from the spinal column; and inserting an apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc into an intervertebral disc space defined substantially between adjacent vertebral bones of the spinal column, and positioning the apparatus between the vertebral bones, wherein the apparatus is operable to permit the adjacent vertebral bones to articulate relative to one another about at least one of: (i) a first center of rotation for at least one of flexion and extension that is located outside the intervertebral disc space, and (ii) a second center of rotation for lateral bending that is located outside the intervertebral disc space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for determining meniscal size and shape for use in designing therapies for the treatment of various joint diseases. The invention uses an image of a joint that is processed for analysis. Analysis can include, for example, generating a thickness map, a cartilage curve, or a point cloud. This information is used to determine the extent of the cartilage defect or damage and to design an appropriate therapy, including, for example, an implant. Adjustments to the designed therapy are made to account for the materials used.

Abstract: Determining a shape of a medical device to be implanted into a subject produces an image including a defective portion and a non-defective portion of a surface of a tissue of interest included in the subject. The tissue of interest is segmented within the image. A template, representing a normative shape of an external anatomical surface of the tissue of interest, is superimposed to span the defective portion. An external shape of an implant, is determined as a function of respective shapes of the defective portion as seen in the template, for repairing the defective portion.

Abstract: A method and system may be used to design and control the manufacture of a surgical guide for implanting a prosthetic component. The system includes a bone surface image generator, a surgical guide image generator, and a surgical guide image converter. The bone surface image generator receives three dimensional bone anatomical data for a patient's bone and generates a bone surface image. The surgical guide image generator generates a surgical guide image from the bone surface image and an image of a prosthesis imposed on the bone surface image. The supporting structure of the generated surgical guide image conforms to the surface features of the three dimensional bone surface image. The surgical guide image is converted by surgical guide image converter into control data for operating a machine to form a surgical guide that corresponds to the surgical guide image.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a chamber insert capable of being received by a sample chamber of a conditioning system. The received chamber insert reduces the volume of the sample chamber and defines a cavity that substantially surrounds a sample holder located in the sample chamber.

Abstract: A total knee arthorplasty in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is accomplished by surgically removing the meniscus and adjacent joint end portions of the femur and tibia and then replacing the first one of the removed joint end portions with a first prosthetic component. Thereafter a flexible protector shim is temporally inserted between the first prosthetic component and the other of the joint end portions. Then the other of the removed joint end portions is replaced with a second prosthetic component while the protector shim is maintained in position between the prosthetic components for thereby preventing scarring, scratching and minimizing movement during the cement curing phase of the insertion process. The protector shim is thereafter removed and a prosthetic meniscus is inserted between the two prosthetic components.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of generating a computerized bone model representative of at least a portion of a patient bone in a pre-degenerated state. The method includes: generating at least one image of the patient bone in a degenerated state; identifying a reference portion associated with a generally non-degenerated portion of the patient bone; identifying a degenerated portion associated with a generally degenerated portion of the patient bone; and using information from at least one image associated with the reference portion to modify at least one aspect associated with at least one image associated the generally degenerated portion. The method may further include employing the computerized bone model representative of the at least a portion of the patient bone in the pre-degenerated state in defining manufacturing instructions for the manufacture of a customized arthroplasty jig. Also disclosed herein is a customized arthroplasty jig manufactured according to the above-described method.

Abstract: A hybrid bioreactor for cell culture is disclosed. To simultaneously apply compressive strain for cell differentiation and shear strain for cell proliferation to cells, the hybrid bioreactor includes a plurality of reactor tube assemblies (100), a compressive strain motor (5), a shear strain motor (25), a lower anchor mount (20) having a plurality of toothed anchors (70) to respectively anchor the lower ends of the reactor tube assemblies (100) to the lower anchor mount (20), a ball screw (90) operated in conjunction with the compressive strain motor (5), an upper anchor mount (60) which engages with the ball screw (90) to vertically move upward and downward and having a plurality of compressive strain anchors (80) to anchor the upper ends of the reactor tube assemblies (100) to the upper anchor mount (60), a power transmission unit to transmit the rotating force of the shear strain motor (25) to the toothed anchors (70).

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a human knee. Femoral and tibial tunnels are drilled into the femur and tibia. A transverse tunnel is drilled into the femur to intersect the femoral tunnel. A filamentary loop is threaded through the femoral tunnel and tibial tunnel and partially through the transverse tunnel. A replacement graft is formed into a loop and moved into the tibial tunnels using a surgical needle and suture. A flexible filamentary member is simultaneously moved along with the loop into the femoral and transverse tunnels. The filamentary member is used as a guide wire in the transverse tunnel to insert a cannulated cross-pin to secure a top of the looped graft in the femoral tunnel.

Abstract: A method of securing a retaining clip for an intervertebral disc replacement device comprising the steps of removingly engaging the retaining clip to a first end of a first applicator arm of an applicator having said first applicator arm and a second applicator arm, inserting the applicator into a patient treatment area having the intervertebral disc replacement device installed therein, placing the hook flange of the body member of the retaining clip over the at least one flange of the intervertebral disc replacement device, applying a closing force to the first and second applicator arms such that the hook flange securingly engages the at least one flange of the intervertebral disc replacement device and a portion of the at least one lateral flange extends over a portion of the bone screw, disengaging the first applicator arm from the retaining clip and removing the applicator from the patient treatment area.

Abstract: A template for use in matching parts (6, 8) of a modular joint prosthesis component to an image of a bone in which the prosthesis component is to be implanted, the prosthesis component including first and second parts (6, 8) which are fitted together to assemble the prosthesis component for implantation. The template comprises a first template part which bears an image of the first part of the prosthesis component, and a second template part which bears images of a plurality of the second parts (23) of the prosthesis component, each of the second parts (23) being a sleeve having a through bore in which, in the assembled prosthesis component, the first part (6) of the prosthesis component can be received. The second template part is connected to the first template part but can be moved relative to it so that the images of the second parts (23) of the prosthesis component can be aligned sequentially in relation to the image of the first template part (6) to form a composite image of the prosthesis component.

Abstract: A tripartite attachment mechanism for a modular prosthesis comprises a body, a sleeve and a shaft. The body has a top end, a bottom end, an internal surface bounding a bore extending between the top and bottom ends, and an external prosthetic surface. The sleeve has a channel extending therethrough, an external prosthetic surface, and a protrusion having an outer surface adapted to be received in the bore. The shaft is adapted to be slidingly received in the bore and the channel. With the shaft in the bore and the channel, sliding the protrusion into the bore causes the internal surface of the bore to bias against the external surface of the protrusion and further causes the internal surface of the channel to bias against the shaft, thereby locking the body, sleeve, and stem in a fixed relative position.

Abstract: A binary attachment mechanism for a modular prosthesis comprises a body and a stem. The body has a top surface, a bottom surface, an internal surface bounding a bore extending between the top and bottom surface. The stem has a protrusion having an external surface adapted to be received in the bore of the body. Sliding the protrusion into the bore causes the external surface of the protrusion to form discrete, spaced apart, releasable connections with the internal surface of the body.

Abstract: Open chambered spacers, implanting tools and methods are provided. The spacers 500′ include a body 505′ having a wall 506′ which defines a chamber 530′ and an opening 531′ in communication with the chamber 530′. In one embodiment the wall 506′ includes a pair of arms 520′, 521′ facing one another and forming a mouth 525′ to the chamber 530′. Preferably, one of the arms 520′ is truncated relative to the other, forming a channel 526. In one aspect the body 505′ is a bone dowel comprising an off-center plug from the diaphysis of a long bone. The tools 800 include spacer engaging means for engaging a spacer and occlusion means for blocking an opening defined in the spacer. In some embodiments, the occlusion means 820 includes a plate 821 extendable from the housing 805.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is processed dermis graft for use in orthopedic surgical procedures. Specifically exemplified herein is a processed dermis graft comprising one or more bone blocks having a groove cut into the surface thereof, wherein said groove is sufficient to accommodate a fixation screw. Also disclosed is a method of processing dermis that results in a dermis derived implant suitable to replace a tendon or ligament in a recipient in need thereof. Other compositions and applications of a dermis derived implant, and methods of manutacture and use, are disclosed.

Abstract: A prosthetic device, such as an acetabular cup, includes a shell, a liner and a bearing. The bearing may be coupled to the liner so as to form a bearing-liner subassembly. The shell is provided with a female taper complimentary to a male taper on the liner. The liner-bearing subassembly may be secured to the shell by engaging the complimentary tapers.

Abstract: A tissue press for shaping or compressing a piece of tissue comprises first and second members movable relative to each other. A first forming element of a predetermined shape is selectively engageable on the first member. A second forming element of predetermined shape is selectively engageable on the second member. The first and second forming elements are positionable on opposite sides of the piece of tissue. The first and second members are relatively movable between a first spaced apart condition and a second condition in which the piece of tissue is held between the first and second forming elements. Means are preferably provided for monitoring and controlling the amount of pressure applied to the piece of tissue, in order to maintain the tissue in a viable living condition. Means may also be provided for draining off fluid from compressed tissue, so that the tissue can be implanted in a compressed state and imbibe fluid from the host site.

Abstract: A composite bearing insert for a total knee joint or a unicondylar knee joint which minimizes or eliminates the production of wear debris resulting from relative motion at the interface between the endoskeleton and a tibial tray of a knee joint prosthesis. The composite bearing insert includes an endoskeleton and a polymer portion which is preferably molded into and locked within the endoskeleton. The endoskeleton is configured to be locked to a tibial component, such as a tibial tray or keel. The modularity of the assembly facilitates the interchangeability of various composite bearing inserts with various tibial components.

Abstract: A modular radial head system including a modular implant for replacing the head of the proximal end of a radius and for articulating with the capitellum of a humerus. The modular implant includes a modular head and an modular stem. The system further includes a modular radial head locking instrument for locking the modular head and the modular stem of the modular implant to one another. The locking instrument includes a first jaw, a second jaw, and a control mechanism for urging the first and second jaws together to provide offset axial compression of the modular head and the modular stem of the modular implant.

Abstract: A medical prosthesis for use within the body which is formed of radiation treated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having substantially no detectable free radicals, is described. Preferred prostheses exhibit reduced production of particles from the prosthesis during wear of the prosthesis, and are substantially oxidation resistant. Methods of manufacture of such devices and material used therein are also provided.

Abstract: Conditioning of the surface of silica-based glass or ceramic by differential immersion in a serum protein-containing solution, and the resultant microporous Ca—P surface layer having serum-protein like organic molecules, as defined herein intermingled throughout, is described.