Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes: (a) a first member comprising rigid material and having a perimeter flange defined by an undercut groove, the flange defining a wear-resistant first contact surface having a protruding rim; (b) a second member comprising rigid material and having a perimeter flange defined by an undercut groove, the flange defining a wear-resistant, second contact surface having a protruding rim; and (c) a third member comprising rigid material positioned between the first and second members, the third member defining opposed wear-resistant third and fourth contact surfaces; (d) wherein the first and second contact surfaces bear against the third and fourth contact surfaces, to transfer loads through the member, while allowing pivoting motion between the first and second members; (e) wherein the flanges can deform elastically such that the first and second contact surfaces conform to the third and fourth contact surfaces.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint member includes: a generally concave cup with an outer surface that is bone-implantable, the cup including a first indexing feature; a concave insert disposed inside the cup, the insert comprising a rigid material and including a concave interior defining a nominal surface, the interior including a cantilevered flange defined by an undercut in the insert, the flange defining a wear-resistant first contact surface which protrudes inward relative to the nominal surface, the insert including a second indexing feature. The first and second indexing features engage each other so as to retain the insert in a fixed angular orientation relative to the cup.

Abstract: A medical implant includes a first member adapted to be implanted to bond and having a substantially rigid first contact surface; and a second member adapted to be implanted to bone and having a substantially rigid second contact surface which bears against the first contact surface so as to transfer load from one member to the other while allowing relative motion between the two members; At least one of the first and second contact surfaces is adapted to have resilient properties when placed under load.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes: (a) first member having a balanced centroidal axis, and comprising a rigid material and a concave interior defining a cup surface, the cup surface including: (i) a cantilevered first flange defining a wear-resistant protruding first contact rim, the first flange being asymmetric relative to the balanced centroidal axis; and (ii) a cantilevered second flange defining a wear-resistant protruding second contact rim; (b) a second member comprising a rigid material with a wear-resistant, convex contact surface; (c) where the first and second contact rims bear against the contact surface of the second member, to transfer loads between the first and second members, while allowing pivoting motion therebetween; and (d) wherein the flanges are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and permit the first and second contact rims to conform in an irregular shape to the contact surface, when the joint is under load.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes: (a) a first member including a bone-implantable surface, comprising rigid material, and including a body having a cantilevered perimeter flange that defines a wear-resistant, concave first contact surface having a protruding rim and a recessed central portion; (b) a second member including a bone-implantable surface and comprising rigid material with a wear-resistant, convex second contact surface; (c) where the contact surfaces bear directly against each other, transferring axial and lateral loads between the members, while allowing pivoting motion therebetween; (d) wherein the flange is shaped and sized so as to deform elastically, permitting the first contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the second contact surface when the joint is loaded; and (e) wherein at least one of the bone-implantable surfaces includes at least one mechanical feature configured to maintain the associated member in a specific position and/or orientation relative to bone.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint includes: (a) a femoral member comprising rigid material with a convex, wear-resistant femoral contact surface including a convex ridge; (b) a tibial assembly including: (i) at least one cup comprising rigid material with a body and a rim substantially thicker than the body defining a wear-resistant cup contact surface; (ii) a rigid base; and (iii) a spring support interconnecting the cup and the base, the spring support elastically deflectable permitting controlled pivoting of the at least one cup; (c) wherein the cup contact surface bears against the femoral contact surface, transferring axial and lateral loads between the cup and femoral member, while allowing pivoting between the cup and femoral member; and (d) wherein the at least one cup allows the rim to deform elastically, permitting the cup contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the femoral contact surface, when the knee joint is loaded.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint member includes: a generally concave cup with an outer surface that is bone-implantable, the cup including a first indexing feature; a concave insert disposed inside the cup, the insert comprising a rigid material and including a concave interior defining a nominal surface, the interior including a cantilevered flange defined by an undercut in the insert, the flange defining a wear-resistant first contact surface which protrudes inward relative to the nominal surface, the insert including a second indexing feature. The first and second indexing features engage each other so as to retain the insert in a fixed angular orientation relative to the cup.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint member includes: a generally concave cup with an outer surface that is bone-implantable, the cup including a first indexing feature; a concave insert disposed inside the cup, the insert comprising a rigid material and including a concave interior defining a nominal surface, the interior including a cantilevered flange defined by an undercut in the insert, the flange defining a wear-resistant first contact surface which protrudes inward relative to the nominal surface, the insert including a second indexing feature. The first and second indexing features engage each other so as to retain the insert in a fixed angular orientation relative to the cup.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes: (a) first member having a balanced centroidal axis, and comprising a rigid material and a concave interior defining a cup surface, the cup surface including: (i) a cantilevered first flange defining a wear-resistant protruding first contact rim, the first flange being asymmetric relative to the balanced centroidal axis; and (ii) a cantilevered second flange defining a wear-resistant protruding second contact rim; (b) a second member comprising a rigid material with a wear-resistant, convex contact surface; (c) where the first and second contact rims bear against the contact surface of the second member, to transfer loads between the first and second members, while allowing pivoting motion therebetween; and (d) wherein the flanges are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and permit the first and second contact rims to conform in an irregular shape to the contact surface, when the joint is under load.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint includes: (a) a femoral member comprising rigid material with a convex, wear-resistant femoral contact surface including a convex ridge; (b) a tibial assembly including: (i) at least one cup comprising rigid material with a body and a rim substantially thicker than the body defining a wear-resistant cup contact surface; (ii) a rigid base; and (iii) a spring support interconnecting the cup and the base, the spring support elastically deflectable permitting controlled pivoting of the at least one cup; (c) wherein the cup contact surface bears against the femoral contact surface, transferring axial and lateral loads between the cup and femoral member, while allowing pivoting between the cup and femoral member; and (d) wherein the at least one cup allows the rim to deform elastically, permitting the cup contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the femoral contact surface, when the knee joint is loaded.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes: (a) a first member comprising rigid material including a wear-resistant, concave cup surface; and (b) a second member comprising rigid material with a wear-resistant, convex contact surface; (c) one of the surfaces includes: (i) an annular first flange defining a protruding wear-resistant first contact rim at or near an apex of the member; and (ii) an annular second flange defining a protruding wear-resistant second contact rim, at or near an outer periphery of the member; (d) the first and second contact rims bear directly against the contact surface, so as to transfer loads between the first and second members, while allowing pivoting motion therebetween; and (e) the flanges are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and permit the contact rims to conform in an irregular shape to the surface of the opposite member, when the joint is placed under a predetermined load.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes: (a) a bone-implantable first member comprising a rigid material and including a body having an annular flange extending outward at a first end thereof, the first end of the body and the flange cooperatively defining a wear-resistant concave first contact surface having a protruding rim and a recessed central portion; and (b) a bone-implantable second member comprising a rigid material with a wear-resistant convex second contact surface; (c) where the first and second contact surfaces bear directly against each other so as to transfer axial and lateral loads from one of the members to the other, while allowing pivoting motion between the two members; (d) wherein the flange is shaped so as to deform elastically and permit the first contact surface to conform to the second contact surface when the joint is placed under a predetermined load.

Abstract: A component shielded with layers for impeding wear and corrosion includes: a metallic member having an outer surface, and a matrix of layers including a carbon-based layer and at least one oxide layer disposed on the outer surface. The layers may be formed by deposition or by other methods.

Abstract: A highly flexible component, for example a medical instrument, device, or implant, is treated with a carbon thin film. The thin film acts as a biocompatible corrosion and wear resistant layer over the base material of the component.