Abstract: An implant device for surgical treatment of spinal disc damage or injury is formed as a resilient body comprising porous TiNi; the body is internally mobile such that it resiliently expands and contracts in response to variation in forces applied externally on the body.

Abstract: A porous article of a nickel-titanium alloy, said article having a porosity of 8 to 90% and said porosity being defined by a network of interconnected passageways extending throughout said member, said network exhibiting a permeability of fluid material effective to permit complete migration of the fluid material throughout said network, said permeability being isotropic, and said member being elastically deformable; the porous article is useful as a biomedical implant and in other non-medical applications including the working element of cryogenic surgical instruments.