Abstract: An alignment guide includes locator arm having a proximal end connected to a support member and a distal end having location means for location on a high point of the femoral head. The locator arm also has a notch guard which in use will extend around at least a part of the femoral neck.

Abstract: A replacement ligament prosthesis including an elongate replacement ligament having a femoral end and a tibial end. The prosthesis includes a bar, which in use will extend between the medial and lateral condyles of a femur and across the intercondylar notch, and to which the femoral end of the elongate replacement ligament will be fixed. The prosthesis also includes a fixing means, which in use will fasten the tibial end of the elongate replacement ligament to the tibia.

Abstract: A cap used during the insertion of an acetabular cup prosthesis. The cap comprises an impaction plate having an upperside and an underside. The impaction plate comprises a plurality of separate sectors mutually connected at a connection point on the impaction plate by means of flanges. Each sector includes interlocking means which in use enable the impaction plate to be connected to an introduction tool. The cap also comprises at least one lug extending downwardly from the underside of each sector. The lug is located at the portion of the underside of the impaction plate which will in use enable the lug to be interconnected with a corresponding recess on an internal wall, an external wall or a rim of a prosthesis.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant is described for surgical implantation in a hand of a patient comprising an elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51) for passing snugly around a surgically exposed bone (21) of the hand, the elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51) having first and second end portions (25, 27; 35, 36; 54, 55) at opposite ends thereof, the first end portion (25; 35; 54) of the elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51) being provided with slot defining means (26; 34; 56) defining a slot for receipt of the second end portion (27; 36; 55) of the elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51), and locking means (-; -; 65) to secure the second end portion (27; 36; 55) to the first end portion (25; 35; 54) after insertion of the second end portion (27; 36; 55) in the slot.

Abstract: A checking jig comprising: a body having an aperture therethrough which in use can be placed over a guide wire located in a well in the head of the femur; an arm extending from the body and shaped to extend around the head of the femur; a tip located on the end of the arm remote from the body said tip representing the diameter at which a particular size of sleeve cutter will cut; and means for adjusting the position of the tip between different positions representing different cut diameters.

Abstract: An alignment trial system for a hip prosthesis comprising: (a) a trial femoral prosthesis comprising a head component, a neck component and a stem component; and (b) a trial acetabular cup prosthesis wherein the head component of the trial femoral prosthesis and the trial acetabular cup prosthesis include interlocking engagement formations and wherein the trial acetabular cup prosthesis includes means to facilitate the formation of a bore in the pelvis.

Abstract: A cap for use during the insertion of a prosthesis comprising: an impaction plate; an least one cable loop for connecting the impaction plate to a prosthesis; clamping means for attaching the at least one cable means to the impaction plate; and cutting means for severing the at least one loop at one point along its length.

Abstract: An acetabular component prosthesis adapted for affixation in a recess in a pelvis, comprising: a cup shell having a generally convex outer surface adapted to be in contact with the bone in use, a generally concave inner surface and a rim; at least one pair of substantially adjacent flanges extending from the outer surface of the cup at a point proximal to the rim of the cup and angled at angle ? downwardly thereto; one flange of the pair being at an equal but opposite angle ? to a plane extending across the apex of each of the flanges to the other of the pair; and at least one aperture in each of the pair of flanges through which in use fixation means may be passed to fix the cup into the recess in the pelvis.

Abstract: An alignment guide for use in femoral head surgery comprising: a support member; a cannulated rod supported by, and adjustable with respect to, the support arm, and two jaws, a superior jaw and a inferior jaw, each jaw having a proximal end connected to the support, and a distal end for clamping to the neck of the femur in use; at least one of said jaws being movable from a first open position to a second clamping position.

Abstract: An alignment guide for use in femoral head surgery comprising: a support arm having a proximal and a distal end; a ring located at the distal end of the support arm and angled to the plane of the support arm; and a collar located at the proximal end of the support arm, the support arm being configured such that the axis of the bore of the collar is located above the ring.

Abstract: The invention provides an acetabular prosthesis comprising an outer portion having a substantally concave inner surface and a substantially convex outer surface. An inner portion within and spaced from the outer portion and having a substantially concave inner surface defining a cavity and a substantially convex outer surface. Flexible connecting means, such as vanes, connect the outer convex surface of the inner portion to the concave inner surface of the outer portion. Such an acetabular prosthesis can exhibit matched compliance between the outer portion and the patient's pelvis while the inner portion accommodates idealised rigidity for artificial articulation components.

Abstract: The invention relates to an element for incorporation into a prosthetic implant so as to form a bone-contacting portion thereof, the element comprising a rear face, a front face, and a body extending between the rear face and the front face, wherein the front face comprises a basal surface and at least one upstanding portion projecting above the basal surface and having a transverse hole extending therethrough from one side of the upstanding portion to another. It further relates to a prosthetic implant for implantation into a patient so as to contact a bone of the patient, the prosthetic implant comprising a body including a bone-contacting portion for contacting the patient's bone after implantation of the prosthetic implant, wherein the bone-contacting portion is provided with at least one upstanding portion that projects above a surrounding basal surface portion and that is provided with a transverse hole that extends through the upstanding portion from one side to another.

Abstract: A tibial prosthesis has a metal tray component (1) comprising a transverse member (3) with a peripheral upstanding rim (6) and a projecting stem (4). The upstanding rim (6) includes a posterior rim portion with an undercut lip forming a pair of recesses (7, 8) and an anterior rim portion with an open angled posterior surface portion (9) and a posteriorly projecting barbed portion (10). The prosthesis also includes a tibia insert (2) made of a plastics material which fits on the tibial implant (1) within the upstanding rim (6) and has on a posterior portion thereof a shaped contour (14, 15) adapted in use to fit snugly under the undercut lip and on an anterior portion thereof an anterior surface (13) having a taper angle substantially corresponding to the angle of the open angled posterior surface portion.

Abstract: A system for use by a surgeon during a knee replacement operation comprises a navigation computer whose memory holds data relating to size and shape of at least one implant as well as data obtained during pre-operative scanning. The system also registers the three dimensional position and orientation of the patient's tibia and/or femur during the course of the knee replacement operation. The system is capable of applying tension to the ligaments of the patient's knee in flexion or in extension after resection of the patient's tibia. Moreover the computer is programmed to display images of the bones on the computer's screen at different stages of the operation and with potential planes of cut.

Abstract: A surgical tool for gripping the implant includes an elongate body having a first end surface for bearing on the prosthetic implant. Lugs or hooked ends of the tool are capable of attaching the tool to the implant.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant is described for surgical implantation in a hand of a patient comprising an elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51) for passing snugly around a surgically exposed bone (21) of the hand, the elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51) having first and second end portions (25, 27; 35, 36; 54, 55) at opposite ends thereof, the first end portion (25; 35; 54) of the elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51) being provided with slot defining means (26; 34; 56) defining a slot for receipt of the second end portion (27; 36; 55) of the elongate flexible member (24; 32; 51), and locking means (-; -; 65) to secure the second end portion (27; 36; 55) to the first end portion (25; 35; 54) after insertion of the second end portion (27; 36; 55) in the slot.

Abstract: A mechanism for powering an auto-extensible tissue distractor, e.g. a bone fixator, is described in which a movable device is caused to move in small incremental steps of a few &mgr;m each along an elongate member towards its distal end under the influence of one or more piezoelectric actuators.

Abstract: A prosthesis for a metacarpophalangeal joint comprises a metacarpal plug member, a metacarpal insert member, and a phalangeal insert member. The metacarpal plug member comprises an elongate body which generally tapers from a proximal end to a distal end, an axial bore, and a plurality of axially spaced first fins projecting from the elongate body. The metacarpal insert member comprising a head portion having a convex articulating surface and a stem portion. The phalangeal insert member comprises an enlarged proximal end portion and an elongate shaft portion. The enlarged end portion is provided with a concave articulating surface substantially congruent with the convex articulating surface of the metacarpal insert member, and the elongate shaft portion tapers generally towards a distal end of the phalangeal insert member, and is provided with a plurality of axially spaced second fins projecting therefrom.

Abstract: A tibial prosthesis is described comprising a metal tray component (1) comprising a transverse member (3) having an upper side with a peripheral upstanding rim (6) and a lower side provided with a projecting stem (4) for insertion in a surgically prepared cavity in a tibia of a patient. The upstanding rim (6) includes a posterior rim portion and an anterior rim portion. The posterior rim portion is provided with an undercut lip forming a pair of recesses (7, 8) and the anterior rim portion has an open angled posterior surface portion (9) and a posteriorly projecting barbed portion (10). The prosthesis also includes a tibia insert (2) made of a plastics material shaped to fit on the upper side of the tibial implant (1) within the upstanding rim (6) and having an upper bearing surface (11, 12) adapted to cooperate with at least one condyle of a femur or of a femoral implant and a lower surface.

Abstract: The invention provides an acetabular prosthesis (1) comprising: