Abstract: A selectively expanding spine cage has a minimized cross section in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the diameter of the neuroforamen through which it passes in the distracted spine. The cage conformably engages between the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the anterior disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Expanding selectively (anteriorly, along the vertical axis of the spine) rather than uniformly, the cage height increases and holds the vertebrae with fixation forces greater than adjacent bone and soft tissue failure forces in natural lordosis. Stability is thus achieved immediately, enabling patient function by eliminating painful motion. The cage shape intends to rest proximate to the anterior column cortices securing the desired spread and fixation, allowing for bone graft in, around, and through the implant for arthrodesis whereas for arthroplasty it fixes to endpoints but cushions the spine naturally.

Abstract: A system for securing a length of filament in working communication with tissue. The system includes a first filamentary sleeve having a length along a longitudinal axis and a passageway therethrough. The passageway is dimensioned to allow slidable movement therein of a length of filament. Also included within the system is and a filament engagement device that includes a pathway. The pathway has a first configuration and second configuration, wherein a portion of the length of filament is slidable within the pathway when the pathway is in the first configuration and is restricted from sliding when the pathway is in the second configuration.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to preparing models of three-dimensional structures. In particular, a model of a three-dimensional structure constructed of porous geometries is prepared. A component file including a porous CAD volume having a boundary is prepared. A space including the porous CAD volume is populated with unit cells. The unit cells are populated with porous geometries having a plurality of struts having nodes on each end. The space is populated with at least one elongated fixation element extending beyond the boundary to produce an interlocking feature enabling assembly or engagement with a mating structure.

Abstract: A three-dimensional structure is formed when layers of a material are deposited onto a substrate and scanned with a high energy beam to at least partially melt each layer of the material. Upon scanning the layers at predetermined locations at least a first segment overlapping a second segment and underlapping a third segment is formed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of creating a customized arthroplasty jig. The method may include: generating two-dimensional MRI images of a patient's joint area to undergo arthroplasty; electronically orienting the two dimensional MRI image slices to account for the patient's joint area being randomly physically oriented in a scanning area of a MRI machine; generating a three-dimensional bone image of at least a portion of a bone of the patient's joint area from the generated two-dimensional MRI images; using the three-dimensional bone image to generate data pertaining to the customized arthroplasty jig, wherein the data includes bone surface information; providing the data to at least one manufacturing device; and employing the bone surface information to cause the at least one manufacturing device to create a surface on the arthroplasty jig configured to matingly receive a surface of the bone.

Abstract: A system and method of diagnosing tissue integrity related to a joint of a patient may include imaging a first bone of the joint of the patient, determining a bone density profile of the first bone based on results of the imaging step, comparing the bone density profile of the first bone to at least one reference bone density profile of a reference first bone, and predicting an integrity of a tissue with respect to the first bone based on the comparison. The first bone may be a tibia and the bone density profile of the tibia may include a bone density profile of a sulcus of a medial tibial condyle of the tibia. The tissue may be an anterior cruciate ligament (“ACL”) and the predicting step may include predicting the integrity of both an anteromedial bundle and a posterolateral bundle of the ACL.

Abstract: A prosthetic shoulder implant system includes a prosthetic humeral implant and a version device. The humeral implant includes a catch member aperture and a first locking pin aperture. The version device includes a rotatable member with a body and a flexure member, and a plate with a catch member and a projection contacting the flexure member. A first locking pin extends from the version device and is adapted to mate with the first locking pin aperture. In an unlocked condition of the system, the rotatable member has a first rotated position in which the flexure member is in an uncompressed state and the plate is in a first position, and in a locked condition of the system, the rotatable member has a second rotated position in which the flexure member is in a compressed state and the plate is in a second position proximal of the first position.

Abstract: A method for planning an arthroplasty procedure on a patient bone. The method may include accessing generic bone data stored in a memory of a computer, using the computer to generate modified bone data by modifying the generic bone data according to medical imaging data of the patient bone, using the computer to derive a location of non-bone tissue data relative to the modified bone data, and superimposing implant data and the modified bone data in defining a resection of an arthroplasty target region of the patient bone.

Abstract: An acetabular reamer has a rotatable drive shaft extending along a first longitudinal central axis. A second housing surrounds at least a portion of the drive shaft, the first housing having a gripping arm. A drive motor in a first housing is coupled to a first end of the rotatable drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft. A reamer head is rotatably coupled to a second end of the rotatable drive shaft, the reamer head rotatable about a second axis extending at an acute angle with respect to the rotatable drive shaft first longitudinal. A releasable connector couples the first and second housing and prevent relative rotation between the first housing and the second housing.

Abstract: An inserter assembly for inserting anchors into bone includes a handle having a handle body. A first inserter is disposed within the handle body and is fixedly connected thereto. The first inserter has an insertion end configured to retain a first anchor for insertion thereof into bone. A second inserter is slidably disposed within the handle body and has an insertion end configured to retain a second anchor for insertion thereof into bone. A sleeve is slidably disposed within the handle body and is releasably connected to the second inserter.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing produce metal implants having nano-modified surfaces that contain antimicrobial properties. The methods may include immersing the implant in an acid, rinsing the acid-treated implant in an aqueous cleaner, and thereafter heating the rinsed implant. The nano-modified implants described herein may contain an increased surface roughness; surface features with increased width or height; and/or decreased surface energy. The implants that result from these methods contain a nano-modified surface that is resistant to microbial cell adhesion and ultimately reduce biomaterials-related infections at the implant site.

Abstract: An expandable interbody implant is expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration by moving opposing first and second vertebral-engaging surfaces apart from one another. The implant includes a locking system for restraining contraction of the implant. The locking system may have a locked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are prevented from moving back towards the contracted configuration, and the locking system may have an unlocked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are permitted to move back towards the contracted configuration. The locking system may be controlled by rotation of one or more pinions. The pinions may, in turn, be controlled by linear movement of a rack. The rack may be configured so as to bias the locking system towards the locked configuration. The implant may also include a stop for constraining the maximum expansion of the implant.

Abstract: Described herein are cannulated reamer designs and methods. In one embodiment, a reamer comprises a cannulated central body portion, a plurality of cutting legs and outer frame. The cannulated central body portion has an inner wall surface and an opposing outer wall surface defining a thickness and a bone contacting surface and an opposing distal end surface defining a length, the inner wall surface defining a bore about a central longitudinal axis of the cannulated central body portion. The plurality of cutting legs extends outwardly from the cannulated central body portion. The other defines a periphery of the reamer, the outer frame coupled to a lateral end of each of the plurality of cutting legs. The cannulated central body portion has a recess extending entirely through the thickness and only partially though the length from a location along the length above the bone contacting surface and through the opposing distal end surface.

Abstract: A total knee prosthesis including a tibial component having a baseplate portion and a protruding portion extending from the baseplate portion is disclosed. An axle is connectable to the tibial component directly or indirectly. A femoral component has an articular surface and an opening for receipt of the axle. The opening defines a pivot center about which the femoral prosthesis rotates. The articular surface has a posterior portion having a first flexion radius defining a first flexion center. The first flexion center is offset from the pivot center a distance substantially equal to a product of a constant and the first flexion radius.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use in sizing a bone staple implant for implantation into a patient's bone is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an elongated body having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end. A first sizing plate is attached to and extending outwardly from the first longitudinal end, and a second sizing plate is attached to and extending outwardly from the second longitudinal end. The first sizing plate includes a first visible marking that identifies a width of a first bone staple implant, and the second sizing plate includes a second visible marking that identifies a width of a second bone staple implant. A system and a method for sizing a bone staple implant for implantation into a patient's bone are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hip replacement surgery. The surgical guide tool may include a customized mating region and a resection guide. The customized mating region and the resection guide are referenced to each other such that, when the customized mating region matingly engages a surface area of a proximal femur, the resection guide will be aligned to guide a resectioning of the proximal femur along a preoperatively planned resection plane.

Abstract: A distal femoral joint replacement system includes a femoral component having condylar articular surfaces, a stem extending from the femoral component, and a void filler for filling a bone void within a femur. The void filler includes a body and a plurality of legs extending from the body. The body has a sidewall defining an opening for receipt of the stem which extends along a length of the body and extends through the sidewall so as to form a side-slot in the sidewall that extends along an entire length of the sidewall. The plurality of legs each have a first end connected to the body and a second end remote from the body. The legs each have an outer surface that tapers between the first and second ends and is configured to register with a corresponding inner surface of a bone void when implanted in an end of the femur.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.

Abstract: A method for planning an arthroplasty procedure on a patient bone. The method may include accessing generic bone data stored in a memory of a computer, using the computer to generate modified bone data by modifying the generic bone data according to medical imaging data of the patient bone, using the computer to derive a location of non-bone tissue data relative to the modified bone data, and superimposing implant data and the modified bone data in defining a resection of an arthroplasty target region of the patient bone.

Abstract: A method is used for aligning an acetabular cup insertion instrument by taking a single lateral view pre-operative digital x-ray of a standing patient's pelvis. The natural pelvic tilt angle is determined by locating an anterior pelvic plane (APP) which is defined by first, second and third points on the anterior of the pelvis and determining the angle between the APP and a coronal plane perpendicular to the surface on which the patient is standing. The patient is then placed on a surface of an operating room table in a supine position. A position tracking device is placed on the patient's pelvis to track movement. Thereafter an operating room navigation or orientation system is used to relocate the APP defined by the first, second and third points. A cup insertion instrument having a position tracking device thereon is oriented using the navigation or orientation system.