Abstract: A method is provided for depositing a hard wear resistant surface onto a porous or non-porous base material of a medical implant. The wear resistant surface of the medical implant device may be formed by a Laser Based Metal Deposition (LBMD) method such as Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS). The wear resistant surface may include a blend of multiple different biocompatible materials. Further, functionally graded layers of biocompatible materials may be used to form the wear resistant surface. Usage of a porous material for the base may promote bone ingrowth to allow the implant to fuse strongly with the bone of a host patient. The hard wear resistant surface provides device longevity, particularly when applied to bearing surfaces such as artificial joint bearing surfaces or a dental implant bearing surfaces. An antimicrobial material such as silver may be deposited in combination with a metal to form an antimicrobial surface deposit.

Abstract: Knee prosthesis instrumentation including an insertion tool and a removal tool. The insertion tool may include an offset to provide clearance from a femoral component of the knee prosthesis. The removal tool may be wedge shaped to at least partially encircle a post of the knee prosthesis for removal. A mallet may be used with the instruments to provide additional force for prosthesis insertion or removal. A slide hammer may be incorporated into the instruments themselves.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for securely, yet releasably, connecting separate parts. A shaft engages a cooperating socket to form a connection capable of sustaining service loads. The shaft has a protruding pin which slides within a slot in the socket to guide the shaft into locked engagement with the socket. The shaft also has a cantilever body which wedges into a tapered region in the socket to frictionally bind the shaft and socket together.

Abstract: A surgical rasping system functional in multiple orthopedic applications, including but not limited to shoulder, knee, hip, wrist, ankle, spinal, or other joint procedures. The system comprises a rasping head which may be low profile and offer a flat cutting/rasping surface, and is configured to be driven by an attached hub that translates a rotational movement into a reciprocating motion. Suction for removal of bone fragments or other tissues is provided through an opening spaced apart from or adjacent to the rasping surface.

Abstract: A trial system for an implantable joint replacement includes a guide assembly having a baseplate and a guide plate, the guide plate rotatable relative to the base plate about a rotation axis extending through the guide plate and the baseplate while directly connected to the baseplate. An adjustment mechanism is actuable to selectively control the rotational juxtaposition of the guide plate relative to the baseplate. The rotation axis may be medially offset from the center of the guide assembly. A single instrument may be used to rotate the guide plate relative to the base plate and lock the plates in the selected juxtaposition. The guide plate provides in situ positionable cutting guidance for implantation of prosthetic joint components. The system may further include an articulating insert trial mounted on the guide assembly to determine preferred joint alignment and/or optimal positioning of the guide plate.

Abstract: A trial system for an implantable joint replacement includes an articular insert having an insert body and an insert post captive to the insert body. The insert post is translatable relative to the insert body while remaining captive to the insert body. An aperture on the insert body forms a path, which may be arcuate, along which the insert post can translate. An axis of rotation about which the insert post translates passes through the insert body, and may be medially offset from the center of the body. A flexible element may connect the insert post to the insert body. In one method of use, the trial system is engaged with a femoral component and a tibial component during a prosthetic total knee joint implantation procedure to determine selection of an implantable articular insert which provides knee joint articulation closely matching the articulation of a natural knee.

Abstract: A trial system for an implantable joint replacement includes a guide assembly having a baseplate and a guide plate, the guide plate translatable relative to the base plate along a straight path while directly connected to the baseplate. A first adjustment mechanism may selectively control the translational juxtaposition of the guide plate relative to the baseplate. The guide plate may further be rotatable relative to the baseplate around a rotation axis. A second adjustment mechanism may selectively control the rotational juxtaposition of the guide plate relative to the baseplate, and can lock the plates together. The rotation axis may be medially offset from the center of the guide assembly. The guide plate provides in situ positionable cutting guidance for implantation of prosthetic joint components. The system may further include an articulating insert trial mounted on the guide assembly to determine preferred joint alignment and/or optimal positioning of the guide plate.

Abstract: Implants and methods are presented for surgically repairing a hip joint with a proximal femoral prosthesis that comprises femoral head component and a femoral stem component. The femoral stem component comprises a neck portion, a flange portion, a transitional body region and an elongated stem. The femur is prepared for implantation of the femoral hip prosthesis by resecting the proximal femur and reaming a symmetric intramedullary cavity in the femur. The femoral hip prosthesis is then inserted the on the resected femur and in the intramedullary cavity. The femoral hip prosthesis elastically deforms when loaded during use to apply dynamic compressive loads and displacement to the calcar region of the resected proximal femur.

Abstract: A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways such that a suture can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. The suture may be inserted through the passageways through the use of a cartridge designed to contain the line lock. Threaders may pass through the line lock within the cartridge. Each threader may have a leading end and a trailing end that can be coupled to a suture end. Thus, two suture ends may be drawn through the passageways by coupling them to the threaders and drawing the leading ends of the threaders to cause the suture ends to pass through the passageways according to the desired pattern. The cartridge may then be opened to permit easy removal of the suture and the line lock.

Abstract: A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways such that a suture can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. The suture may be inserted through the passageways through the use of a cartridge designed to contain the line lock. Threaders may pass through the line lock within the cartridge. Each threader may have a leading end and a trailing end that can be coupled to a suture end. Thus, two suture ends may be drawn through the passageways by coupling them to the threaders and drawing the leading ends of the threaders to cause the suture ends to pass through the passageways according to the desired pattern. The cartridge may then be opened to permit easy removal of the suture and the line lock.

Abstract: A posterior spinal fusion system may include pedicle screws and one or more segments designed to be attached to the implanted pedicle screws via nuts to fuse spinal motion segments in a modular fashion. The pedicle screws may have semispherical receiving surfaces, and each segment may have mounting portions at both ends, with corresponding semispherical engagement surfaces. The nuts may also have semispherical surfaces. The semispherical surfaces permit polyaxial adjustment of the relative orientations of the segments and pedicle screws. Each mounting portion may have a passageway therethrough to receive the proximal end of the corresponding pedicle screw; each passageway may intersect the edge of the corresponding engagement surface to facilitate percutaneous placement. Such placement may be carried out through cannulae to provide a minimally invasive (MIS) implantation procedure.

Abstract: A system for single tunnel, double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction includes implant constructs and instruments. The implant constructs provide a combination of cortical fixation and bone tunnel aperture fixation. The implant constructs separate a graft into distinct bundles. The instruments are used to prepare shaped bone tunnels to receive the implant constructs and graft bundles. Methods for reconstructing the antero-medial and postero-lateral bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament may rely on single femoral and tibial tunnels and a single strand of graft.

Abstract: A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding two passageways that cooperate to receive a locking portion of a line such as a suture in such a manner that the locking portion can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. A second suture locking portion may also received by the passageways, or by one of the two passageways in combination with a third passageway. The body may have an elongated, compact shape that is easily implantable in the body.

Abstract: A porous PEEK implant system which may provide tissue ingrowth throughout the body of the implant. The implant may comprise a solid or porous PEEK core. The porous PEEK implants may be of general shape and size but provide the structure necessary to carry out the function of the implant. The porous PEEK implant pores may be seeded with agents to encourage tissue ingrowth as well as other agents such as antibiotics, anesthetics, analgesics and the like.

Abstract: A system for open or arthroscopic surgical repair of torn or damaged meniscal tissue has a repair member and an instrument. The repair member is a suture, flexible or rigid implant. The instrument has at a portion that is shaped to slide within a meniscal capsular tunnel. The meniscal capsular tunnel is an opening in the knee soft tissue passing from the anterior side of the knee adjacent to the mensical tissue to the posterior side of the knee in both the medial and lateral directions. The instrument interacts with the repair member to either insert it into the meniscus from the posterior side, or to facilitate securing of the repair member so that the repair member holds the meniscal tissue together on either side of a meniscal tear to foster healing of the damaged tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for passing a suture through a tissue and tying a surgical knot. The system may comprise a suture and a first and a second arm. The first arm may comprise a needle and the second arm may comprise a tube configured to allow the needle of the first arm to pass through. One end of the suture may be wrapped around the tube and the other end of suture secured to the needle. The arms may engage. The needle and suture may pass through the tube and the portion of the suture wrapped around the tube. A knot is formed with the suture. The suture may be secured to the opposite site of the arm with the needle. The arms may disengage which may remove the needle from the tube. The knot may be tensioned by pulling on opposite ends of the suture in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method for mounting a tibial condylar implant includes forming a tunnel having a proximal end on a lateral, medial, or anterior side of a proximal end of the tibia and a distal end on an at least partially resected lateral or medial facet at the proximal end of the tibia. A condylar implant is positioned over the distal end of the tunnel. A fastener is advanced into the tunnel from the proximal end of the tunnel. The fastener which is at least partially disposed within the tunnel is secured to the condylar implant.

Abstract: Interspinous implants including a spacer configured to fit between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a human spine, to maintain a minimum separation between the spinous processes. An implant also includes a fixation portion coupled to the spacer, in which the fixation portion engages at least one spinous process to hold the spacer in a stable position relative to the spinous process. An implant may be monolithic, non-fillable, and may be inserted between the spinous process from a lateral approach. The fixation portion may be configured as a bracket which can substantially encircle the spinous process, or as flanges which engage lateral sides of the spinous process(es). The spacer may be resilient, and may be expandable along the anterior/posterior direction between the spinous processes. An implant may provide resilient resistance during extension, and/or a uniform extension stop between the spinous processes.

Abstract: Interspinous implants including a spacer configured to fit between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a human spine, to maintain a minimum separation between the spinous processes. An implant also includes a fixation portion coupled to the spacer, in which the fixation portion engages at least one spinous process to hold the spacer in a stable position relative to the spinous process. An implant may be monolithic, non-fillable, and may be inserted between the spinous process from a lateral approach. The fixation portion may be configured as a bracket which can substantially encircle the spinous process, or as flanges which engage lateral sides of the spinous process(es). The spacer may be resilient, and may be expandable along the anterior/posterior direction between the spinous processes. An implant may provide resilient resistance during extension, and/or a uniform extension stop between the spinous processes.

Abstract: A novel fixation system for fixing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel. The fixation system comprises an interference screw comprising a body having a distal end and a proximal end, screw threads extending longitudinally along the body, and a transversely-extending region formed in the body for receiving a transverse pin therein, whereby to securely lock the interference screw, and hence the graft ligament, to the bone. In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, there is provided a method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone, the method comprising the steps of: (i) drilling a tunnel in the bone; (ii) positioning the graft ligament in the bone tunnel; (iii) placing an interference screw in the bone tunnel so as to force the graft ligament laterally against the opposite side of the bone tunnel; and (iv) advancing a transverse pin transversely through the bone and through the interference screw so as to securely lock the interference screw, and hence the graft ligament, to the bone.