Abstract: A dental implant delivery system comprising a vial housing an implant and driver mount with a removable flange.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component having an internal box geometry defined by a bone-engaging surface configured as a primary prosthesis. The femoral component has a threaded bore therein communicating with the bone-engaging surface. An adapter has a mating surface complementary to the box geometry of the femoral component and an internal box geometry defined by a bone-engaging surface configured as a revision prosthesis. A hole through the adapter is aligned with the threaded bore of the femoral component and has a recessed shoulder. An adapter screw has a head and a threaded shank, the head sized to be received within the hole of the adapter in engagement with the shoulder, and the shank being sized to be threadedly received within the threaded bore of the femoral component. The adapter screw includes a threaded bore therein.

Abstract: A plastic insert is extracted from a metal acetabular shell by an extractor device which includes a seat positioned on the insert. A first guide member is attached to the seat. A second guide member is mounted for lateral movement with the first guide member. An extractor is mounted on the second guide member. The second guide member is movable relative to the first guide member for positioning the extractor adjacent the shell. A fastener is inserted through the first guide member and into the insert for securing the first guide member to the insert. The extractor is advanced into engagement with the shell so that the fastener withdraws the insert from the shell.

Abstract: A set of modular components from among which an implantable orthopedic hip prosthesis can be assembled. First and second implantable orthopedic femoral hip stem prosthesis each have a neck, the neck having a male conical taper surface. An implantable orthopedic femoral head prosthesis has a female conical taper surface. The respective male and female conical taper surfaces are sized and configured for mutual taper-locked interconnection if engaged, but at least one of the first and second implantable orthopedic femoral hip stem prosthesis is keyed in combination with the implantable orthopedic femoral head prosthesis to prevent engagement of the respective male conical taper surface with the female conical taper surface.

Abstract: An implantable humeral shoulder prosthesis includes a stem and a head. The stem includes a distal stem portion having a longitudinal axis and a proximal body, and a first connector having an axis disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The head includes an undersurface and a spherical articulating surface having a center. The undersurface includes a second connector having an axis that does not pass through the center. The articulating surface subtends a greater angle in a first plane including the axis of the second connector than in a second plane including the axis of the second connector. The first and second connectors are mutually engageable to interlock the head to the proximal body.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic prosthesis includes a first component having a first bearing surface, and a second component having a second bearing surface. The second bearing surface is disposed in opposition to the first bearing surface in a sliding bearing relationship. At lease one of the first and second bearing surfaces includes a plurality of substantially evenly distributed plateaus interspersed with valleys. The plateaus comprise at least about 30% of the gross area of the bearing surface. The plateaus are distributed at a density of about 18 to about 25 plateaus per square inch of gross area of the bearing surface. The first and second bearing surfaces are substantially congruent to each other, and the plateaus have a smooth surface finish of less than about 8 .mu.m root mean square. The valleys have a depth of about 0.0002 inch to about 0.002 inch below the plateaus to facilitate lubrication of the articulating surfaces by natural body fluids.

Abstract: A knee joint balancing instrument. A first body includes a first paddle for engaging a proximal end of a tibial bone. A second body includes a second paddle for engaging a distal end of a femoral bone. A rack is attached to the first body and is moveable relative thereto in a superior-inferior direction. The second body is pivotally mounted to the rack for pivoting about an axis extending in an anterior-posterior direction. A ratchet is connected to the first body and to the rack for selectively restraining movement of the rack in the superior-inferior direction relative to the first body. A pinion is connected to the first body and engages the rack to cause movement of the rack in the superior-inferior direction relative to the first body.

Abstract: Apparatus for distal femur sizing and resection includes an adjustable sizer cut guide device formed by a sizer member, a femoral cut guide and a slide stone. The slide stone is provided to receive an intramedullary rod inserted into the femur. A first member and a second member are sequentially, removably attachable to the adjustable sizer cut guide device. The first member is an adjustable reference device provided for referencing. The second member is a distal cut guide which is attached to the adjustable sizer cut guide device after removal of the reference device, to position the distal cut guide on the femur. Readable scales on the adjustable sizer cut guide device and on the adjustable reference device, are matched to provide a size reference for a femoral prosthesis.

Abstract: A nested cutting block includes at least a first slot for guiding a saw blade during a first bone cutting operation. The first block has a cavity formed therein. A first securing interlock is formed on the first block. A second block is detachably mounted in the cavity and includes at least a second slot for guiding the saw blade during a second bone cutting operation. A second securing interlock is attached to the second block. An interlock member engages the first and second securing interlocks for detachably engaging the second block within the first block. The first bone cutting operation is made with the first and second blocks interconnected and mounted in a cutting position. The second bone cutting operation may be made with the first and second blocks nested together in the cutting position. Alternatively, the second bone cutting operation may also be made with the first block detached from the second block and the second block remaining in the cutting position.

Abstract: An acetabular component for an implantable hip joint prosthesis. An acetabular shell has an apex and a rim, and has a convex proximal surface for being received within a hemispherically reamed acetabulum in a press-fit relationship. The convex proximal surface is shaped as a surface of revolution defined by a curve segment rotated about an axis, where the curve segment and the axis lie in a common plane. The defining curve segment includes a first arc-segment and a second arc-segment. The first arc-segment has a center located on the axis, and the second arc-segment has a center offset from the axis. The convex proximal surface includes a first region defined by the first arc-segment in proximity to the apex and a second region defined by the second arc-segment in proximity to the rim. The convex proximal surface is diametrically oversized in the second region relative to the hemispherically reamed acetabulum.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic prosthesis is provided that includes a shell having a substantially concave inner surface defining a cavity and a substantially annular groove formed therein. The prosthesis further includes a polymeric insert that is positionable within the cavity of the shell, and that has a substantially convex outer surface and a circumferential protrusion projecting therefrom. The protrusion has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section wherein at least one of the sides of the trapezoid is substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry of the insert. The cross-section of the protrusion is substantially congruent to the cross-section of the groove of the shell, and the inner surface of the shell is substantially congruent with a corresponding portion of the outer surface of the insert when the insert is properly positioned within the cavity of the shell.

Abstract: An acetabular shell has a dome hole at the apex that is occluded at the proximal end thereof by a flexible diaphragm affixed to the shell wall of the acetabular shell. The flexible diaphragm moves between a first position spaced from an open proximal end of the dome hole to a second position engaging the open proximal end of the dome hole. Movement of the diaphragm is effected by seating the acetabular shell against the prepared bone of the acetabulum. The position of the diaphragm can be discerned through an open distal end of the dome hole either visually, or tacitly using a suitable feeler probe. The dome hole remains occluded against passage of debris therethrough regardless of the position of the flexible diaphragm.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic prosthesis includes a prosthetic component, such as an acetabular shell or tibial baseplate, having a wall. The wall has a first surface for engaging bone and a second surface. The wall defines a hole therethrough extending from the second surface to the first surface. A portion of the hole is oval cylindrical. A plug is provide having a portion that is also oval cylindrical. Each of the oval portions of the hole and plug have respective major and minor transverse axes. The oval cylindrical portion of the plug is sized to fit without interference within the oval portion of the hole if the respective major and minor axes of plug and hole are substantially aligned. The oval portion of the plug fits in locked interference within the oval portion of the hole if the respective major and minor axes of the plug and hole are substantially misaligned.

Abstract: An acetabular shell can receive bone screws through a screw hole that is initially occluded by a plug in sintered connection with the wall of the screw hole. The sintered connection can be broken to permit removal of the plug, if desired. The plug prevents migration of wear debris from the interior of the shell to the exterior of the shell through an unused screw hole.

Abstract: A patellar prosthesis includes an articulation component having a prosthetic articulation surface and a base component for fixation to resected patellar bone. Each of the articulation and base components include planar bearing surfaces in sliding engagement. The base component includes a fixed pin extending perpendicularly from its respective planar bearing surface. The articulation component includes an elongate groove in its respective planar bearing surface. The pin and groove have complementary wall profiles that provide for an elastic snap-retention of the pin within the groove. The articulation component is free to rotate about the axis of the pin received within the groove, and is free to translate parallel to the planar bearing surfaces, limited by the length of the groove. The articulation component enjoys only one rotational degree of freedom, and only two translational degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An instrument for holding an acetabular cup. An elongate hollow tubular member has a proximal end and a distal end and a generally transverse end face at the distal end. A pair of pins extend axially outwardly from the transverse end face. An elongate rod is mounted within the elongate hollow tubular member for axial movement relative thereto. A ball is attached to one end of the elongate rod proximate the transverse end face and is moveable together with the elongate rod. The ball has a spherical surface for engaging a portion of the inner bearing surface of an acetabular cup that extends radially inwardly relative to the polar axis of the acetabular cup. Retraction of the ball toward the end face of the tubular member draws the cup toward the end face. Corresponding holes in the rim of the cup receive the pins to prevent lateral movement of the cup on the end face of the instrument.

Abstract: An angled orthopedic surfacer and guide which is particularly useful in connection with revision surgeries for femoral hip prostheses. The surfacer comprises a drive shaft connected to a milling head through a U-joint. A housing for the U-joint supports an adjustable spacer which can be moved to selected positions to control the depth of cut. A pivoting guide connects the surfacer to a rasp used to ream out a cavity for a prosthesis. The surfacer can be pivoted around a proximal and medial side of the rasp to cut away bone.

Abstract: A bicompartmental tensiometer for use in prosthetic knee surgery, and in particular for use in revision knee surgery. The tensiometer comprises two parallel, independently operable jaws which are inserted between resected surfaces on the distal femur and the proximal tibia. The jaws are opened manually by the surgeon until the proper tension is placed on the collateral ligaments. Each of the jaws comprises two paddles which remain parallel to each other as they are opened. Moreover, the two jaws remain parallel to each other, or in the same angular orientation, when adjusted to be placed adjacent the condyles. Each jaw is held open by a pawl which engages a rack.