Abstract: An intervertebral disc endoprothesis comprises two symmetrical, concave end plates with an intermediate convex spacing piece. The end plates and the spacing piece have a plane guide rim. The end plates either have an edge shoulder or an annular groove for a toroid provided on the spacing piece. Alternatively, the intervertebral disc endoprothesis comprises two asymmetric end plates and a spacing piece, however, the two areas of movement are offset by 90.degree. in relation to each other and are partial surfaces of a cylinder. In the third variation, the two symmetrical end plates are convex, the spacing piece is cylindrical as well as concave at the two ends and has a durable cover.

Abstract: Basal lamina grafts for reconnecting severed nerves are prepared from muscle by removing cellular material therefrom while preserving the tubular structure of the basal lamina. When connected to nerve stumps the basal lamina surfaces promote axon regeneration therethrough, eventually reestablishing nerve function through the regenerated graft.

Abstract: An implant for use in bone augmentation includes a hollow casing made of a resorbable material and a prosthetic filling material for bones contained within the casing. A method for bone augmentation includes the steps of making an incision adjacent to the augmentation site, inserting an implant comprising a hollow casing made of resorbable porous material and filled with a prosthetic filling material for bones, into the augmentation site directed via the incision, and closing the incision.

Abstract: The method comprises inserting a securing device with skin graft wrapped therearound through an incision in the skin to a subcutaneous region of the body. The skin graft has its epidermis facing the securing device and is joined to the body surface skin at the incision to form a pouch for containing the securing device. The prosthesis is then attached to the securing device. The device comprises a base member for subcutaneous disposition and a post on the base extending to the surface of the body skin. An opening through the post and the base member facilitates attaching the prosthesis to the securing device and permits the pouch to be irrigated by forcing fluid through the opening. Channels in the surface of the base of the device disburse irrigation fluid throughout the pocket for effective cleansing of the pouch. Ridges formed on the post and the base inhibit contractural growth of the pouch from sealing against the securing device and preventing irrigation.

Abstract: The metal bone implant is constructed with thin sheets of superplastic material which are deformed into irregular contours. The sheets are welded to the solid base element of the implant and thereafter deformed outwardly under fluid pressure to an irregular shape.

Abstract: An element for control growth of tissue into surgically intervened areas, e.g. for passages through skin or mucous membrane, or for controlled growth of tissue around surgically treated teeth which have lost part of the supporting tissue thereof, forms one or more undercut cavities (12) which are each available through one or more openings (16) on the outside of the element. The surfaces of the element which are exposed to surrounding tissue consist of or are coated with a biocompatible material.

Abstract: An improved prosthesis construction in a femoral-side hip joint replacement device of the type having an elongate curved stem held within an intramedullary cavity in a femur, and a neck supporting a ball-like joint member at the femur's proximal end. The construction includes an elongate polymer core containing continuous-filament fibers oriented substantially along the length of the core. The core contains the neck, an elongate distal stem whose cross-sectional area is less than about one-quarter that of the neck, and a tapered sections which mates the neck to the stem. A polymer skin fused to and covering the stem and tapered section of the core is shaped and dimensioned to conform to and fill the bone cavity. A braided sheath encases the stem and tapered sections of the core and it embedded in the polymer skin adjacent the core.

Abstract: A method of producing a vascular graft comprises impregnating a tube of flexible porous material with gelatinous material which contains a gelatin with has been treated to cause it to contain a predetermined number of amino groups less than that normally present in untreated gelatin then treating the impregnated tube to cause the amino groups to form cross links with one another. The gelatin may be treated by reacting it with the anhydride or the chloride of a polycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: The medullary cavity barrier is made of a metal in a rosette manner with leaves which are permanently and elastically deformable. The barrier is porous to the extent of being permeable to blood, fat and gases but impermeable to the passage of bone cement. During implantation, each outwardly extending leaf bends relative to a central core to fix the barrier within a tubular bone.

Abstract: An artificial blood vessel comprises a woven, braided or knitted fabric structure. Fibers so extend from a surface of the fabric structure as to be randomly intertwined with the fabric structure. The intertwining of the fibers with the fabric structure can be achieved by applying a high fluid pressure against a surface of the fabric structure.

Abstract: Composite grafts are provided that have a porous wall structure to permit ingrowth thereinto under in vivo conditions but which include a generally non-porous membrane in the wall to prevent substantial fluid passage therethrough so as to provide an implantable porous graft that does not require preclotting prior to implantation. One or more of such membranes are formed in place by applying a polymeric membrane-forming composition during the formation of a graft body by winding elongated extruded fibers on a mandrel.

Abstract: A surgical prosthetic implant for the vertebral column in the form of a rigid, preferably inert metal, plug having a porous metal surface allowing ingrowth of bone cells for biologic fixation is provided to achieve vertebral interbody fusion for treating or preventing back pain in patients with ruptured or degenerated vertebral discs. The plug forms a strut spanning and maintaining the disc space between adjoining vertebrae and has opposite ends bottomed in channels that are cut into the opposing faces of the vertebrae or opposed faces bottomed on the end faces of adjoining vertebrae. Bone ingrowth into the porous surface of the plug achieves long term biological fixation with living bone. Local bone graft harvested from the channel cuts into the vertebrae to receive the plug supplements the fusion. The implant minimizes or eliminates the need for bone graft material obtained from a second surgical site or from a bone bank and simplifies the method of achieving the interbody fusion.

Abstract: A process of grafting material from milled bone is disclosed which comprises augmenting the bone protein of a first quantity of milled bone by dialyzing from solution guanidine-extracted bone proteins from a second quantity of milled bone and adding the extracted proteins to the first quantity of milled bone. Next, unbound proteins are removed and then the augmented milled bone is lypohilized, after which the augmented milled bone is coated with anti-coagulated plasma containing plasma proteins. Any unbound plasma protein is removed from the coating by rinsing.

Abstract: An intralumenal graft for the repair of damaged or weakened sections of the vascular system. The graft consists of a semi-rigid, resilient tube made of a material suitable for long-term residence inside a vessel. The tube has a relaxed, smaller diameter and is expandable to a larger diameter which is maintained by a retaining ledge or teeth on the inside of the graft. Repair of a vessel is attained by insertion of the graft in its relaxed condition into the vessel at a site which may be remote from the damaged section. The graft is positioned and expanded to its larger diameter by a balloon catheter. Once expanded, the graft is retained in position by friction with the inner wall of the vessel.

Abstract: A method of regulating the reproductive functions of animals, preferably domesticated ruminants, and veterinary implants for use in such a method are provided. The veterinary implant tablet comprises about 2-15% by weight of a fatty acid salt compression binder, about 25-50% by weight of a directly compressible vehicle selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate and derivatives thereof, about 1-5% by weight of a granulating agent, and an amount of melatonin effective to maintain blood melatonin at, or above, a natural nighttime level of an animal to be treated for a period of time effective to accelerate an onset of breeding activity in mature animals or to delay an onset of puberty in prepubescent animals. The implant tablet provides a substantially continuous release rate of melatonin so as to maintain blood melatonin at, or above, the stated level. A method for preparing such a veterinary implant tablet is also described.

Abstract: A femoral-side hip-joint prosthetic device for use in hip-joint replacement. The device includes an elongate stem whose surface defines maximally spaced infero-medial and supero-lateral surface curves, and which is characterized by a surface rotation which carries the supero-lateral surface curve about 18.degree.-30.degree. forward with respect to the infero-medial surface curve, on progressing upward along the upper surface portion of the stem, with the device in operative position. The rotation of the stem surface produces a close approximation to the cavity formed in the proximal femur by removal of the cancellous bone in the natural cavity formed by a wall of densified calcellous bone. A 3.degree.-15.degree. proximal anteversion of the neck is adapted to place a hip-joint ball carried on the stem at a position closely approximating that of the head in the natural femur.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable exercise device designed for use by a person in the supine position. The invention consists of three main component parts being, a sturdy rectangular base, resilient means and three straps. The base is placed on the bottom of the user's feet and when the legs are extended the force is transmitted through the resilient means to the straps and then to the muscles of the user's back. While the material used in constructing the invention may vary the basic design must remain unchanged if the invention is to be used effectively in conjunction with the therapeutic exercise program. Of particular importance in this regard are those features of the invention which encourage isotonic contractions of the muscles and the arrangement of the three straps on the user's back which permits interdependent movement of at least two but preferably three of the loops.

Abstract: A reinforcing technique for bone cement used in the anchoring of prosthetic devices. The reinforced bone cement includes oriented reinforcement formed of a continuous fiber-like material that is embedded in the bone cement between at least a portion of the outer surface of the prosthetic device and the surrounding bone that defines the cavity in which the device is implanted. The reinforcement is preferably a polymeric mat embedded in a thin layer of bone cement forming a precoat on the outer surface of the implant.

Abstract: A nonaugmented prosthetic ligament for permanently replacing a natural ligament spanning first and second body members, such as the femur and tibia includes a load bearing member formed from a plurality of biocompatible polyolefin fibers positioned at angles of from 0.degree. to 55.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of the load bearing member. Each fiber is less than 100 microns in diameter and has a tensile strength greater than or equal to about 50,000 psi. The load bearing member may be used alone or may be formed into a hollow braid having a core disposed within the hollow portion of the braid to provide shape for the load bearing member. A sheath may be friction fit or molded onto the exterior of the load bearing member to prevent abrasion of the fibers.

Abstract: An improved intraocular lens is coated with a non-smudging biologically compatible hydrophobic crosslinked vinyl-containing silicone polymer coating material, such as polymethylvinyl siloxane or polymethylphenylvinyl siloxane. The coating material is inert, does not smudge upon contact with another surface, reduces damage on contact with the intraocular tissue, particularly the endothelium, and prevents intraocular lens induction of inflammation. The coating material or matrix preferably contains at least one optically compatible medicament which can be gradually and controllably released therefrom with time and which makes the lens suitable for implantation in both the phakic and aphakic eye. The coating material may further contain a small amount of fine particle size fumed silica.