Abstract: A bearing for a total or partial joint replacement prosthesis: the bearing having a body and a reinforcing element which strengthens the bearing and which forms an attachment member, and/or the bearing being formed at least partially from polymeric or composite material the bearing comprising a lower modulus portion and a higher modulus portion, one portion of the bearing being at least partially encased by the other portion of the bearing. Also provided is a method for of forming the bearing, and a total or partial joint replacement prosthesis comprising the hearing.

Abstract: A femoral extension prosthetic component for use in a unicondylar meniscal bearing unicompartmental knee replacement is described. The femoral component comprises a securing element and a bearing surface, the securing element adapted to abut and be connected to a distal end of a femur bone, and the bearing surface adapted to abut a meniscal bearing. The femoral component includes an entrapment portion adapted to extend beyond the meniscal bearing. Tibial components and meniscal bearings are also described, as well as methods of using such components.

Abstract: A bearing component 2 for a joint replacement prosthesis comprises a first bearing element 4; a second bearing element 6, and a linking element 8, operatively connecting the first and second bearing elements 4, 6 and permitting relative motion there between. The flexible linking element 8 prevents dislocation of mobile bearings in a total knee replacement prosthesis. The invention also relates to a bridging element which retains the linking element 8 with some play, which acts as a ligament support 2051, and which causes a deflection of the line of action of a ligament 1018. A joint replacement prosthesis is also disclosed comprising a biasing element 1140 or a tensioning element 1220 operatively coupled to the artificial ligament 1018. The biasing element 1140 or tensioning element 1220 may be housed in the stem of a tibia tray 1006.

Abstract: A rotary mill (2) comprising a body portion (4) having a milling surface (10) for milling a first bone, a guide portion (6) having a guide body (22), and inter-engageable guide formations (20, 24) formed on the body portion (4) and guide portion (6), the guide body (22) having a projection (7) which is adapted to hold a second bone (11) away from the rotary mill during the milling operation.

Abstract: A ligament assembly (2) comprising a resilient element (20) connected to a bone anchor (4) and a ligament (18), the resilient element (20) acting m a cantilever and resisting toads transmitted between the bone anchor (4) and the ligament (18) by virtue of the resistance to bending of the resilient element. The ligament (18) may comprise an artificial ligament (18) which is adapted to replace a human or animal ligament. The resilient element (20) may comprise a spiral spring and may act as a biasing element/shock absorber operatively coupled to the artificial ligament (18) to control the effective stiffness of the artificial ligament (18). Consequently, the resilient element (20) enables an effective stiffness of the artificial ligament (18) to be achieved that more closely approximates the stiffness of a natural ligament.

Abstract: A ligament assembly comprising a first ligament anchor (9) connected to a second ligament anchor (14) by a ligament (18) a resilient element (40) being associated with the first ligament anchor (9) and a ligament tension adjuster (44, 50) being associated with the second ligament anchor (14). The resilient element (40) may be disposed within the first ligament anchor (9) and the ligament tension adjuster (44, 50) may be disposed within the second ligament anchor (14).

Abstract: A bearing component 2 for a joint replacement prosthesis comprises a first bearing element 4; a second bearing element 6, and a linking element 8, operatively connecting the first and second bearing elements 4, 6 and permitting relative motion there between. The flexible linking element 8 prevents dislocation of mobile bearings in a total knee replacement prosthesis. The invention also relates to a bridging element which retains the linking element 8 with some play, which acts as a ligament support 2051, and which causes a deflection of the line of action of a ligament 1018. A joint replacement prosthesis is also disclosed comprising a biasing element 1140 or a tensioning element 1220 operatively coupled to the artificial ligament 1018. The biasing element 1140 or tensioning element 1220 may be housed in the stem of a tibial tray 1006.

Abstract: A surgical impactor (2) for inserting a prosthetic implant (26) into a bone, the surgical impactor (2) comprising: a movable retaining means (8) for releasably connecting the implant (26) to the surgical impactor (2), wherein the movable retaining means (8) has a first position in which the implant (26) is connected to the surgical impactor (2) and a second position in which the implant (26) is not connected to the surgical impactor (2); and a mechanism (14, 16) for moving the movable retaining means (8) between the first and second positions, wherein the movable retaining means (8) and the mechanism (14, 16) are removable from the surgical impactor (2).

Abstract: An artificial ligament is provided having an elongate body and two ends, with a loop being provided at least one of the ends and a loop liner being provided within the loop. A kit of artificial ligaments is also provided with each ligament in the kit having a different fixed length. Also provided are methods for determining a length of artificial ligament to be used within a prosthetic knee joint, selecting a ligament from a range or kit of ligaments, and implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising an artificial ligament.

Abstract: A ligament balancer for a knee is disclosed that includes a first guide portion having a first guide hole extending there through, and a second guide portion having a second guide hole extending there through, the first and second guide portions being moveable with respect to each other along a movement axis, the balancer being adapted such that, in use, the movement axis is substantially parallel to the anterior/posterior axis of a distal femoral surface. Also disclosed is a kit of parts that includes the ligament balancer and a drill guide for a knee, the drill guide includes first and second connected arms, each arm comprising at least two guide openings extending there through, the guide openings being spaced longitudinally along each arm, longitudinal axes of the first and second arms intersecting at a predetermined angle. Also disclosed is a method of attaching a cutting block to a distal femoral surface as part of a knee replacement procedure.

Abstract: A method of implanting a lateral unicondylar knee prosthesis in a lateral articulating portion of a femur having a lateral condyle for engagement with a tibia, the method including the steps of: bending a patients knee such that the knee is not in full extension; making an incision through the skin, muscle, and other soft tissue until the damaged bone surfaces are exposed; resecting an end portion of the lateral tibia; resecting an end portion of the lateral femoral condyle; attaching a tibial prosthetic component to the resected end portion of the tibia; attaching a lateral femoral condyle prosthetic component to the resected end portion of the lateral femoral condyle; determining the thickness of a mobile bearing member with the knee in full extension; and inserting the mobile bearing member between the tibial prosthetic component and the femoral prosthetic component.

Abstract: A stylus assembly (10) adapted to align a surgical tool with a bone, the stylus assembly (10) comprising: a mounting element (12,18); a tool guide (50) adjustably mounted relative to the mounting element (12,18); a stylus (16) adjustably mounted relative to the mounting element (12,18) and having a curved portion for engagement with a predetermined part of the bone; and a lockable retaining member (14) for simultaneously locking the surgical tool guide (50) and the stylus (16) to the mounting element (12,18).

Abstract: A ligament balancer for a knee is disclosed that includes a first guide portion having a first guide hole extending there through, and a second guide portion having a second guide hole extending there through, the first and second guide portions being moveable with respect to each other along a movement axis, the balancer being adapted such that, in use, the movement axis is substantially parallel to the anterior/posterior axis of a distal femoral surface. Also disclosed is a kit of parts that includes the ligament balancer and a drill guide for a knee, the drill guide includes first and second connected arms, each arm comprising at least two guide openings extending there through, the guide openings being spaced longitudinally along each arm, longitudinal axes of the first and second arms intersecting at a predetermined angle. Also disclosed is a method of attaching a cutting block to a distal femoral surface as part of a knee replacement procedure.

Abstract: Devices for adjusting or correcting the curvature of a vertebral column are described. One such device comprises a spring and at least three fixation members for attaching the spring to the vertebral column in at least three different locations. Another such device comprises a plurality of springs, each spring for attaching to at least two attachment locations of the vertebral column, and at least three fixation members for attaching the plurality of springs to the attachment locations of the vertebral column such that the plurality of springs are attached longitudinally along a length of the vertebral column. A method of adjusting the curvature of a vertebral column is also described.

Abstract: A bearing component 2 for a joint replacement prosthesis comprises a first bearing element 4; a second bearing element 6, and a linking element 8, operatively connecting the first and second bearing elements 4, 6 and permitting relative motion there between. The flexible linking element 8 prevents dislocation of mobile bearings in a total knee replacement prosthesis. The invention also relates to a bridging element which retains the linking element 8 with some play, which acts as a ligament support 2051, and which causes a deflection of the line of action of a ligament 1018. A joint replacement prosthesis is also disclosed comprising a biasing element 1140 or a tensioning element 1220 operatively coupled to the artificial ligament 1018. The biasing element 1140 or tensioning element 1220 may be housed in the stem of a tibia tray 1006.

Abstract: A bearing component 2 for a joint replacement prosthesis comprises a first bearing element 4; a second bearing element 6, and a linking element 8, operatively connecting the first and second bearing elements 4, 6 and permitting relative motion there between. The flexible linking element 8 prevents dislocation of mobile bearings in a total knee replacement prosthesis. The invention also relates to a bridging element which retains the linking element 8 with some play, which acts as a ligament support 2051, and which causes a deflection of the line of action of a ligament 1018. A joint replacement prosthesis is also disclosed comprising a biasing element 1140 or a tensioning element 1220 operatively coupled to the artificial ligament 1018. The biasing element 1140 or tensioning element 1220 may be housed in the stem of a tibia tray 1006.

Abstract: A drill guide comprising: a body comprising a hole extending therethrough for guiding a drill; and an alignment tool, the alignment tool being operable to connect the body to an intramedullary rod, such that the orientation of the body is fixable with respect to the intramedullary rod in an anteroposterior plane and in a transverse plane.

Abstract: A bearing component 2 for a joint replacement prosthesis comprises a first bearing element 4; a second bearing element 6, and a linking element 8, operatively connecting the first and second bearing elements 4, 6 and permitting relative motion there between. The flexible linking element 8 prevents dislocation of mobile bearings in a total knee replacement prosthesis. The invention also relates to a bridging element which retains the linking element 8 with some play, which acts as a ligament support 2051, and which causes a deflection of the line of action of a ligament 1018. A joint replacement prosthesis is also disclosed comprising a biasing element 1140 or a tensioning element 1220 operatively coupled to the artificial ligament 1018. The biasing element 1140 or tensioning element 1220 may be housed in the stem of a tibial tray 1006.

Abstract: A stylus assembly is adapted to be attached to a surgical jig. The stylus assembly comprises a body having first and second arms with a space therebetween for receiving a portion of the surgical jig, a stylus adjustably mounted relative to the body, and a locking member in use, actuation of the locking member from an unlocked to a locked position enables locking of the body to the surgical jig and locking of the stylus relative to the body.

Abstract: A guide tool (100) for guiding resection of a bone piece, comprising a body (102), a burr guide opening (130) extending through the body (102) and defining a burr resection surface, and a saw guide opening (120) extending through the body (102) and defining a saw resection surface, the burr guide opening (130) and the saw guide opening (120) being aligned such that the burr resection surface and the saw resection surface intersect, defining a bone piece resection surface.