Abstract: A system for a unicompartmental knee replacement is described. The system can include a femoral prosthesis component, a tibial prosthesis component and a meniscal bearing. The meniscal bearing can be insertable between the femoral prosthesis component and the tibial prosthesis component. The meniscal bearing can include a first bearing surface configured to bear against the femoral prosthesis component, a second bearing surface opposed to the first bearing surface and configured to bear against the tibial prosthesis component, and a sidewall separating the first bearing surface from the second bearing surface, wherein the sidewall has a retention groove formed in a portion thereof, and wherein the meniscal bearing and the tibial prosthesis component are configured such that the retaining flange enters the retention groove on movement of the meniscal bearing relative to the tibial prosthesis component towards the medial wall.

Abstract: A rotary mill is disclosed comprising a body portion (4) having a milling surface (10) and a central bore (30) extending along an axis of rotation (18) of the body portion (4); and a guide portion (6) having a guide body (22) and a guide peg (24) extending from the guide body (22), the guide peg (24) operable to be received in the central bore (20) of the body portion (4), the guide body (22) having at least one alignment feature (28, 30) which is the same as that of a prosthesis component.

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: The invention concerns a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) for forming a tibial plateau of a tibia (16), wherein a peripheral region of the plate (100) has a thickness of less than 3 mm. The invention also concerns a tibial prosthetic component having a keel of depth less than 9 mm. The invention also concerns a method of selecting a tibial prosthetic component comprising receiving measurements of at least one physical attribute of an individual into whom the tibial prosthetic component is to be implanted, selecting a thickness of a plate (100) and depth of keel of the tibial prosthetic component based on the measurements and providing a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) having the selected thickness and a keel having the selected depth.

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 Dearing 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 rotary mill is disclosed comprising a body portion (4) having a milling surface (10) and a central bore (30) extending along an axis of rotation (18) of the body portion (4), and a guide portion (6) having a guide body (22) and a guide peg (24) extending from the guide body (22), the guide peg (24) operable to be received in the central bore (20) of the body portion (4), the guide body (22) having at least one alignment feature (28, 30) which is the same as that of a prosthesis component.

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 is disclosed comprising a body portion (4) having a milling surface (10) and a central bore (20) extending along an axis of rotation (18) of the body portion (4); and a guide portion (6) having a guide body (22) and a guide peg (24) extending from the guide body (22), the guide peg (24) operable to be received in the central bore (20) of the body portion (4), the guide body (22) having at least one alignment feature (28, 30) which is the same as that of a prosthesis component.

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 kit of parts for use in unicondylar knee replacement of a patient having a femur and a tibia comprises a drill guide and an intramedullary rod, the intramedullary rod being sized to fit within the intramedullary canal of the femur of the patient. The drill guide is arranged so as to engage a distal end of the intramedullary rod to that which engages the patient's intramedullary canal, and is formed with a foot portion sized to fit between the patient's femur and tibia before any bone is removed from the femur or tibia. The drill guide provides a guide for drilling of at least one hole in the femur. A further kit of parts for use in unicondylar knee replacement of a patient having a femur and a tibia comprises a femoral component for implantation in the femur, the femoral component having a bearing surface having a radius of curvature, and a guide spoon.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) for forming a tibial plateau of a tibia (16), wherein a peripheral region of the plate (100) has a thickness of less than 3 mm. The invention also concerns a tibial prosthetic component having a keel of depth less than 9 mm. The invention also concerns a method of selecting a tibial prosthetic component comprising receiving measurements of at least one physical attribute of an individual into whom the tibial prosthetic component is to be implanted, selecting a thickness of a plate (100) and depth of keel of the tibial prosthetic component based on the measurements and providing a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) having the selected thickness and a keel having the selected depth.

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: The invention concerns a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) for forming a tibial plateau of a tibia (16), wherein a peripheral region of the plate (100) has a thickness of less than 3 mm. The invention also concerns a tibial prosthetic component having a keel of depth less than 9 mm. The invention also concerns a method of selecting a tibial prosthetic component comprising receiving measurements of at least one physical attribute of an individual into whom the tibial prosthetic component is to be implanted, selecting a thickness of a plate (100) and depth of keel of the tibial prosthetic component based on the measurements and providing a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) having the selected thickness and a keel having the selected depth.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) for forming a tibial plateau of a tibia (16), wherein a peripheral region of the plate (100) has a thickness of less than 3 mm. The invention also concerns a tibial prosthetic component having a keel of depth less than 9 mm. The invention also concerns a method of selecting a tibial prosthetic component comprising receiving measurements of at least one physical attribute of an individual into whom the tibial prosthetic component is to be implanted, selecting a thickness of a plate (100) and depth of keel of the tibial prosthetic component based on the measurements and providing a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) having the selected thickness and a keel having the selected depth.

Abstract: Focusing on the criterion of “Energy save” or “Quiet noise” or other suitable operating parameter and considering the existing limitation of the operation of the electro-dynamic shaker system, apparatus for optimizing the operating condition of the vibration test system is proposed. The apparatus 100 measures the field current and drive current under the state that the desired vibration is fed to the specimen 20, and calculates the necessary force the shaker 1 should supply. Field current is supposed to be varied, and the necessary drive current is calculated based on the necessary force data. Further, the blower rotation is supposed to be varied, and the total power consumption at the coils and the blower is calculated. Also the temperatures of the field coil 4 and of the drive coil 10 is estimated and checked whether within the limitation. Then the optimal operating condition for the focused criterion is selected.

Abstract: Focusing on the criterion of “Energy save” or “Quiet noise” or other suitable operating parameter and considering the existing limitation of the operation of the electro-dynamic shaker system, apparatus for optimizing the operating condition of the vibration test system is proposed. The apparatus 100 measures the field current and drive current under the state that the desired vibration is fed to the specimen 20, and calculates the necessary force the shaker 1 should supply. Field current is supposed to be varied, and the necessary drive current is calculated based on the necessary force data. Further, the blower rotation is supposed to be varied, and the total power consumption at the coils and the blower is calculated. Also the temperatures of the field coil 4 and of the drive coil 10 is estimated and checked whether within the limitation. Then the optimal operating condition for the focused criterion is selected.

Abstract: A tibial knee joint prosthesis for attachment to a suitably prepared tibial bone, providing bearing portions in the lateral and medial compartments. The lateral and medial bearing surfaces of the component are inclined at different angles in the anterior to posterior direction of the knee, so that when mounted to the tibia, the lateral bearing surface of the prosthesis is higher than the medial bearing surface to the posterior side of the knee. In this way the lateral ligament is tightened progressively more than the medial ligament as the knee moves from extension to flexion, resulting in increased stability in the lateral compartment.

Abstract: A vision system for controlling welding robots and a method of controlling a welding robot using a vision system are disclosed. The vision system includes an ordinary unoriented light source, such as a fluorescent light source, to illuminate a part to be welded so that a light intensity gradient is created along a seam to be welded. An image of the light intensity gradient is captured by one or more fixed solid-state video cameras. The image is compared with a stored image of a reference part so that a deviation of the seam to be welded with respect to the seam of the reference part can be computed for each of a plurality of predefined reference points. The deviation at each reference point is translated by a microprocessor into a coordinate adjustment which is downloaded to a controller for the robot.