Abstract: A wedge plate inserter/impactor instrument is provided primarily for holding, inserting, repositioning, removing, impacting, extracting, and otherwise manipulating an artificial intervertebral disc having features suitable for being manipulated thereby. A spring-loaded holding pin of the instrument can be used to engage a corresponding hole on the disc and confront the angled surfaces of the disc to enable the holding and manipulation of the disc. A forward wedge extension of the inserter/impactor has upper and lower surfaces that engage inwardly facing surfaces of the disc to hold the baseplates of the disc at a preferred lordosis angle with respect to one another. The instrument can engage the disc from a variety of surgical approach angles.

Abstract: Instrumentation for distracting an intervertebral space and determining an appropriate size for an artificial intervertebral disc to be implanted therein include static trials and a static trial holder for manipulating the static trials. Each static trial is provided with at least one notch that is engaged by the static trial holder when the static trial is being manipulated thereby, to limit or prevent rotation of the static trial about a longitudinal axis with respect to the static trial holder during the manipulation.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a solid ball mounted to protrude from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure integral with the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate pockets, one on the convex structure and one on a cap secured to the other of the baseplates. While the ball angulates in the socket, its rotation in the socket has a limited range due to interference between a protrusion on the convex structure that extends into the socket and a curvate recess on the ball. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a ball compression locked to a post extending from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure attached to the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate surfaces, one on the convex structure and one on the other of the baseplates. The ball rotates and angulates in the socket. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate and angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a solid ball mounted to protrude from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure integral with the other baseplate. The socket is formed by opposing curvate pockets, one on the convex structure and one on a cap secured to the other baseplate. While the ball angulates in the socket, its rotation in the socket has a limited range due to interference between a protrusion on the ball that extends into a curvate recess, formed by the convex structure and the cap, adjacent the curvate socket. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a solid ball mounted to protrude from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure integral with the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate pockets, one on the convex structure and one on a cap secured to the other of the baseplates. While the ball angulates in the socket, its rotation in the socket has a limited range due to interference between a ball bearing and curvate recesses on the convex structure and the ball. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a solid ball mounted to protrude from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure integral with the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate pockets, one on the convex structure and one on a retaining cap that is secured to the other of the baseplates. The ball rotates and angulates in the socket. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate and angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a ball compression locked to a post extending from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure attached to the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate surfaces, one on the convex structure and one on the other of the baseplates. While the ball angulates in the socket, its rotation in the socket has a limited range due to interference between a protrusion on the ball that extends into a curvate recess adjacent the curvate socket. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a ball compression locked to a post extending from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure attached to the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate surfaces, one on the convex structure and one on the other of the baseplates. While the ball angulates freely in the socket, its rotation of the ball in the socket has a limited range due to interference between an interference pin's rounded head that extends into the socket and a curvate recess on the ball. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a solid ball mounted to protrude from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure integral with the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate pockets, one on the convex structure and one on a cap secured to the other of the baseplates. While the ball angulates in the socket, its rotation in the socket has a limited range due to interference between an interference pin's rounded head that extends into the socket and a curvate recess on the ball. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a ball compression locked to a post extending from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure attached to the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate surfaces, one on the convex structure and one on the other of the baseplates. While the ball angulates freely in the socket, the rotation of the ball in the socket has a limited range due to interference between a ball bearing and curvate recesses on the convex structure and the ball. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: Instrumentation for implanting an artificial intervertebral disc includes static trials and a dynamic trial for determining the appropriate size of disc to be implanted, a static trial holder for manipulating the static trials, an inserter/impactor for inserting and removing the static trials and for inserting the artificial intervertebral discs, repositioners/extractors for repositioning and extracting the static trials or the artificial intervertebral discs, and a leveler for setting the proper position of the artificial intervertebral disc.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball and socket joint that includes a ball compression locked to a post extending from one of the baseplates. The ball is captured within a curvate socket formed in a peak of a convex structure attached to the other of the baseplates. The socket is formed by opposing curvate surfaces, one on the convex structure and one on the other of the baseplates. While the ball angulates freely in the socket, the rotation of the ball in the socket has a limited range due to interference between a protrusion on the convex structure that extends into the socket and a curvate recess on the ball. The ball and socket joint therefore permits the baseplates to rotate relative to one another through a limited range and also angulate relative to one another.

Abstract: A centralizer for the stem of a cementable prosthetic orthopedic implant that is implanted into the medullary canal of a bone has a hollow annular body with a tapered interior surface for receiving a tapered stem of the implant. The centralizer has four fins spaced around the exterior surface of its annular body with the fins extending radially outwardly in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extending along the stem in a proximal-distal direction. The annular body of the centralizer has a proximal and a distal end surface spaced a predetermined distance apart with the fins having a base adjacent the body extending over a substantial portion of the predetermined distance. Adjacent fins are offset from neighboring fins in a proximal-distal direction so that when the proximal-distal dimension of the annular body is maintained, it generates a wavelike structure for the centralizer body.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system for preparing the medullary canal of the femur for implanting a prosthetic femoral component includes a template to be used in determining osteotomy position from an x-ray. A gauge is provided to locate and mark this position on the anterior femur. A distal reamer having an elongated drive shaft is used to form the canal to receive the distal stem of the femoral component. A metaphyseal template is used to determine the proper anteversion/retroversion and a chisel is used to cut the lateral area of the femur, both of which are guided by the elongated reamer shaft. A proximal broach also guided by the reamer shaft is used to shape the proximal medullary canal.

Abstract: A femoral component for a hip prosthesis has a distal portion defining a central longitudinal axis. The component has a generally conically shaped mid-shaft portion and a proximal portion with a shape based on the reamer and a shaped chisel used by the surgeon to prepare the proximal metaphysis and medullary canal. The proximal portion is shaped in a manner wherein a cross-section taken perpendicular to the central axis has a medial side formed as a first circular arc, a corner of the cross-section formed by the posterior and lateral sides as a second circular arc with a center on the central axis. The posterior side is arcuate and concave and tangent to the first and second circular arcs, with the anterior side being arcuate and convex.