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 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 unicondylar resurfacing femoral component including a metallic base member and a polymeric articulation member. The metallic base member includes a main body and a retention member extending from the main body configured to be secured within a condyle of a femur.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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: A stylus assembly (10) is adapted to be attached to a surgical jig (50). The stylus assembly (10) comprises a body (12) having first and second arms (22, 24) with a space (32) therebetween for receiving a portion of the surgical jig, a stylus (16) adjustably mounted relative to the body (12), and a locking member (20), In use, actuation of the locking member (20) from an unlocked to a locked position enables locking of the body (12) to the surgical jig (50) and locking of the stylus (16) relative to the body (12).

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 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 memory device includes memory cells that are overwritten in response to receipt of a clear request signal and an overwrite value. The clear request signal enables all word lines of the memory device to be overwritten. The clear request signal in combination with the overwrite value cause the overwrite value to be written to a first column of memory cells. At least two delay elements transfer the overwrite value to another column of memory cells after a delay. By use of at least two delay elements to delay and transfer the overwrite value to be written to another column of memory cells, a relatively low magnitude of current can be used to cause memory cells to be overwritten. In addition, the value and sequence of values that overwrite memory cells can be controlled.

Abstract: A stylus assembly (10) is adapted to be attached to a surgical jig (50). The stylus assembly (10) comprises a body (12) having first and second arms (22, 24) with a space (32) therebetween for receiving a portion of the surgical jig, a stylus (16) adjustably mounted relative to the body (12), and a locking member (20), In use, actuation of the locking member (20) from an unlocked to a locked position enables locking of the body (12) to the surgical jig (50) and locking of the stylus (16) relative to the body (12).