Abstract: A spinal motion device for implanting in the spine as a replacement for the natural disc, to permit motion between adjacent vertebral bodies or as a vertebral body replacement that permits motion at its ends. The spinal motion device comprises a composite structure formed by a body having at least one bearing member, made from a biocompatible material such as pyrolytic carbon, attached to a support surface thereof.

Abstract: Endosseous implant to be applied to human or animal bone, said implant having a surface made from a selected metal or a selected metal alloy or a ceramic, whereby said resp, metal alloy is selected from chromium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium, zirconium, aluminium, cobalt, nickel, stainless steels or an alloy thereof, said surface having a smooth or rough texture, characterized in that said surface has been treated with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable organic compound carrying at least one phosphonic acid group or a derivative thereof preferably acceptable salt or ester or amid thereof and method for producing said implant.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a polysaccharide excreted by the Vibrio diabolicus species for making a medicine with cicatrising activity, in particular bone repair activity. The invention also concerns a bone reconstruction biomaterial comprising said polysaccharide and a bone endoprosthesis whereof the surface is coated with such a polysaccharide.

Abstract: The present invention provides orthopedic prosthesis having at least one metallic component that includes a metallic substrate on which an integrally formed nano-crystalline coating is formed. The coating and the substrate have at least one metallic constituent in common having an average atomic concentration in the coating that differs from an average atomic concentration in the substrate by less than about 10 percent. Further, the nano-crystalline coatings includes crystalline grains with an average size in a range of about 1 to 999 nanometers, and more preferably in a range of about 10 to 200 nanometers. A transition region that exhibits a graded reduction in average grain size separates the coating from the substrate. The coating advantageously exhibits an enhanced hardness, and a high degree of resistance to corrosion and wear. In one application, the nano-crystalline coatings of the invention are utilized to form articulating surfaces of various orthopedic devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant comprising two or more bone fragments that are combined to form a single unit. Cancellous bone or cortical bone is removed from a source and fashioned into bone components with desirable shapes and sizes. The bone components may be integrated to form implants for implantation in the body. Bone stock may be formed by combining sections of various bones of the body, and the bone stock may be further fashioned for use as implants with particular geometries.

Abstract: An orthopedic surgical implant of one or more components having a surface which is to be contacted by body tissue and/or fluid. The surface contains an inorganic antimicrobial agent either incorporated in the material forming a component having the surface or incorporated in a coating, such as of the adhesive or powder spray type, applied to the surface.

Abstract: A hard tissue repairing material including a base material and a surface layer having a crystalline zirconia covering the base material, being characterized in that the film includes a Zr—OH group. A middle layer may be formed between the base material and the surface layer and, in such case, includes at least one element of the base material and at least one element of the surface layer having a crystalline zirconia.

Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a prosthetic hip joint having a polycrystalline diamond compact articulation surface and a counter bearing surface.

Abstract: Orthopedic implants which includes the components of zirconium or zirconium-based alloys having surfaces coated with oxidized zirconium or alternatively, other orthopedic implants comprising abrasion resistant surfaces contacting surfaces of cross-linked polyethylene are disclosed. Such implants provide low friction, highly wear resistant coatings especially useful in artificial joints, such as hip joints, knee joints, elbows, etc., but also useful in other implant devices as well.

Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a diamond articulation surface for use in a prosthetic joint

Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a component for a prosthetic joint having a diamond load bearing and articulation surface.

Abstract: Bone augmentation in a mammalian body to enhance the mechanical strength of a prosthesis is provided by reinforcement of bone in the region surrounding the implant device. A number of fibrillar wires are formed on the prosthetic implant device. Formation of the fibrillar wires comprises gauging the implant device so that the fibrillar wires are formed by peeling them from the implant device. Alternatively, formation of the fibrillar wires may comprise forming a mesh of fibrillar wires having a woolly structure, forming the mesh around the prosthetic implant device, and attaching a number of the fibrillar wires to the prosthetic implant device. A coating is formed on the fibrillar wires and an associated prosthetic implant device. The coating comprises bone morphogenetic proteins along with osteoinductive factors and osteoconductive factors that function as nutrients, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory agents, and blood-clotting factors.

Abstract: A biocompatible implant for medical use having a layer of titanium or titanium alloys on its surface. The implant is electrochemically treated by taking it for an anode in electrolyte solution containing calcium ions so as to produce a layer of hydrated oxides or hydrated oxide gels, or is subject to an anodic treatment, and subsequently the implant is subject to another electrochemical surface treatment where the implant in turn is employed as a cathod so as to yield a layer that involves or is adsorbed with calcium ions, thus forming on the implant a hydrated gel layer that has an excellent ability of forming apatite.

Abstract: An implant includes a main body member having bio-compatibility, and particles formed of bioactive material and dispersedly provided at the surface of an embedded section of the main body member. Each of the particles has a part embedded in the embedded portion and the other part protruding from the embedded portion. The main body member is formed of titanium or titanium alloy. The particles having osteo-conduction are formed of a material selected from among a group consisting of sintered substances of hydroxylapatite, &agr;-tricalcium phosphate, &bgr;-tricalcium phosphate, tetra-calcium phosphate, a single substance of amorphous calcium phosphate, monetite, brushite, 45S4 glass, and a mixture of them. It is desirable that the embedded section surface has a surface roughness in a range of 5 to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The implant has at least one contact surface portion, made of pyrolytic carbon, designed to be in mobile contact with at least one bony surface when the implant is implanted in a patient. Furthermore, the implant is free from any attaching means, so that it remains free with respect to the at least one bony surface when implanted in the patient.

Abstract: A static trauma or fracture fixation device is made from a metal such as steel, cobalt-chrome alloy or titanium alloy. When in use, the implant has at least one portion which is either in contact with bone tissue or with metal. Although such a metal may be considered a static implant, it undergoes dynamic loads which cause micro-motion. In order to reduce wear, corrosion and modify the frictional characteristics of the surface, coatings may be applied. The coating may be a diamond-like carbon coating of the metal, carbon and hydrogen type. This coating may be applied by physical vapor deposition and/or chemical vapor deposition. Other coating processes may include nitrogen or oxygen diffusion processes or carbon diffusion processes. Anodization may also be used as a coating to modify the wear and corrosion resistance of the base metal.

Abstract: A crosslinkable macromer system and related methods of preparing the system and using the system in the form of a crosslinked matrix between a tissue site and an implant article such as a tissue implant or on the porous surface of a prosthetic device. The macromer system includes two or more polymer-pendent polymerizable groups and one or more initiator groups (e.g., polymer-pendent initiator groups). The polymerizable groups and the initiator group(s), when polymer-pendent, can be pendent on the same or different polymeric backbones. The macromer system provides advantages over the use of polymerizable macromers and separate, low molecular weight initiators, including advantages with respect to such properties as nontoxicity, efficiency, and solubility. A macromer system of the invention can be used as an interface between the tissue site and implant article in a manner sufficient to permit tissue growth through the crosslinked matrix and between the tissue site and implant.

Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a prosthetic hip joint having at least one sintered polycrystalline diamond compact articulation surface and substrate surface topographical features in said polycrystalline diamond compact.

Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a prosthetic joint having at least one superhard articulation surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides tools and methods for mapping and measuring the articular surface of a joint (or of any bony surface) and for fabricating a prosthetic device based on this recorded data. In one embodiment, once the defect of the chondral surface has been identified, a guide pin is inserted arthroscopically. A fixation screw is driven into the subchondral bone in relation to a reference axis that is approximately central to the defect, the fixation device also serving to define a tangent point to the surrounding articular surface. A further cylindrical proximal extension of the screw that eventually serves as a fixation element for the surface prosthetic is concealed with a cover or plug. The depth positioning of the cover or plug establishes an origin or reference point for all future measuring, cutting, and prosthetic machining operations. A measuring tool having a static post that establishes the axial location of origin is inserted on the reference axis.

Abstract: Spinal spacers 20 are provided for fusion of a motion segment. The spacers include a load bearing member 21 having a wall 22 sized for engagement within a space between adjacent vertebrae to maintain the space and an effective amount of an osteogenic composition to stimulate osteoinduction. The osteogenic composition includes a substantially pure osteogenic factor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment the load bearing member includes a bone graft impregnated in an osteogenic composition. In another embodiment, the osteogenic composition 30 is packed within a chamber 25 defined in the graft. Any suitable configuration of a bone graft is contemplated, including bone dowels, D-shaped spacers and cortical rings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant comprising two or more bone fragments that are combined to form a single unit. Cancellous bone or cortical bone is removed from a source and fashioned into bone components with desirable shapes and sizes. The bone components may be integrated to form implants for implantation in the body. Bone stock may be formed by combining sections of various bones of the body, and the bone stock may be further fashioned for use as implants with particular geometries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant comprising two or more bone fragments that are combined to form a single unit. Cancellous bone or cortical bone is removed from a source and fashioned into bone components with desirable shapes and sizes. The bone components may be integrated to form implants for implantation in the body. Bone stock may be formed by combining sections of various bones of the body, and the bone stock may be further fashioned for use as implants with particular geometries.

Abstract: A method, and related composition and apparatus for repairing a tissue site. The method involves the use of a curable polyurethane biomaterial composition having a plurality of parts adapted to be mixed at the time of use in order to provide a flowable composition and to initiate cure. The flowable composition can be delivered using minimally invasive means to a tissue site and there fully cured provide a permanent and biocompatible prosthesis for repair of the tissue site. Further provided are a mold apparatus, e.g., in the form of a balloon or tubular cavity, for receiving a biomaterial composition, and a method for delivering and filling the mold apparatus with a curable composition in situ to provide a prosthesis for tissue repair.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel unitary bone implant having at least one rigid, mineralized bone segment, which may be machined to include threads, grooves, a driver head, perforations, a recess or a symmetric or asymmetric shape, and a flexible, demineralized segment, which may also be machined to any desired shape prior to demineralization, or after demineralization. The implant of this invention has wide orthopedic applicability, including but not limited to repair or replacement of ligaments, tendons and joints and for inducing vertebral fusions and fractured bone repair. In a particular embodiment of this invention, selective uptake of biologically active or inactive materials into the segmentally demineralized portion of the implant is disclosed.

Abstract: A synovial prosthetic member includes a body having an articulating surface and an anchor surface, the articulating surface being configured for articulation with another articulating surface of a synovial joint, the anchor surface being configured for cementing to bone, the body being composed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), the anchor surface having been subjected to treatment by either ion implantation, ion beam assisted deposition, or sputter deposition.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modifying surfaces made from metal alloy and/or UHMWPE, preferably surfaces which are frictionally engaged, e.g., in an orthopaedic implant. The methods of the present invention reduce the coefficient of friction of the metal alloy component, reduce the shearing of fibrils from the UHMWPE component, and reduce sub-surface fatigue in the UHMWPE component. The method involves solvent immersion of the UHMWPE component to remove short chains of polyethylene at or near the surface of the component, and to swell and toughen the subsurface of the component. The method also involves firmly coating the surface of the metal alloy component with an adherent layer of diamond-like carbon (“DLC”) by creating a metal-silicide interface at the surface of the metal alloy to permit firmer adhesion of DLC.

Abstract: The implant of the present invention is composed of a core body having an outer surface of a composition of at least two dissimilar biocompatible metal components or metal alloy components in intimate contact with one another with said dissimilar metals or metal alloy components each having an EMF sufficient to form a potential difference of at least 25 mV and preferably over 100 mV.