Abstract:
The application relates to a spinal implant composed of a plurality of parallel plates. The deliberate introduction of contours in the plates allows for the creation of biomechanically advantageous functions and adjustment options. The elasticity of the anchoring elements enables the disclosed implant to be adjusted to the osseous endplates, resulting in uniform force distribution and thus prevention of the risk of compaction or endplate compression fracture. The plate structure allows for the use of production methods in which hook-like undercut contours can be created, thus enabling the implant to be anchored in the bone without causing damage thereto. Furthermore, the plates can be interconnected by an actuator in such a way that the height and/or the angular position can be adjusted, thus enabling the intervertebral disk space to be vertically and physically adjusted. The vertical adjustment can vary along the length of the implant such that the segment can also be angularly adjusted. If the plates are interconnected by an eccentric shaft, the combined vertical and translational movement to which the set of plates is subjected can also be used to translationally reposition two vertebrae.
Abstract:
A surgical implant comprises a core region and a porous surface region extending over at least a part of said core region. The porous surface region has a predetermined pore volume fraction. A method of manufacturing a surgical implant in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of: (i) loading metallic powder having a predetermined particle size distribution around a pre-formed core in a sealable capsule; (ii) reducing pressure within said capsule to a predetermined pressure below atmospheric pressure; (iii) pressurising said capsule with a process gas to a predetermined pressure higher than the predetermined pressure of step (ii); (iv) sealing said capsule; (v) heating said pressurised sealed capsule at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a predetermined time to produce an implant precursor; (vi) cooling said sealed capsule, and; (vii) heating said implant precursor for a predetermined time at an elevated temperature and a predetermined pressure below atmospheric pressure, whereby to generate porosity in said implant precursor.
Abstract:
An implantable orthopedic prosthesis (10) has a macro/micro-textured bone and soft tissue attachment surface (34) to which a spiked washer (40) is clamped by a threaded bolt (46) received through said washer (40) and threaded into said prosthesis (10). Soft tissue is secured to the prosthesis (10) by clamping between said washer (40) and said soft tissue attachment surface. The tissue attachment surface is arranged as a regular grid of depressions (36) separated by orthogonal ridges (38) formed by electrodischarge machining of the prosthesis using a machining electrode (56) having a mold-opposite surface texture with a micro-textured roughened surface finish. The spacing (X2) of the spikes (42) is an integer multiple of the spacing (X1) of the depressions (36) to assure registry of the spikes (42) with the depressions (36).
Abstract:
An implantable orthopedic prosthesis (10) has a macro/micro-textured bone and soft tissue attachment surface (34) to which a spiked washer (40) is clamped by a threaded bolt (46) received through said washer and threaded into said prosthesis. Soft tissue is secured to the prosthesis by clamping between said washer and said soft tissue attachment surface. The tissue attachment surface is arranged as a regular grid of depressions (36) separated by orthogonal ridges (38) formed by electrodischarge machining of the prosthesis using a machining electrode (56) having a mold-opposite surface texture with a micro-textured roughened surface finish. The spacing of the spikes is an integer multiple of the spacing of the depressions to assure registry of the spikes with the depressions.
Abstract:
A spinal implant (1, 5, 6) for positioning in between two vertebrae, comprising a substrate (16) and at least one integration layer (17) at an outer surface of the spinal implant for facilitating the acceptance of said implant by the human body, the substrate (16) of the implant being formed of a biocompatible polymer material and comprising at its outer surface the integration layer (17), the spinal implant having a texture in which the distance between adjacent local extrema is less than 1 mm, wherein the integration layer (17) is in the form of a coating applied onto the substrate (16).
Abstract:
A bone implant (71) comprises a body formed of an articulated open cell structure of a lightweight material, the surfaces of which structure are covered with a thin metal layer. A layer of biocompatible pyrocarbon coating is applied to the metal-coated structure so as to cover the entire structure and provide a dense, nonporous, biocompatible layer. Pyrocarbon is then selectively removed from portions (73) of the surface of the body to expose sections of the original surface which lead to regions of interconnected channels into which bone and tissue ingrowth are promoted while end regions (75) and (77) remain totally covered with such pyrocarbon.
Abstract:
A spark erosion electrode (1) can create a contoured surface to facilitate the growth and adhesion of bone tissue on the surface. The electrode (1) includes a collection of parallel electrode members (10), which are preferably tubular. These members (10) are held by a releasable clamp (2) such that they can be moved axially whereby ends of the members (10) can form a negative pattern of a required contour which can then be replicated on the surface of an object such as that of a bone implant.
Abstract:
A prosthetic part (10) for use as an orthopedic implant has a base member defining an outer surface (20) for implantation adjacent a prepared bone surface (21). The outer surface (20) includes a recessed area (16) having a predetermined shape and depth. A first rigid plate (22) having this predetermined shape and having a plurality of elongated slots (26) formed therein is fixedly attached within the recessed area (16) of the base member. A second rigid plate (24) also having the same predetermined shape as the recess and also having a plurality of elongated slots (28) formed therein is attached to the first rigid plate. The elongated slots (28) of the second plate (24) are angularly offset with respect to the elongated slots (26) in the first plate to produce a controlled porosity. The thicknesses of the first and second plates are predetermined so that the outer surface (18) of the second plate is substantially continuous with the non-recessed outer surface (20) of the base member (10).
Abstract:
A spinal implant (1, 5, 6) for positioning in between two vertebrae, comprising a substrate (16) and at least one integration layer (17) at an outer surface of the spinal implant for facilitating the acceptance of said implant by the human body, the substrate (16) of the implant being formed of a biocompatible polymer material and comprising at its outer surface the integration layer (17), the spinal implant having a texture in which the distance between adjacent local extrema is less than 1 mm, wherein the integration layer (17) is in the form of a coating applied onto the substrate (16).
Abstract:
Es wird ein Zwischenwirbel-Körbchen (5) vorgeschlagen, das zum besseren Verbinden/Verwachsen in den Wirbelbereich (3, 4) netz- oder gitterformige Bereiche aufweist. Das Körbchen hat insbesondere einen äußeren Rahmen, der aus massiven Tragteilen besteht und einen inneren Gitterkörper. Der die äußere Kontur bestimmende Rahmen und die innerhalb desselben befindliche Netz- oder Gitterbereiche sind einstückig ausgebildet. Das Körbchen ist durch Sintern, wie mittels Elektronenstrahlschmelzen oder Lasersintern hergestellt.