Patent ID: 7837736

Claim:
A device to replace an articulating surface of a joint in a body, the joint having first and second sides, comprising: a base component, including a bone contacting side connectable with bone on the first side of the joint, and a base sliding side on an opposite side of said base component relative to said bone contacting side, having a surface defining a first curved shape; a movable component, including a movable sliding side operable to be positioned in contact with said base sliding side upon a surface defining a second curved shape, said second curved shape being complementary to said first curved shape, said movable sliding side thereby being matably positionable in sliding engagement with said base sliding side, and an articulating side on an opposite side of said movable component relative to said movable sliding side, shaped to matingly engage an articulating surface of the second side of the joint; wherein when said base component is connected to the first side of a joint, and said base sliding side is pressed against said movable sliding side, said first and second curved shapes tend to releasable slide to a resting position with respect to each other during use of the device in the body, aligning both sides of the joint to a desired orientation.