ASSIGNMENT ----------

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                                   ASSIGNMENT
                                   ----------

          Creative BioMolecules, Inc., a Delaware corporation, having a place of
business at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX, in consideration of One Dollar and
other valuable consideration paid to it by Stryker Corporation, a Michigan
corporation, having a principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, XX, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, does hereby sell,
assign and transfer unto said Stryker Corporation, its successors and assigns,
its entire right, title and interest for the United States of America and all
foreign countries, including all rights of priority under the International
Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, in the inventions and
improvements disclosed in the U.S., foreign, and PCT applications listed in
Schedule A attached hereto, and in all Letters Patent of the United States and
all foreign countries which have been or shall be granted on said inventions, or
any parts thereof, or on said applications, or any divisions, continuations,
reissues, extensions or other applications based in whole or in part thereon.
And CBM agrees, for itself and its successors and assigns, with said Stryker
Corporation and its successors and assigns, but at its or their expense and
charges, hereafter to execute all applications, amended specifications, deeds or
other instruments, and to do all acts necessary or proper to secure the grant of
Letters Patent in the United States and in all other countries to said Stryker
Corporation, with specifications and claims in such form as shall be approved by
the counsel of said Stryker Corporation and to vest and confirm in said Stryker
Corporation, its successors and assigns, the legal title to all such patents and
to otherwise give full effect to and perfect the rights of said Stryker
Corporation under this Assignment.

          And it does hereby authorize and request competent authorities to
issue such Letters Patent as shall be granted upon said applications to said
Stryker Corporation, its successors and assigns.

          WITNESS its hand and seal this 20th day of November, 1998.

                                        Creative BioMolecules, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
                                            ----------------------------
                                            Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
                                            President
State of Massachusetts
County of Suffolk


          Then personally appeared the above-named Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, to me
known and known to me to be the person who executed the foregoing instrument,
and acknowledged it to be his free act and deed, before me, this 19th day of
November, 1998.


                                        /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Notary Public
                                        My Commission Expires: 6/23/2000