EXHIBIT 5.01

                       [LETTERHEAD OF LATHAM & WATKINS]


                                August 24, 2001


Interpore International, Inc.
181 Technology Drive
Irvine, California 92618

               Re:  Registration for resale of 2,399,946 shares of Common Stock
                    of Interpore International, Inc., par value $0.01 per share

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          In connection with the registration for resale by Interpore
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), of 2,399,946 shares
of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form S-3 as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on August 24, 2001 (the "Registration Statement"), you
have requested our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

          In our capacity as your counsel in connection with such registration,
we are familiar with the proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the
authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares.  In addition, we have made such
legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of
originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of
such documents, corporate records and instruments, as we have deemed necessary
or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

          In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the
conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as
copies.

          We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we express no
opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the
laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of Delaware, any other laws, or
as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any
state.

          Subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion as of the date hereof that
the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.


Interpore International, Inc.
August 24, 2001
Page 2

          We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm contained under the
heading "Legal Matters."

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ Latham & Watkins