Abstract: A device configured for use as a medical implant is disclosed. The device includes an anchor body including a first end configured to retain an elastic articulating component and a second end including a collar defining a receptacle configured to receive a portion of a fixation element. The fixation element can include a head portion and a threaded portion. The head portion is configured to be inserted and retained within the receptacle and the threaded portion is configured to retain the fixation element within a patient recipient site.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a first guide tool portion configured to support an instrument. The first guide tool portion is configured to limit movement of the instrument relative to a patient site. A second guide tool portion is provided that is configured to receive at least one K-wire to stabilize the surgical tool assembly.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant replaces hyaline cartilage in a synovial joint with a flexible polymer sliding surface, preferably of hydrogel, on a segmented support with an array of adjacent segments to which the hydrogel is molded. Adjacent segments are laterally and angularly displaceable permitting the implant to conform to rounded or irregular surfaces or to be rolled or folded for arthroscopic placement. Tension cables threaded through segments along a circuit can cinch segments together for stiffening the supporting layer and/or the cable can pull the implant against a bone surface. Adjacent segments can have inter-engaged structures. In some embodiments the segments are carried on a flexible foil or fibrous sheet.

Abstract: A device configured for use as a medical implant is disclosed herein. The device includes an anchor body having a perimeter wall defining a rim, and a cavity dimensioned to receive an elastic articulating component. At least one lattice region is arranged at least along an inner surface of the perimeter wall adjacent to the rim. An elastic articulating component is configured to fill the cavity and attach to the at least one lattice region.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant replaces hyaline cartilage in a synovial joint with a flexible polymer sliding surface, preferably of hydrogel, on a segmented support with an array of adjacent segments to which the hydrogel is molded. Adjacent segments are laterally and angularly displaceable permitting the implant to conform to rounded or irregular surfaces or to be rolled or folded for arthroscopic placement. Tension cables threaded through segments along a circuit can cinch segments together for stiffening the supporting layer and/or the cable can pull the implant against a bone surface. Adjacent segments can have inter-engaged structures. In some embodiments the segments are carried on a flexible foil or fibrous sheet.

Abstract: An prosthetic implant replaces hyaline cartilage in a synovial joint with a flexible polymer sliding surface, preferably of hydrogel, on a segmented support with an array of adjacent segments to which the hydrogel is molded. Adjacent segments are laterally and angularly displaceable permitting the implant to conform to rounded or irregular surfaces or to be rolled or folded for arthroscopic placement. Tension cables threaded through segments along a circuit can cinch segments together for stiffening the supporting layer and/or the cable can pull the implant against a bone surface. Adjacent segments can have inter-engaged structures. In some embodiments the segments are carried on a flexible foil or fibrous sheet.

Abstract: An implant for use in a medical procedure includes an anchor body and a flexible material. The anchor body includes a perimeter sidewall having an upper free edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The anchor body also includes a bottom wall, connecting the sidewall on one edge, which has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surfaces of the sidewall and bottom wall define a cavity and the upper free edge of the sidewall defines a top opening into the cavity. The flexible material is connected to the anchor body and is positioned in the cavity with at least a portion extending out of the top opening.

Abstract: An prosthetic implant replaces hyaline cartilage in a synovial joint with a flexible polymer sliding surface, preferably of hydrogel, on a segmented support with an array of adjacent segments to which the hydrogel is molded. Adjacent segments are laterally and angularly displaceable permitting the implant to conform to rounded or irregular surfaces or to be rolled or folded for arthroscopic placement. Tension cables threaded through segments along a circuit can cinch segments together for stiffening the supporting layer and/or the cable can pull the implant against a bone surface. Adjacent segments can have inter-engaged structures. In some embodiments the segments are carried on a flexible foil or fibrous sheet.

Abstract: A permanent non-resorbable implant allows surgical replacement of cartilage in articulating joints, using a hydrogel material (such as a synthetic polyacrylonitrile polymer) reinforced by a flexible fibrous matrix. Articulating hydrogel surface(s) are chemically treated to provide a negative electrical charge that emulates the negative charge of natural cartilage, and also can be treated with halogenating, cross-linking, or other chemical agents for greater strength. For meniscal-type implants, the reinforcing matrix can extend out from the peripheral rim of the hydrogel, to allow secure anchoring to soft tissue such as a joint capsule. For bone-anchored implants, a porous anchoring layer enables tissue ingrowth, and a non-planer perforated layer can provide a supportive interface between the hard anchoring material and the softer hydrogel material.

Abstract: Flexible cartilage-replacing implants are disclosed that use either or both of (1) enlarged peripheral rim components, and/or (2) elongated flexible reinforcing members that are embedded around the peripheral edge of an implant device. These types of anchoring devices, especially when used in combination, can provide flexible implants that can be implanted arthroscopically into synovial joints, for complete replacement of damaged cartilage segments.

Abstract: A surgical implant for replacing hyaline cartilage in a knee or other articulating synovial joint has an anchoring side on one side of the implant adapted for fixing the implant to one of the bones in the joint, and a bearing surface on the opposite side of the implant for lubricious rubbing and sliding contact with another bone in the joint. The anchoring side can be configured with an irregular surface for tissue ingrowth. The bearing side can include hydrogel. The implant can be rolled up from an original shape and surgically inserted by arthroscopic means, and opens into its original shape when released inside the joint.

Abstract: Implants with hydrogel layers reinforced by three-dimensional fiber arrays can replace hyaline cartilage. Such implants should replace an entire cartilage segment, rather than creating a crevice around a plug, so these implants must be thin and flat, they must cover large areas, the tips of any tufts or stitches must not reach the hydrogel surface, and they must be flexible, for arthroscopic insertion. The use of computerized stitching machines to create such arrays enables a redesigned and modified test sample to be made with no delays, and no overhead or startup costs. This provides researchers with improved tools for making and testing implants that will need to go through extensive in vitro, animal, and human testing before they can be approved for sale and use. Fiber-reinforced hydrogels also can be secured to strong shape-memory rims, for securing anchoring to bones.

Abstract: Surgical tools are disclosed for minimally-invasive planing of bone surfaces that will support prosthetic implants, such as cartilage-repair implants. Such planing tools must create smooth surfaces that will closely fit the anchoring surface of an implant. Such tools can use a rotating cylindrical burr, partially covered by a cowl having adjustable components to control grinding depth and bone curvature. Burrs can be mounted on the ends of rotating shafts, or they can be angled, using drive-coupling interfaces. In other embodiments, shaver or burr tools can be supplemented by accessory-type devices (such as suction tubes, cautery tips, and pinchers) that can be extended beyond the normal working tip of a tool, to enable additional functions that will be useful during surgery.

Abstract: Flexible cartilage-replacing implants are disclosed that use either or both of (1) enlarged peripheral rim components, and/or (2) elongated flexible reinforcing members that are embedded around the peripheral edge of an implant device. These types of anchoring devices, especially when used in combination, can provide flexible implants that can be implanted arthroscopically into synovial joints, for complete replacement of damaged cartilage segments.

Abstract: Knotless suture anchors are disclosed for surgical use, which contain one or more types of ratcheting mechanisms that will allow a surgeon to pull a suture strand through an anchor device in one direction, without allowing the suture strand to travel or creep backward, in the other direction. This will allow a surgeon to emplace a number of such anchors in hard bone(s) or soft tissue(s), during installation of an implant device, while the various suture strands remain loose and do not interfere with proper positioning of the implant. When the implant device is roughly in position, the surgeon can gently “snug” all of the suture strands (which preferably should be braided, to provide a non-smooth surface that will enable a stronger and more secure grip by the ratcheting mechanism), so that they will all reach a moderate plateau of gentle yet firm tension.