Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for alleviating and/or preventing conditions relating to damaged joints involving articulating surfaces. In a first aspect the present invention relates to a prosthetic device for insertion into a joint cavity of a joint of a vertebrate, such as a human, said device consisting of a biocompatible material comprising at least a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component, wherein the chain length of the first polymeric component is longer than the chain length of the second polymeric component, the polymeric components in particular being polyethylene, polypropylene and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising poly-HEMA having a peak molecular weight between about 25,000 and about 100,000, preferably between 25,000 and 80,000 and a polydispersity of less than about 2 to less than about 3.8 respectively and covalently bonded thereon, at least one cross-linkable functional group. The present invention further relates to low polydispersity poly-HEMA suitable for making the crosslinkable prepolymers, processes for functionalizing and purifying said poly-HEMA to form said crosslinkable prepolymers, viscous solutions made from said crosslinkable prepolymers, hydrogels made from said viscous solutions and articles made from said crosslinkable polymers, hydrogels and viscous solutions.