Meniscus-type implant with hydrogel surface reinforced by three-dimensional mesh
First Claim
1. A device designed for surgical emplacement in a mammalian joint, comprising a hydrogel component and a mesh component, wherein:
- a. the hydrogel component provides a smooth and lubricious surface, on at least one surface area which will contact and rub against a natural cartilage surface in the joint;
b. the mesh component reinforces the smooth and lubricious surface, and provides reinforced means for anchoring the device to tissue which surrounds the joint.
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Abstract
A device designed for surgical implantation to replace damaged tissue (such as a meniscus in a knee) is disclosed, having a hydrogel component reinforced by a three-dimensional mesh. The mesh component provides strength and structural support for the implant, which has at least one articulating surface, and at least one anchoring surface. In one embodiment, the mesh emerges from one or more selected locations around the peripheral rim of a meniscal implant, to provide anchoring attachments that can be sutured, pinned, clipped, or otherwise securely affixed to the fibrous capsule that surrounds the knee. Preferably, the rim surface should be porous, to promote scar tissue (or, in some cases, bone tissue) ingrowth into the implant, to create a strong permanent anchoring support for the implant. In addition, at least some portion of the mesh component preferably should extend through most of the thickness of the hydrogel portion, to create a reinforcing “interpenetrating network” (IPN) of fibers, modelled after certain types of natural body tissues. The “articulating” surfaces of a meniscal wedge, which will rub and slide against femoral and tibial cartilage, should be coated with a hydrogel layer which is smooth and nonabrasive, and made of a material that remains constantly wet. This composite structure, with hydrogel layers surrounding an embedded mesh component, provides a joint-repair implant with improved anchoring, strength, and performance compared to implants of the prior art. Because of certain design advantages, this type of implant may also be useful in surgical repair of other joints, such as damaged shoulders, wrists, ankles or elbows, or in surgical repair of feet or hands.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device designed for surgical emplacement in a mammalian joint, comprising a hydrogel component and a mesh component, wherein:
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a. the hydrogel component provides a smooth and lubricious surface, on at least one surface area which will contact and rub against a natural cartilage surface in the joint;
b. the mesh component reinforces the smooth and lubricious surface, and provides reinforced means for anchoring the device to tissue which surrounds the joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for surgical implantation, comprising:
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a. a body made of elastomeric material, and a mesh component embedded within the body of the device, wherein at least a portion of said elastomeric material comprises a hydrogel material which retains water molecules that are able to permeate into and out of the hydrogel material;
b. at least one articulating surface made of a smooth and lubricious hydrogel material, wherein the articulating surface is designed to press against at least one bone or cartilage surface following implantation of the device, and, c. at least one anchoring surface having an exposed porous surface, made of material that will promote tissue ingrowth into the porous surface following implantation of the device;
and wherein the mesh component embedded within the body of said device is sized and positioned in a manner which;
(i) provides a flexible supporting structure beneath at least one articulating surface, which reinforces and strengthens said articulating surface, and (ii) provides a plurality of anchoring accommodations which will reinforce anchoring of the device to surrounding tissue after surgical implantation of the device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22)
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13. A device for surgical implantation to replace meniscal tissue in a joint, comprising a body made of elastomeric material and having:
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a. at least one articulating surface made of a smooth and lubricious material which is suitable for pressing and rubbing against a cartilage surface following implantation of the device; and
,b. at least one anchoring surface having exposed pores that will promote tissue ingrowth into the porous surface following implantation of the device.
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15. A method of surgically replacing damaged meniscal tissue in a mammalian joint, comprising the step of surgically implanting, into the joint, a device comprising a hydrogel component and a mesh component, wherein:
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a. the mesh component provides the implant device with means for securely anchoring the device to tissue which surrounds the joint; and
,b. the hydrogel component provides a smooth and lubricious surface, in at least one surface area which will contact and rub against a cartilage surface in the joint.
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19. A method of surgically replacing damaged meniscal tissuemin a mammalian joint, comprising the step of surgically implanting, into the joint, a device comprising an elastomeric body component and a mesh component embedded within the elastomeric body component, wherein the elastomeric body component is provided with:
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a. at least one articulating surface made of a hydrogel material, and, b. at least one anchoring surface made of a porous material that will promote tissue ingrowth into the porous surface following implantation of the device;
and wherein the mesh component embedded within the elastomeric body component is sized and positioned in a manner which;
(i) provides a flexible supporting structure beneath at least one articulating surface, which reinforces and strengthens said articulating surface, and (ii) provides a plurality of fibrous anchoring accommodations, which will reinforce anchoring of the device to surrounding tissue after surgical implantation of the device.
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Specification