Method of treating joints with hydrogel implants
First Claim
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1. A method of repairing damaged tissue, comprising:
- providing a hydrogel having an outer surface and a depth, said hydrogel comprising;
a plurality of first substantially uniform cavities along the outer surface of the hydrogel, each of said first cavities extending to a bottom surface of the corresponding first cavity; and
a plurality of second substantially uniform cavities located below at least one of the first cavities, each of said second cavities extending from the bottom surface of the corresponding first cavity;
wherein said first cavities are only located on the outer surface of the hydrogel and do not extend throughout the depth of said hydrogel;
wherein said second cavities do not extend throughout the depth of said hydrogel;
wherein the first cavities promote attraction of bone cells; and
wherein the second cavities promote anchoring and growth of said bone cells; and
implanting said hydrogel into a patient.
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Abstract
Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.
412 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of repairing damaged tissue, comprising:
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providing a hydrogel having an outer surface and a depth, said hydrogel comprising; a plurality of first substantially uniform cavities along the outer surface of the hydrogel, each of said first cavities extending to a bottom surface of the corresponding first cavity; and a plurality of second substantially uniform cavities located below at least one of the first cavities, each of said second cavities extending from the bottom surface of the corresponding first cavity; wherein said first cavities are only located on the outer surface of the hydrogel and do not extend throughout the depth of said hydrogel; wherein said second cavities do not extend throughout the depth of said hydrogel; wherein the first cavities promote attraction of bone cells; and wherein the second cavities promote anchoring and growth of said bone cells; and implanting said hydrogel into a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of treating damaged tissue of a target anatomical area, comprising:
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delivering a hydrogel to a target anatomical area of a patient, the hydrogel having an outer surface and a depth, said hydrogel comprising; a plurality of first cavities located along the exterior surface of the hydrogel, each of said first cavities extending to a bottom surface of said first cavity; and a plurality of second cavities located below at least one of the first cavities, each of said second cavities extending from the bottom surface of the corresponding first cavity; wherein said first cavities are only located on the exterior surface of the hydrogel and do not extend throughout the depth of said hydrogel; wherein said second cavities do not extend throughout the depth of said hydrogel; wherein the hydrogel comprises polyvinyl alcohol; and implanting said hydrogel into the target anatomical area so that the exterior surface of the hydrogel at least partially contacts at least one of a bone surface and a cartilage surface to which the hydrogel may subsequently attach. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification