Rim anchoring systems for flexible surgical implants for replacing cartilage

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.

1 . A flexible implant for repairing damaged cartilage in a synovial joint, comprising a flexible polymeric component having:
 (a) at least one smooth and lubricious articulating surface;   (b) at least one anchoring surface that promotes tissue ingrowth; and,   (c) at least one peripheral anchoring edge which has an enlarged peripheral rim component with a size and shape designed to fit into an accommodating trench that has been machined into a bone that will support the flexible implant after implantation,   wherein placement of said enlarged peripheral rim component within an accommodating trench machined into a bone will provide increased anchoring stability.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible implant of  claim 1 , wherein said enlarged peripheral rim component contains at least one elongated flexible reinforcing member embedded therein, and at least one tissue anchoring means coupled to said elongated flexible reinforcing member. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible implant of  claim 2  wherein said tissue anchoring means is selected from the group consisting of:
 a. a protrusion that will extend into a prepared hole in a bone surface; 
 b. a component that can be secured to a head of a bone screw; 
 c. one or more strands of wire; 
 d. one or more strands of suture material; 
 e. a segment of reinforcing mesh that is partially embedded within the flexible molded polymeric component and which extends out of said flexible molded polymeric component in at least one location; and, 
 f. an eyelet device with an aperture. 
 
     
     
         4 . The flexible implant of  claim 2  wherein said elongated flexible reinforcing member embedded within said enlarged peripheral rim component is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:
 a. a shape-memory alloy having at least one temperature-dependent physical or behavioral characteristic; 
 b. a shape-memory polymer having at least one temperature-dependent physical or behavioral characteristic; 
 c. a super-elastic material; 
 d. a multi-stranded cable; and, 
 e. a high-strength polymer. 
 
     
     
         5 . The flexible implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant can be flexed and deformed, without requiring tools and without suffering damage, into an elongated shape having a width of about 75% or less of its relaxed width. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant can be flexed and deformed, without requiring tools and without suffering damage, into a cylindrical arc wherein the opposed edges of the arc have an angular displacement of at least 70 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant can be rolled into a cylindrical configuration and inserted into an articulating joint via an arthroscopic insertion tube. 
     
     
         8 . A flexible implant for repairing damaged hyaline or meniscal cartilage in an articulating mammalian joint, comprising a flexible molded polymeric component having:
 a. at least one smooth and lubricious articulating surface;   b. at least one peripheral edge which contains an elongated flexible reinforcing member embedded therein; and,   c. a plurality of tissue anchoring components coupled to said elongated flexible reinforcing member.   
     
     
         9 . The flexible implant of  claim 8  wherein said flexible implant is designed to replace hyaline cartilage and has a bone-anchoring surface that is entirely surrounded by a continuous peripheral edge, and wherein said elongated flexible reinforcing member embedded within said continuous peripheral edge is a single continuous reinforcing member that extends entirely around said continuous peripheral edge. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible implant of  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of said tissue anchoring components are selected from the group consisting of:
 a. protrusions that will extend into prepared holes in a bone surface; 
 b. components that can be secured to a head of a bone screw; 
 c. strands of wire with ends that emerge from the flexible molded polymeric component; 
 d. strands of suture material with ends that emerge from the flexible molded polymeric component; 
 e. a segment of reinforcing mesh that is partially embedded within the flexible molded polymeric component and which extends out of said flexible molded polymeric component in at least one location; and, 
 f. eyelet devices with apertures to accommodate shafts of screws or pins. 
 
     
     
         11 . The flexible implant of  claim 9  wherein said elongated flexible reinforcing member embedded within said peripheral edge is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:
 a. a shape-memory alloy having at least one temperature-dependent physical or behavioral characteristic; 
 b. a shape-memory polymer having at least one temperature-dependent physical or behavioral characteristic; 
 c. a super-elastic material; 
 d. a multi-stranded cable. 
 
     
     
         12 . The flexible implant of  claim 9 , wherein the implant can be flexed and deformed, without requiring tools and without suffering damage, into an elongated shape having a width of about 75% or less of its relaxed width. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible surgical implant of  claim 9 , wherein the implant can be flexed and deformed, without requiring tools and without suffering damage, into a cylindrical arc wherein the opposed edges of the arc have an angular displacement of at least 70 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible surgical implant of  claim 9 , wherein the implant can be rolled into a cylindrical configuration and inserted into an articulating joint via an arthroscopic insertion tube. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible implant of  claim 8  wherein said flexible implant is a flexible meniscal implant, which is sized and shaped to replace meniscal cartilage, and which comprises a smooth and lubricious lower surface, which is sized and shaped to articulate in contact with a tibial plateau,
 wherein said lower surface is bounded and defined by a first arcuate interior edge, a second arcuate peripheral edge, and opposing tips where said first and second arcuate edges meet, 
 wherein said second arcuate peripheral edge has at least one elongated flexible reinforcing member embedded therein, 
 and wherein said elongated flexible reinforcing member has opposing ends which are each coupled to an anchoring component. 
 
     
     
         16 . The flexible meniscal implant of  claim 15 , which also comprises:
 a. a smooth and lubricious upper articulating surface, sized and shaped to articulate in contact with a femoral runner, after implantation;   b. an arcuate peripheral surface, sized and shaped to contact soft tissue in a knee capsule, after implantation; and,   c. an arcuate upper edge of said flexible where said upper articulating surface and said arcuate peripheral surface meet;   wherein an elongated flexible reinforcing member is coupled to or embedded within said arcuate upper edge,   and wherein a plurality of tissue anchoring components are coupled to said elongated flexible reinforcing member.   
     
     
         17 . The flexible meniscal implant of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated flexible reinforcing member that is coupled to or embedded within said arcuate upper edge has at least one end which can be anchored directly to bone or soft tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The flexible meniscal implant of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated flexible reinforcing member that is coupled to or embedded within said arcuate upper edge has at least one end which is coupled to said elongated flexible lower reinforcing member. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible meniscal implant of  claim 16  wherein each of said lower and upper reinforcing members is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:
 a. a shape-memory alloy having at least one temperature-dependent physical or behavioral characteristic; 
 b. a shape-memory polymer having at least one temperature-dependent physical or behavioral characteristic; 
 c. a super-elastic material; 
 d. a multi-stranded cable. 
 
     
     
         20 . The flexible meniscal implant of  claim 16 , wherein the implant can be flexed and deformed, without requiring tools and without suffering damage, into an elongated shape having a width of about 75% or less of its relaxed width. 
     
     
         21 . A surgical implant for providing anchoring reinforcement for a cartilage-replacing implant, comprising:
 a. a washer component with an open center area, wherein said washer component is sized to be securely and permanently affixed to a bone surface, from which hyaline cartilage has been removed, and which has been machined to create a trench which will accommodate a cartilage-replacing implant; and,   b. a trench-supplementing component that is securely affixed to said washer component, and which is sized and positioned to provide a reinforcing structure along an interior edge of a trench that has been machined into a bone surface prior to emplacement of a cartilage-replacing implant.