Soft tissue repair using a porous coated implant

Abstract

Embodiments of this application relate to the use of porous coating implants to repair soft tissue injuries. Implant frames are coated with a porous coating, such as a titanium porous coating, for example, on both the bone-facing and the soft tissue-facing sides of the implant. The implant may then be sandwiched between the bone and soft tissue so that the bone grows into one side, and the soft tissue grows into the other side.

1 . An implant configured for use in repairing soft tissue injuries, comprising:
 an implant frame comprising:
 a central aperture, and 
 a plurality of apertures arranged in concentric circles around the central aperture; and 
   a porous coating disposed over at least a portion of the implant frame and extending through the plurality of apertures and the central aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is configured to be positioned within a depression of a bone underneath an anatomic footprint of a soft tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one eyelet. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous coating comprises a titanium porous coating. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 4 , wherein the titanium porous coating comprises a first distinct pore size and a second distinct pore size. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 5 , wherein the first distinct pore size is configured to promote integration with soft tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 5 , wherein the second distinct pore size is configured to promote integration with bone. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant frame has one of a circular shape, a square shape, a hexagonal shape or a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant frame comprises a bottom surface having a convex shape configured to mate with a depression of a bone underneath an anatomic footprint of a soft tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the central aperture and the plurality of apertures have one of a circular shape, an oval shape, an elliptical shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape and an octagonal shape. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant frame comprises a substantially flat top surface. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein the central aperture and the plurality of apertures extend from the substantially flat top surface, through the implant frame, to a bottom surface of the implant frame. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous coating covers an entire exterior surface of the implant body. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprising an implant stem extending out of a bottom surface of the implant body. 
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 14 , wherein the porous coating covers at least a portion of the implant stem. 
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 14 , wherein the implant stem is threaded and configured to secure the implant frame to a bone. 
     
     
         17 . The implant of  claim 16 , wherein the porous coating does not cover the threaded implant stem. 
     
     
         18 . The implant of  claim 16 , wherein the central aperture comprises a female hex geometry configured to receive a hex driving tool for rotating the threaded implant stem into the bone. 
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one eyelet comprises two eyelets extending from diametrically opposed sides of the implant frame. 
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 19 , wherein the implant frame has one of a square shape and a rectangular shape and the at least one eyelet comprises a plurality of eyelets, each extending from a respective corner of the implant frame.