Systems for distracting a facet joint and positioning a permanent implant in the joint are disclosed. The implants serve to retain a distracted position of the facet joint which is achieved with positioning of the leading end of a distraction tool in the facet joint and then distracting or enlarging the joint a desired amount. The permanent implant could be part of the distraction mechanism which can be separated from the delivery tool once the joint has been distracted or an auxiliary implant may be positioned before the distraction mechanism is removed from the distracted joint. The permanent implants can be solid, mechanical devices that may have fixation means thereon to hold them in place or injected fluids such as hydrogels or fluids confined within balloons.

Methods for temporarily fixing an orientation of a bone or bones. Methods of correcting a bunion deformity. Bone positioning devices. Methods of using a bone positioning device. Bone preparation guides. Methods of using a bone preparation guide.

A hip joint replacement system includes an insert configured to be disposed on an articular surface of a hip joint, a biocompatible fluid including a synthetic synovial fluid, a porous condyle configured to contain the biocompatible fluid and to be disposed on an opposing surface of the hip joint, and a sensor disposed along a top surface of the insert.

A device and method for a minimally invasive surgical implantation to reduce radicular symptoms by inserting an expandable cervical distraction implant in the facet joint and distracting the adjacent cervical vertebrae to increase the foraminal dimension. The implant, when positioned in the cervical facet joint, expands to via delivery of an inflation medium to increase the space between the vertebrae, thereby increasing the foraminal area or dimension, and reducing pressure on the nerves and blood vessels of the cervical spine.

A joint spacer is provided for treatment of a joint of a human subject, the joint spacer including a pouch having a wall including a dermal graft material. The joint spacer is configured to be inserted into a space of the joint, and is shaped, when the pouch is inserted into the space and filled, to provide mechanical support to the joint. Other embodiments are also described.

In some examples, a method for preparing one or more bones involves inserting a spacer into a space defined between a first bone and a second bone, such as a joint space between a first metatarsal and medial cuneiform. A bone preparation guide can be aligned with opposed ends of the first bone and the second bone using the spacer as an alignment reference. For example, the bone preparation guide may include an opening such that the guide can be installed across the joint space with the spacer received in the opening. A clinician may use the bone preparation guide to guide a tissue removing instrument to cut or otherwise prepare the ends of the first bone portion and second bone portion.

A balloon implantation kit includes an inflatable biodegradable balloon configured to be implanted in a human body and a hydrogel composition. In some cases, the hydrogel composition is provided in a container configured to be introduced into the biodegradable balloon. For some applications, the biodegradable balloon includes a joint spacer for treatment of a joint of a human subject, such as a subacromial spacer, a glenohumeral spacer, or a spacer for another joint, such as a knee, hip, ankle, or hand (e.g., CMC1) joint. In these applications, the biodegradable balloon is configured to be inserted into a space of a joint of the human body, and is shaped to provide mechanical support to the joint until the biodegradable balloon resorbs into the human body. For other applications, the biodegradable balloon includes a soft tissue spacer.

The disclosure relates to a spacer using a hydrogel for treatment that aids in growth or bonding of living tissues after surgery or treatment of joints, muscles, or ligaments. The spacer includes a support sheet formed of a biodegradable hydrogel material having a water-soluble polymer network structure, and a pouch formed of a biodegradable material, as a sealing bag-shaped member surrounding the support sheet, and the support sheet is formed to dissolve in a body fluid faster than the pouch. Therefore, the spacer and a method of manufacturing the spacer according to the disclosure may eliminate cost and stress because there is no need for a subsequent removal operation, while stabilizing a surgical site and reducing pain, and particularly, adjust a drug delivery rate adaptively according to different recovery rates or tissue regeneration rates for different ages of patients.

Systems, methods, and devices described herein relate an implant adapted to be placed in a bone in the metatarsophalangeal joint or a metacarpophalangeal joint. In some embodiments, the implant includes a head portion extending from a first surface to a second surface and having a plurality of layers located between the first surface and the second surface. In some embodiments, the first surface is lubricious. In some embodiments, the implant comprises a post portion extending from the second surface of the head portion to a bone facing surface.

Systems, methods, and devices described herein relate an implant adapted to be placed in a bone in the metatarsophalangeal joint or a metacarpophalangeal joint. In some embodiments, the implant includes a head portion extending from a first surface to a second surface and having a plurality of layers located between the first surface and the second surface. In some embodiments, the first surface is lubricious. In some embodiments, the implant comprises a post portion extending from the second surface of the head portion to a bone facing surface.