Systems and method for delivery and positioning of a sheet-like surgical implant to a target site including a means of deploying and orienting the sheet-like implant within the body.

Surgical tools and kits are disclosed for repairing hyaline or meniscal cartilage, using membrane segments to protect and promote the growth and activity of cartilage-generating cells. These kits include: (i) a set of dilator tubes, adapted from similar tubes used in spinal surgery except shorter, that will allow a surgeon to progressively enlarge an insertion tunnel for inserting a membrane segment into an articulating joint that is being repaired; and, (ii) an assortment of membrane tamping devices, with smooth rounded tamping heads (or tips, etc.), and with a size and length that allow the tool tip to pass through the longest dilator tube while being held by the surgeon. Additional components (including disposable supplies) that can help facilitate these types of surgery can be included in any such kit, or in supplemental kits that can be bundled and shipped with these primary kits.

This disclosure is directed to methods for reconstructing an unstable triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). Exemplary methods include preparing, delivering, and fixating a graft within a distal radioulnar joint in a manner that restores the functionality to the TFCC, thereby improving the joint kinematics of the radioulnar joint.

A proposed treatment of arthrosis/osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient involves deposing a liquid material on at least one damaged surface of the joint. To accomplish this, a reservoir (110) is provided, which holds a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form outside of a body containing the joint (J) to be treated. A proximal end (P) of a tub e-shaped instrument (120) is connected to the reservoir (110), and a distal end (D) of the instrument (120) is inserted into the joint (J). The liquid material is fed through the instrument (120) to the distal end (D) for deposition on the at least one damaged joint surface.

The material is configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions (e.g. when cooling off, or being exposed to a specific type of radiation). When the material has the solid form, it has a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.

The subject of the invention is a collagen meniscus cap, in particular for the covering of a human meniscus and a method for producing a collagen meniscus cap. The collagen meniscus cap is used in orthopaedics for the treatment of meniscuses in humans and in veterinary medicine for the treatment of meniscus injuries in animals.

The collagen meniscus cap is formed by a set of two plates 1 in the shape of lateral or medial meniscus, each in the form of a layer of collagen membrane, placed on a bracing polymer skeleton 2, connected by a flexible hinge 3, whereas the thickness of the collagen membrane is within the range of H (0.4-09) mm, advantageously 0.6 mm, and the thickness of the polymer layer is within the range of h (0.2-06) mm, advantageously 0.45 mm, and the polymer skeleton 2 has the shape of intersecting segments which form a mesh.

A method for the production of a collagen meniscus cap consists of bio-absorbable and/or bio-degradable material being used to create, advantageously in a 3D technology by printing directly over collagen membrane, two polymer skeletons 2 with the shape of the lateral or medial meniscus and its mirror reflection, permanently connecting the polymer with collagen membrane, after which the connected plates 1 are cut until the shape of the lateral or medial meniscus, advantageously with a guillotine, then the cut collagen membrane plates 1 are folded together so that the inner edges of the plates 1 overlap and collagen membranes are placed on each other, then a tissue glue is used to cover the edges of the inner curvature 4 of both plates 1 of the collagen membrane to the inner outline of the polymer printout, and in turn the inner edges are glued together to create a hinge 3 of the collagen meniscus cap, after which the set is dried in ambient temperature to obtain the effect of gluing together.

The present disclosure relates to a customized medical implant for attachment to and at least partly covering the natural femoral head of a hip joint of a subject. The medical implant includes a dome shaped shell having a height h, an inner equatorial shell radius r.sub.s, an orifice radius r.sub.o, a thickness t.sub.s at the equatorial line, and a thickness t.sub.t at the top of the dome. The implant is constructed such that one or more of the thickness t.sub.s, the thickness t.sub.t, the equatorial shell radius r.sub.s, the orifice radius r.sub.o and the shell height h are customized to the hip joint of the subject based on at least one 3D computed tomography image showing substantially the entirety of the natural femoral head and the acetabulum of said hip joint.

The invention provides treatment methods of using meniscus to repair injured and/or arthritic joints, for example, small hand joints including but not limited to radiocarpal, metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints. The invention also provides various implants made of meniscus for injured and/or arthritic joints.

A lubrication device for lubricating a joint of a human or mammal patient, which is entirely implantable in a patient's body, comprises a reservoir for storing a lubricating fluid and a fluid connection for introducing the lubricating fluid into the joint when the device is implanted in the patient's body. Further, the fluid connection comprises a fluid connection device connecting the reservoir with the joint such that a lubricating fluid flow is established from the reservoir into the joint. The fluid connection comprises either an infusion needle adapted to be intermittently placed into the joint for injecting the lubricating fluid, or a tube adapted to be permanently placed into the joint for continuously injecting the lubricating fluid.

A locking member for implantation in a hip joint of a patient is disclosed. The locking member is adapted to assist in the fixation of a medical device, having an artificial hollow caput femur surface, to the collum and/or caput femur, wherein the artificial caput femur surface comprises at least one extending portion adapted to clasp a portion of the caput and/or collum femur. The locking member comprises an element adapted to lock the artificial caput femur surface such that the caput femur remains clasped and restrained in the artificial caput femur surface.

A joint spacer, in particular a knee spacer and a hip spacer is provided which is long-lasting and is sufficiently cushioned and abrasion-resistant and which can also support locally very high loads. A method for treating osteoarthritis by inserting a disk-shaped member into a joint of a patient is also disclosed.