Orthopedic devices are described including polymer compositions used to make the devices. The polymer composition contains a polyoxymethylene polymer in combination with various additives that prevent against agglomerations and spotting even when the composition contains significant amounts of coloring agents and/or waxes. In addition, the polymer composition has reduced formaldehyde emissions and excellent thermal stability properties.

The present invention addresses a problem of providing a three-dimensional structure having bioactivity in which a coating film includes a titanium alkoxide hydrolysis product is coated with high adhesion strength on the surface of a three-dimensional structure main body, and also providing a method for producing such three-dimensional structure. The three-dimensional structure having bioactivity includes a three-dimensional structure main body having a concave section and/or a convex section on a surface, and having a coating film on the surface of the three-dimensional structure main body, and the coating film that includes a titanium alkoxide hydrolysis product a thickness of 10 nm to 200 nm. No cracks or peelings of the coating film can be recognized when the surface of the three-dimensional structure is observed with a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 300, and the coating film has bioactivity when evaluated under conditions specified in ISO 23317.

The disclosure provides a use of hydrogel composition for alleviating degenerative joint and tendon tear. The hydrogel composition includes 100 parts by weight of therapeutic agent and 120-380 parts by weight of biodegradable copolymer, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises platelet-rich plasma (PRP), doxorubicin, transforming growth factor, bovine serum albumin, or a combination thereof. The biodegradable copolymer has a structure of Formula (I) or Formula (II):

##STR00001## wherein A is a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol polymer; B is a hydrophobic polyester polymer; BOX is a bifunctional group monomer of 2, 2-bis(2-oxazoline) used for coupling the blocks A-B or B-A-B; and n is 0 or an integer greater than 0.

Provided is an orthopedic implant comprising a surface with a coating on the surface wherein the coating comprises a copolymer defined by Formula I: A.sub.w-B.sub.x-C.sub.y-D.sub.z wherein: A comprises an epoxy group; B comprises a hydrophobic group; C is an optional cross-linker; D of Formula I comprises a hydrophilic group; w is at least 0.1 to no more than 0.9 with the proviso that at least one of x or z is not zero; x is up to 0.9; y is up to 0.3; and z is up to 0.9.

The present invention relates to a medical implant for cartilage and/or bone repair at an articulating surface of a joint. The implant comprises a contoured implant body and at least one extending post. The implant body has an articulating surface configured to face the articulating part of the joint and a bone contact surface configured to face the bone structure of a joint, where the said articulating and bone contact surfaces face mutually opposite directions and said bone contact surface is provided with the extending post. A cartilage contact surface connects the articulating and the bone contact surfaces and is configured to contact the cartilage surrounding the implant body in a joint. The articulating surface has a layer that consists of titanium nitride (TiN) as the wear-resistant material. The cartilage contact surface has a coating that substantially consists of a material having chondrointegration properties.

The present disclosure pertains to ionic polymer compositions, including semi- and fully interpenetrating polymer networks, methods of making such ionic polymer compositions, articles made from such ionic polymer compositions, and methods of making such articles and packaging for such articles.

A new insight on the lubrication of artificial joint components is presented. Addition of small amounts of nanoscale diamond particles to an artificial joint promotes a substantial improvement in friction and wear behavior of the artificial joint surfaces. Artificial joint implants are made from a variety of materials ranging from metal alloys to polymers. Suitable methods of applying nanoscale diamond particles to an artificial joint include (i) coating an effective amount of nanoscale diamond particles onto the artificial joint prior to implants; (ii) applying a composition to the artificial joint during an artificial joint implanting surgery, wherein said composition comprises a biocompatible carrier fluid and an effective amount of nanoscale diamond particles dispersed in the biocompatible carrier fluid; (iii) injecting the composition for lubricating the artificial joint into the artificial joint.

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.

This invention is directed to coated substrates, wherein the coating comprises titanium phosphate and/or zirconium phosphate. In certain embodiments the substrate is an implant for use in vivo. The invention is also directed to methods for forming coatings comprising or consisting of titanium phosphate and/or zirconium phosphate on the surface of a substrate.

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.