Hydrogel implants with porous materials and methods

Abstract

Disclosed is an implant for implantation in a joint that includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion includes a hydrogel. The second portion includes a porous material and the hydrogel in pores of the porous material. The third portion includes the porous material. The first portion is free of the porous material, the third portion is free of the hydrogel, and the pores of the porous material in the second portion are different than the pores of the porous material in the third portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implant configured for implantation in a joint, the implant comprising:
 a first portion comprising a hydrogel;   a second portion comprising a porous material and the hydrogel in pores of the porous material, the porous material comprising at least one of metal or plastic; and   a third portion comprising the porous material, the first portion being free of the porous material, the third portion being free of the hydrogel,   wherein pores of the porous material in the second portion are different than the pores of the porous material in the third portion.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral dimension of the first portion is larger than a lateral dimension of the third portion. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is load bearing and non-biodegradable. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a pyramid shape. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material in the second portion and the third portion comprises a disc shape. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material in the second portion and the third portion comprises a frustoconical or pyramid shape. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material has a porosity between 45 ppi and 80 ppi, and wherein pores of the porous material have a dimension between 100 μm and 500 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material has a porosity between 45 ppi and 60 ppi, wherein pores of the porous material have a dimension between 100 μm and 500 μm, and wherein a lateral dimension of the first portion is between 5% and 15% larger than a lateral dimension of the third portion. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein a lateral dimension of the first portion is between 5% and 15% larger than a lateral dimension of the third portion. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the first portion is the same as a shape of the third portion. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the third portion have different shapes. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material in the second portion and the third portion comprises a disc shape,
 wherein the implant is load bearing and non-biodegradable, and   wherein a lateral dimension of the first portion is between 5% and 15% larger than a lateral dimension of the third portion.   
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material in the second portion and the third portion comprises a frustoconical or pyramid shape,
 wherein the implant is load bearing and non-biodegradable, and   wherein a lateral dimension of the first portion is between 5% and 15% larger than a lateral dimension of the third portion.   
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel comprises polyvinyl alcohol and at least one of water or saline. 
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the porous material comprises at least one of metal or plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The implant of  claim 16 , wherein a lateral dimension of the first portion is between 5% and 15% larger than a lateral dimension of the third portion,
 wherein the implant is load bearing and non-biodegradable, and   wherein the implant is configured to be placed in at least one of a toe, finger, ankle, knee, shoulder, hip, or other joint.   
     
     
         18 . An implant configured for implantation in a joint, the implant comprising:
 a first portion comprising a hydrogel;   a second portion comprising a porous material and the hydrogel in pores of the porous material, the porous material comprising at least one of metal or plastic; and   a third portion comprising the porous material, the first portion being free of the porous material, the third portion being free of the hydrogel,   wherein pores of the porous material in the second portion are different than the pores of the porous material in the third portion, and   wherein the lateral dimension of the first portion is larger than a lateral dimension of the third portion.   
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein the implant is load bearing and non-biodegradable. 
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein the implant comprises a frustoconical or pyramid shape.