IMPLANT HAVING A CONVEX SURFACE SURROUNDING A CONCAVE ARTICULAR SURFACE
An orthopedic implant includes a first region for attachment to a bone and a second region coupled to the first region, the second region having a perimeter and including a concave articular surface on top of the second region and a convex surface between the perimeter and the concave articular surface.
1 . An orthopedic implant comprising:
a first region for attachment to a bone; and
a second region coupled to the first region, the second region having a perimeter and comprising:
a concave articular surface on top of the second region; and
a convex surface between the perimeter and the concave articular surface.
2 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein the first region comprises porosity to promote bone ingrowth.
3 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein the convex surface facilitates a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of cartilage tissue.
4 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein the convex surface has a shape to facilitate a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of tissue on the convex surface.
5 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 further comprising:
a perimeter area between the perimeter and the convex surface;
wherein an overgrowth of cartilage tissue is relatively thick at the perimeter area and progressively thinner over the convex surface.
6 . The orthopedic implant of claim 5 wherein the perimeter area has a shape to facilitate a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of cartilage tissue over the perimeter area.
7 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein the orthopedic implant comprises ceramic, metal, plastic, polyethylene, polycarbonate-urethane, or ultra-violet curable resin.
8 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein the orthopedic implant comprises collagen, PLA, PGA, bioglass, or agarose gel.
9 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein the second region has a larger or the same width as the first region.
10 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein:
the second region has a larger width than the first region; and
the second region comprises a bottom surface shaped to mimic a shape of the concave articular surface.
11 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 wherein the first region comprises a threaded extension.
12 . The orthopedic implant of claim 1 further comprising a third region for attachment to the bone, the third region coupled to the second region.
13 . The orthopedic implant of claim 12 wherein the third region comprises porosity to promote bone ingrowth.
14 . A method for providing an orthopedic implant comprising:
forming a first region for attachment to a bone; and
forming a second region coupled to the first region, the second region having a perimeter and comprising:
a concave articular surface on top of the second region; and
a convex surface between the perimeter and the concave articular surface.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the first region comprises porosity to promote bone ingrowth.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the convex surface facilitates a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of cartilage tissue.
17 . The method of claim 14 wherein the convex surface has a shape to facilitate a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of tissue on the convex surface.
18 . The method of claim 14 further comprising:
a perimeter area between the perimeter and the convex surface;
wherein an overgrowth of cartilage tissue is relatively thick at the perimeter area and progressively thinner over the convex surface.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the perimeter area has a shape to facilitate a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of cartilage tissue over the perimeter area.
20 . The method of claim 14 wherein the orthopedic implant comprises ceramic, metal, plastic, polyethylene, polycarbonate-urethane, or ultra-violet curable resin.
21 . The method of claim 14 wherein the orthopedic implant comprises collagen, PLA, PGA, bioglass, or agarose gel.
22 . The method of claim 14 wherein the second region has a larger or the same width as the first region.
23 . The method of claim 14 wherein:
the second region has a larger width than the first region; and
the second region comprises a bottom surface shaped to mimic a shape of the concave articular surface.
24 . The method of claim 14 wherein the first region comprises a threaded extension.
25 . The method of claim 14 further comprising forming a third region for attachment to the bone, the third region coupled to the second region.
26 . The method of claim 25 wherein the third region comprises porosity to promote bone ingrowth.
27 . A method of orthopedic surgery comprising:
implanting an orthopedic implant;
wherein the orthopedic implant comprises:
a first region for attachment to a bone; and
a second region coupled to the first region, the second region having a perimeter and comprising:
a concave articular surface on top of the second region; and
a convex surface between the perimeter and the concave articular surface.
28 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first region comprises porosity to promote bone ingrowth.
29 . The method of claim 27 wherein the convex surface facilitates a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of cartilage tissue.
30 . The method of claim 27 wherein the convex surface has a shape to facilitate a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of tissue on the convex surface.
31 . The method of claim 27 further comprising:
a perimeter area between the perimeter and the convex surface;
wherein an overgrowth of cartilage tissue is relatively thick at the perimeter area and progressively thinner over the convex surface.
32 . The method of claim 31 wherein the perimeter area has a shape to facilitate a biologic reaction to form an overgrowth of cartilage tissue over the perimeter area.
33 . The method of claim 27 wherein the orthopedic implant comprises ceramic, metal, plastic, polyethylene, polycarbonate-urethane, or ultra-violet curable resin.
34 . The method of claim 27 wherein the orthopedic implant comprises collagen, PLA, PGA, bioglass, or agarose gel.
35 . The method of claim 27 wherein the second region has a larger or the same width as the first region.
36 . The method of claim 27 wherein:
the second region has a larger width than the first region; and
the second region comprises a bottom surface shaped to mimic a shape of the concave articular surface.
37 . The method of claim 27 wherein the first region comprises a threaded extension.
38 . The method of claim 27 wherein the orthopedic implant further comprises a third region for attachment to the bone, the third region coupled to the second region.
39 . The method of claim 38 wherein the third region comprises porosity to promote bone ingrowth.