Implantable device and method to replace the meniscus of the knee and other body structures

1. An artificial knee meniscus implant comprising:

a c-shaped scaffold having an arcuate middle section extending between an anterior end and a posterior end with a central axis extending through a center of the arcuate middle section and evenly spaced between the anterior and posterior ends ; and

a reinforcing network of fibers independent from and embedded in the scaffold, the reinforcing network of fibers defining a matrix having a three-dimensional shape and geometry which is substantially the same as a three-dimensional shape and geometry of the c-shaped scaffold;

wherein fibers of said network fibers exit each end of the scaffold to form respective anterior and posterior attachment segments which extend parallel to the central axis of the scaffold; and said network of fibers is configured to convert an axial compressive force on said scaffold to tensile loads on said attachment points.

2. The artificial meniscus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion said network of fibers extends along said arcuate middle section in a substantially circumferential direction.

3. The artificial meniscus of claim 2 , wherein said network of fibers further comprises an orthogonal fiber network embedded within said scaffold to prevent separation of said circumferential fiber network.

4. The artificial meniscus of claim 3 , wherein said network of fibers further comprises radial tie fibers woven through the circumferentially oriented fibers.

5. The artificial implant of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold has a wedge-shaped cross-section.

6. The artificial implant of claim 5 , further comprising at least one peripheral attachment point.

7. The artificial implant of claim 6 , wherein the at least one peripheral attachment point coincides with a point at which said fibers extending in a substantially circumferential direction intersect with said orthogonal fiber network.

8. The artificial implant of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing network extends throughout said wedge-shaped cross section of said arcuate middle section.

9. The artificial implant of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of proteins, proteoglycans, biocompatible synthetic polymers and combinations thereof.

10. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is formed from proteins comprising collagen.

11. The implant of claim 10 , wherein the collagen is cross-linked.

12. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is made from bovine Achilles tendon collagen.

13. The implant of claim 12 , wherein the collagen concentration is approximately 2% dry weight/ volume.

14. The implant of claim 12 , wherein the scaffold further includes Hyaluronic Acid at low concentrations.

15. The implant of claim 12 , wherein the collagen undergoes a dispersion processing including high speed mini blender with ground collagen.

16. The artificial implant of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the scaffold and the reinforcing network comprises a biocompatible synthetic polymeric material.

17. The artificial implant of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the scaffold and the reinforcing network comprises a bioresorbable material.

18. The artificial implant of claim 17 , wherein the reinforcing network of fibers are manufactured from a bioresorbable material selected such that a rate of degradation of the bioresorbable material is sufficiently long so as to allow for tissue ingrowth to occur within the biomaterial.

19. A method for replacement of a damaged meniscus comprising replacing a damaged portion of said meniscus with an implant according to claim 1 corresponding to the damaged portion being replaced by inserting said implant between a tibial plateau and a corresponding femur condyle.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said method comprises a total or sub-total meniscectomy and said method further includes a step of extending the anterior and posterior attachment segments through a bone tunnel and securing the attachment segments to the tibial plateau.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said implant further comprises at least one attachment point on an exterior periphery of said arcuate middle section and said method further comprises a step of attaching the implant to a surrounding tissue wall through at least one of said attachment points.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein at least one of said attachment points coincides with a point at which a fiber extending circumferentially along said arcuate middle section contacts said exterior periphery of said arcuate middle section.