System and method for repairing articular surfaces

1. A joint replacement system for repairing at least a first articular surface of a first bone of a joint, said system comprising:

a first implant system comprising:

an anchor portion formed from at least a first material, said anchor portion comprising:

a first anchor configured to be secured to said bone; and

an anchor fixation head including a bone-facing surface and an implant facing surface, wherein said bone-facing surface extends radially outward from said anchor, and wherein said implant facing surface extends from a periphery of said bone facing surface and includes a first mating surface; and

an implant portion formed from at least a second material more dense than said first material, said implant portion comprising:

a fixation cavity configured to receive at least a portion of said anchor fixation head, said fixation cavity including an anchor facing surface extending from an opening thereof, said anchor facing surface including a second mating surface configured to form a frictional connection with said first mating surface; and

a first load bearing surface having a contour for articulating against a cooperating, second articulating surface associated with a second bone of said joint;

wherein:

said fixation cavity defines a volume Vr that is greater than or equal to 50% of a total volume Vi of said implant portion; and/or

said anchor fixation head defines a volume Vh that is greater than or equal to 50% of said total volume Vi of said implant portion.

2. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second implant system comprising:

a second implant having a second load bearing surface configured to articulate against said first load bearing surface; and

a second anchor configured to be secured into said second bone, wherein said second anchor is configured to be secured to said second implant.

3. The joint replacement system of claim 2 , wherein said second implant and said second anchor include a first and a second fixation element, respectively.

4. The joint replacement system of claim 3 , wherein said first and said second fixation elements are configured to form tapered connection therebetween.

5. The joint replacement system of claim 4 , wherein said first and said second fixation elements comprise a tapered cavity and a tapered protrusion configured to form tapered connection therebetween.

6. The joint replacement system of claim 3 , wherein said first and said second fixation elements are configured to form a snap-fit connection therebetween.

7. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said first load bearing surface is configured to replace substantially the entire first articular surface of said first bone.

8. The joint replacement system of claim 7 , wherein said second load bearing surface is configured to replace substantially an entire second articular surface of said second bone.

9. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said first load bearing surface is configured to replace a portion of said first articular surface.

10. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said first load bearing surface has a contour based on a plurality of overlapping excision sites.

11. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said first load bearing surface has a contour defining a socket.

12. The joint replacement system of claim 11 , and wherein said second load bearing surface has a contour defining a generally hemispherical ball configured to articulate, at least in part, in said socket.

13. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , and wherein said first load bearing surface has a contour defining a generally hemispherical ball.

14. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said first material comprises steel, titanium, or an alloy thereof.

15. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said second material comprises cobalt-chromium (CoCr).

16. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said volume Vr is greater than or equal to 50% of said total volume Vi of said implant portion.

17. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said volume Vh is greater than or equal to 50% of said total volume Vi of said implant portion.

18. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said opening of said fixation cavity has a cross-section that is greater than a cross-section of said anchor.

19. The joint replacement system of claim 18 , wherein said opening includes a maximum radial distance Do from a longitudinal axis of said anchor portion that is larger than a maximum radial distance Da of said anchor.

20. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein a maximum thickness Ti of said implant portion is less than a maximum thickness Th of said anchor fixation head.

21. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said anchor fixation head has a cross-section that is greater than a cross-section of said anchor.

22. The joint replacement system of claim 21 , wherein said implant portion includes at least one bone-facing surface extending radially outward from at least a portion of said opening of said fixation cavity.

23. The joint replacement system of claim 21 , wherein said anchor facing surface has a generally hemispherical shape.

24. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said anchor fixation head and said anchor are a unitary structure.

25. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said implant facing surface of said fixation cavity has a shape that generally corresponds to the shape of implant facing surface of said anchor fixation head.

26. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said first and said second mating surfaces have a tapered shape.

27. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said anchor fixation head comprises at least one fixation member opening extending therethrough, said fixation member opening configured to receive a fixation member.

28. The joint replacement system of claim 27 , further comprising said fixation member, and wherein said fixation member comprises a screw.

29. The joint replacement system of claim 1 , wherein said first material comprises steel, titanium, or an alloy thereof, and wherein said second material comprises cobalt-chromium (CoCr).

30. A joint replacement system for repairing at least a first articular surface of a first bone of a joint, said system comprising:

a first implant system comprising:

an anchor portion formed from at least a first material, said anchor portion comprising:

a first anchor configured to be secured to said bone; and

an anchor fixation head including a bone-facing surface and an implant facing surface, wherein said bone-facing surface extends radially outward from said anchor, and wherein said implant facing surface extends from a periphery of said bone facing surface and includes a first mating surface; and

an implant portion formed from at least a second material more dense than said first material, said implant portion comprising:

a fixation cavity configured to receive at least a portion of said anchor fixation head, said fixation cavity including an anchor facing surface extending from an opening thereof, said anchor facing surface including a second mating surface configured to form a frictional connection with said first mating surface and said opening having a cross-section that is greater than a cross-section of said anchor fixation head; and

a first load bearing surface having a contour for articulating against a cooperating, second articulating surface associated with a second bone of said joint.

31. The joint replacement system of claim 30 , wherein said implant portion includes at least one bone-facing surface extending radially outward from at least a portion of said opening of said fixation cavity.

32. The joint replacement system of claim 30 , wherein said anchor facing surface has a generally hemispherical shape.

33. The joint replacement system of claim 30 , further comprising:

a second implant system comprising:

a second implant having a second load bearing surface configured to articulate against said first load bearing surface; and

a second anchor configured to be secured into said second bone, wherein said second anchor is configured to be secured to said second implant.

34. The joint replacement system of claim 33 , wherein said second anchor includes a threaded region configured to secure said second anchor to said second bone.

35. The joint replacement system of claim 33 , wherein said second implant system includes a single anchor, wherein said second anchor is centrally located with respect to the second implant.

36. The joint replacement system of claim 33 , wherein said second implant system includes a single anchor, wherein a longitudinal axis of said second anchor is collinear with a longitudinal axis of said assembled second implant system.

37. The joint replacement system of claim 33 , wherein said first implant system includes a single anchor, wherein said first anchor is centrally located with respect to the first implant portion.

38. The joint replacement system of claim 33 , wherein said first implant system includes a single anchor, wherein a longitudinal axis of said first anchor is collinear with a longitudinal axis of assembled first implant system.

39. The joint replacement system of claim 30 , wherein said opening includes a maximum radial distance Do from a longitudinal axis of said anchor portion that is larger than a maximum radial distance Da of said anchor.

40. A joint replacement system for repairing at least a first articular surface of a first bone of a joint, said system comprising:

a first implant system comprising:

an anchor portion formed from at least a first material, said anchor portion comprising:

a first anchor configured to be secured to said bone; and

an anchor fixation head including a bone-facing surface and an implant facing surface, wherein said bone-facing surface extends radially outward from said anchor, and wherein said implant facing surface extends from a periphery of said bone facing surface and includes a first mating surface; and

an implant portion formed from at least a second material more dense than said first material, said implant portion comprising:

a fixation cavity configured to receive at least a portion of said anchor fixation head, said fixation cavity including an anchor facing surface extending from an opening thereof, said anchor facing surface including a second mating surface configured to form a frictional connection with said first mating surface; and

a first load bearing surface having a contour for articulating against a cooperating, second articulating surface associated with a second bone of said joint;

wherein a maximum thickness Ti of said implant portion is less than a maximum thickness Th of said anchor fixation head.

41. A joint replacement system for repairing at least a first articular surface of a first bone of a joint, said system comprising:

a first implant system comprising:

an anchor portion formed from at least a first material, said anchor portion comprising:

an anchor configured to be secured to said bone; and

an anchor fixation head including a bone-facing surface and an implant facing surface, wherein said bone-facing surface extends radially outward from said anchor, and wherein said implant facing surface extends from a periphery of said bone facing surface and includes a first mating surface; and

an implant portion formed from at least a second material more dense than said first material, said implant portion comprising:

a fixation cavity configured to receive at least a portion of said anchor fixation head, said fixation cavity including an anchor facing surface extending from an opening thereof, said anchor facing surface including a second mating surface configured to form a frictional connection with said first mating surface; and

a first load bearing surface having a contour for articulating against a cooperating, second articulating surface associated with a second bone of said joint;

wherein said anchor fixation head has a cross-section that is greater than a cross-section of said anchor; and

wherein said anchor facing surface has a generally hemispherical shape.