Interpositional Joint Implant
A method of preparing an interpositional implant suitable for a knee. The method includes determining a three-dimensional shape of a tibial surface of the knee. An implant is produced having a superior surface and an inferior surface, with the superior surface adapted to be positioned against a femoral condyle of the knee, and the inferior surface adapted to be positioned upon the tibial surface of the knee. The inferior surface conforms to the three-dimensional shape of the tibial surface. The implant may be inserted into the knee without making surgical cuts on the tibial surface. The tibial surface may include cartilage, or cartilage and bone.
1 . An articular implant for replacing or repair a diseased or damaged joint of a patient, a first implant surface and a periphery, wherein the first implant surface is configured to conform a first articular surface of the diseased or damaged joint of the patient based on electronic image data of the diseased and damaged joint of the patient, wherein the periphery includes a stabilization mechanism configured to limit motion of the articular implant upon implantation.
2 . The articular implant of claim 1 , wherein the first articular surface of the diseased or damaged joint of the patient includes cartilage, or subchondral bone, or both.
3 . The articular implant of claim 1 , wherein the stabilization mechanism includes a ridge or a lip.
4 . The articular implant of claim 1 , wherein the stabilization mechanism is located along a portion of the periphery.
5 . The articular implant of claim 1 , wherein the diseased or damaged joint of a patient is a knee joint, and wherein the first articular surface is a condylar surface of the knee joint.