Hydrogel implants with porous materials and methods

1. An implant configured for implantation in a hole prepared in a bone segment, 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:

a third portion comprising the porous material; and

an anchor extending through the porous material in the second and the third portions and protruding from the third portion in a direction away from the first portion, wherein the hole has a bottom surface and when the implant is inserted into the hole, the anchor maintains a downward force on the third portion against the bottom of the hole.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises barbs that flare outward.

3. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the hole in the bone segment comprises a secondary hole in the bottom surface and when the implant is inserted into the hole, the anchor fits into the secondary hole.

4. The implant of claim 3 , wherein the anchor comprises barbs that flare outward and can flex inwardly during insertion into the secondary hole thus resisting retraction of the anchor.

5. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the porous material in the second portion and the third portion comprises a grommet shape including an eyelet and the anchor extends through the eyelet.

6. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a plurality of anchors.

7. The implant of claim 6 , wherein the porous material in the second portion and the third portion comprises a plurality of eyelets for the plurality of anchors.

8. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the third portion has non-uniform lateral cross-section.

9. The implant of claim 8 , wherein the bottom of the third portion has a non-uniform lateral cross-section.

10. The implant of claim 8 , wherein the bottom of the third portion has an ellipse shape having a length greater than a width.