HYDROGEL IMPLANT PROCEDURE

1 . A method for repairing a damaged portion of an articulating surface of a joint, comprising:

providing an implant that comprises:

a main portion configured for inserting into a joint, wherein the main portion comprises:

a porous material portion having a first bone-engaging surface having a first contour; and

a hydrogel portion that is bonded to the porous material portion and forming an articulating surface opposite from the first bone-engaging surface; and

a bone plate portion configured for securing the implant to a bone that forms the joint;

wherein, the main portion having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein the leading end is configured for being inserted into the joint;

wherein the bone plate portion is integrally formed with the porous material portion and extends from the trailing end, forming a second bone-engaging surface that is also formed of the porous material and extends from the first bone-engaging surface in a direction opposite from the articulating surface at an angle with respect to the first bone-engaging surface, wherein the second bone-engaging surface has a second contour;

wherein the bone plate portion comprises a solid metal portion that forms all exterior surfaces of the bone plate portion except for the second bone-engaging surface; and

wherein the bone plate portion has at least one screw hole for receiving a bone screw;

preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of a bone in the joint to have two resected surfaces, one resected surface with a contour that matches the first contour of the first bone-contacting surface, and the second resected surface with a contour that matches the second contour of the second bone-contacting surface of the implant; and

implanting the implant into the joint.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint comprises:

cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a bone saw at a first angle to remove a portion of the articulating surface and form a first resected surface that has a contour that matches the first contour of the first-bone engaging surface; and then

cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a bone saw at a second angle to remove a portion of the articulating surface and form a second resected surface that has a contour that matches the second contour of the second-bone engaging surface.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first resected surface and the second resected surfaces are flat surfaces.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint comprises:

cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a bone saw at a first angle to remove a portion of the articulating surface and form a first resected surface that has a contour that matches the second contour of the second-bone engaging surface; and then

cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a bone saw at a second angle to remove a portion of the articulating surface and form a second resected surface that has a contour that matches the first contour of the first-bone engaging surface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of implanting the implant into the joint comprises securing the implant to the two resected surfaces of the bone.

6 . A method for repairing a damaged portion of an articulating surface of a joint, comprising:

providing an implant that comprises:

a main portion configured for inserting into a joint, wherein the main portion comprises:

a hydrogel portion forming a bone-contacting surface and an articulating surface opposite from the bone-contacting surface, the bone-contacting surface having a contour;

wherein, the main portion having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein the leading end is configured for being inserted into the joint; and

a bone plate portion configured for securing the implant to a bone that forms the joint; wherein the bone plate portion comprises:

a first part having a perforated structure that is embedded in the hydrogel portion; and

a second part that is not embedded in the hydrogel portion and extending from the trailing end in a direction opposite from the articulating surface at an angle ≤160° but ≥80° with respect to the bone-contacting surface;

wherein the second part has at least one screw hole for receiving a bone screw;

preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint to have a resected surface with a contour that matches the contour of the bone-contacting surface of the implant; and

implanting the implant into the joint.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint comprises cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a bone saw to remove a portion of the articulating surface and form a flat resected surface that forms at least a portion of the contour of the resected surface.

8 . A method for repairing a damaged portion of an articulating surface of a joint, comprising:

providing an implant that comprises:

a main portion configured for inserting into the joint, wherein the main portion comprises:

a hydrogel portion forming a bone-contacting surface and an articulating surface opposite from the bone-contacting surface;

wherein the bone-contacting surface has a contour that comprises a protruding part that has a half-cylinder contour;

wherein, the main portion having a leading end and a trailing end, wherein the leading end is configured for being inserted into the joint; and

a bone plate portion configured for securing the implant to a bone that forms the joint; wherein the bone plate portion comprises:

a first part having a perforated structure that is embedded in the protruding part of the hydrogel portion; and

a second part that is not embedded in the protruding part of the hydrogel portion and extending from the trailing end in a direction opposite from the articulating surface at an angle ≤160° but ≥80° with respect to the bone-contacting surface;

wherein the second part has at least one screw hole for receiving a bone screw;

preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint to have a resected surface with a contour that matches the contour of the bone-contacting surface of the implant; and

implanting the implant into the joint.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint comprises cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a bone saw to remove a portion of the articulating surface and form a flat resected surface that forms at least a portion of the contour of the resected surface.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint comprises cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a burr to form a half-cylinder shaped surface that matches the contour of the protrusion in the bone-contacting surface of the implant.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising cutting into the flat resected surface of the articulating surface with a burr to form a half-cylinder shaped surface that matches the contour of the protrusion in the bone-contacting surface of the implant.

12 . A method for repairing a damaged portion of an articulating surface of a joint, comprising:

providing an implant that comprises:

a main portion configured for inserting into the joint and comprising a leading end, a trailing end, an articulating surface and a bone-contacting surface extending between the leading end and the trailing end, wherein the bone-contacting surface has a contour, wherein the leading end is configured for being inserted into the joint, wherein the main portion further comprises:

a hydrogel portion forming the articulating surface and the bone-contacting surface opposite from the articulating surface; and

a porous material portion bonded to the hydrogel portion and forming a protruding part having a half-cylinder shape that extends from the trailing end and partially towards the leading end, the protruding part forming a portion of the bone-contacting surface;

wherein the porous material portion comprises a tapered hole at the trailing end; and

a bone plate configured for securing the implant to a bone that forms the joint;

wherein the bone plate is formed of a solid metal;

wherein the bone plate comprises a tapered stem that is configured to be inserted into the tapered hole in the porous material portion, whereby the tapered stem and the tapered hole cooperate to urge the bone-contacting surface of the implant toward the bone when the implant is inserted into the joint; and

wherein the bone plate has at least one screw hole for receiving a bone screw;

preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint to have a resected surface with a contour that matches the contour of the bone-contacting surface of the implant; and

implanting the implant into the joint.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the contour of the bone-contacting surface of the implant comprises a flat portion and a protruding portion.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint comprises cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a bone saw to remove a portion of the articulating surface and form a flat resected surface that forms at least a portion of the contour of the resected surface.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of preparing the damaged portion of the articulating surface of the joint comprises cutting into the articulating surface of the joint with a burr to form a half-cylinder shaped surface that matches the contour of the protrusion in the bone-contacting surface of the implant.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising cutting into the flat resected surface of the articulating surface with a burr to form a half-cylinder shaped surface that matches the contour of the protrusion in the bone-contacting surface of the implant.