Two-piece floating joint replacement device with a rigid backing material

A method for inserting a two-part joint replacement device inside a joint between a first anatomical structure and an adjacent second anatomical structure, the method comprising:

• introducing a free floating soft joint tissue replacement component and a free floating rigid base component between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure of the joint, wherein the free floating rigid base component is sized to define a space between an outer portion of the free floating soft joint tissue replacement component and an outer portion of the free floating rigid base component, wherein the free floating soft joint tissue replacement component is disposed within the space to slidingly and rotatably engage inside the free floating rigid base component;
• positioning an upper surface of the free floating soft joint tissue replacement component to engage the first bone structure;
• and
• positioning a bottom portion of the free floating rigid base component to engage the second anatomical structure, such that the two-part joint replacement device floats between the first and second anatomical structures.

A two-part floating joint replacement prosthetic device for replacing damaged soft joint tissue, the prosthetic device comprising:

• a free floating first soft joint tissue replacement component comprising an outer perimeter and a first surface for engagement with first anatomical structure having damaged soft joint tissue, the first soft joint tissue replacement component being formed of a first biocompatible material;
• and
• a rigid base second component comprising:
• a superiorly extending peripheral wall having an inner surface shaped to receive the outer perimeter of the first soft joint tissue replacement component, wherein the peripheral wall is sized to define a space between the outer perimeter and the inner surface such that the first soft joint tissue replacement component floats in the space;
• and
• a bottom portion arranged to provide free floating engagement with a second anatomical structure,
• wherein the rigid base second component is formed of a second biocompatible material more rigid than the first biocompatible material and disposed for direct engagement with bone tissue.