Orthopedic implants having circumferential and non-circumferential fibers

A method of making an artificial meniscus implant, the method comprising:

• placing an embedded portion of at least one first fiber in a first bulk polymer gel such that a first non-embedded portion and a second non-embedded portion of the at least one first fiber protrudes beyond the first bulk polymer gel, the at least one first fiber defining a first fiber longitudinal length that extends in a circumferential direction of an arc-shaped body of the artificial meniscus implant;
• causing the first bulk polymer gel to harden into a solid state;
• and
• attaching at least one second fiber to the hardened first bulk polymer gel, wherein each of the at least one second fiber:
• extends along at least a portion of a radial width of the artificial meniscus implant between a peripheral edge and an interior edge,
• defines a second fiber longitudinal length that extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction, and
• is not in contact with and spaced apart from the at least one first fiber.

A method of implanting an artificial meniscus, comprising:

• inserting a first interconnected fiber extension of at least one first fiber extending from a body portion of a meniscus implant into a first bone tunnel of a first bone of a patient, the first interconnected fiber extension at least partially covered with a polymer coating disposed between the first bone and the first interconnected fiber extension within the first bone tunnel, wherein the at least one first fiber defines a first fiber longitudinal length that extends in a circumferential direction of an arc-shaped body and at least one second fiber defines a second fiber longitudinal length that extends in a radial direction of the arc-shaped body perpendicular to the circumferential direction, the at least one second fiber is not in contact with and spaced apart from the at least one first fiber;
• inserting a second interconnected fiber extension of the at least one first fiber extending from the body portion of the meniscus implant into a second bone tunnel of the first bone of the patient, the second interconnected fiber extension at least partially covered with a polymer coating disposed between the first bone and the second interconnected fiber extension within the second bone tunnel;
• and
• immobilizing the meniscus implant by attaching each of the first interconnected fiber extension and the second interconnected fiber extension to a respective adjacent bone, wherein the attachment comprises an attachment method selected from tying the first interconnected fiber extension to the second interconnected fiber extension, affixing each of the first interconnected fiber extension and the second interconnected fiber extension to respective endobuttons implanted into the respective adjacent bone, or affixing each of the first interconnected fiber extension and the second interconnected fiber extension to respective interference screws implanted into the respective adjacent bone.