Flexibly compliant ceramic prosthetic meniscus for the replacement of damaged cartilage in orthopedic surgical repair or reconstruction of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist and other anatomical joints

An implantable meniscus for the repair or replacement of damaged cartilage in the orthopedic surgical repair of a patient's articulating joint comprising:

• flexible compliant ceramic fibers formed together into a rope-like structure, the rope-like structure having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface extending along the proximal and distal ends,
• the rope-like structure is coiled into a pad configuration, wherein the proximal and distal ends of the structure are completely placed into an interior of the pad, said pad is fixed together so as to create a dimensionally stable, and flexibly compliant ceramic prosthetic meniscus and;
• wherein a section of the outer surface of the rope-like structure is abutting another section of the outer surface of the rope-like structure and;
• wherein said pad is fixed together by zigzag stitches and with multiple vertical and horizontal rows of stitches using a high melting temperature ceramic thread to join adjacent coils of said pad so as to create a more stabilized structure and;
• wherein said meniscus comprises a coating made of a ceramic material having a lower melting temperature than said flexible compliant ceramic fibers, which said ceramic material coating is capable of being melted and being applied to the meniscus and;
• which said pad is thermally fused onto a metal prosthesis, to be used in the orthopedic surgical repair of the said patient's articulating joint, by means of said ceramic coating so as to create a more stabilized structure.

An implantable meniscus for the repair or replacement of damaged cartilage in the orthopedic surgical repair of a patient's articulating joint comprising:

• flexible compliant ceramic fibers formed together into a rope-like structure, the rope-like structure having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface extending along the proximal and distal ends,
• the rope-like structure is coiled into a pad configuration, wherein the proximal and distal ends of the structure are completely placed into an interior of the pad, said pad is fixed together so as to create a dimensionally stable, and flexibly compliant ceramic prosthetic meniscus and:
• wherein a section of the outer surface of the rope-like structure is abutting another section of the outer surface of the rope-like structure and:
• wherein said meniscus comprises a coating made of an epoxy material, which said epoxy material is capable of being applied to said meniscus and:
• wherein said meniscus pad is bonded onto a metal prosthesis, to be used in the orthopedic surgical repair of the said patient's articulating joint, by means of epoxy material so as to create a more stabilized structure.