Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The invention disclosed is a method and instrument set for repairing focal arthritic defects in a mammalian joint, especially in a human knee. The articular cartilage transplantation instrument set includes a coring device and first and second obturators. The coring device includes a cylindrical tube extending a distance along a coring axis between distal and proximal ends. A set of cutting elements or teeth are disposed at the distal end, and a gripper is at the proximal end. The outer diameters of the obturators are slightly less than the inner diameter of the tube of the coring device so that each of the obturators may be slidingly within the tube of the device with each of the respective obturator axes being substantially coaxial with the axis of the of the coring device tube. The length of the first obturator is selected so that when its rod is positioned all the way into the tube of the device, the distal end of the obturator is displaced by a distance X1 from the distal end of the device. The length of the second obturator is selected so that when the second obturator is fully positioned within the device 12, the end of the second obturator is substantially at (or extends beyond) the distal end of the device 12.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim