Cartilage repair apparatus and method

1. A device for repairing a diseased or damaged portion of articular cartilage on a bone of a joint, the cartilage having been prepared by forming an opening therein to remove the diseased or damaged portion, the device comprising:

a plug configured to be positioned in the opening formed in the cartilage, the plug comprising a shaped and dried naturally occurring extracellular matrix, and

an anchor configured to position and hold the plug in the opening, wherein the anchor is formed of naturally occurring extracellular matrix cured and shaped to fasten into a subchondral portion of the bone.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises (i) a head portion configured to support the plug and (ii) a body portion extending from the head portion to fasten into the subchondral portion of the bone.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the body portion has outwardly extending barbs to engage the subchondral portion of the bone.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring extracellular matrix from which the anchor is formed comprises SIS.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring extracellular matrix from which the anchor is formed comprises comminuted SIS.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring extracellular matrix from which the anchor is formed comprises crosslinked SIS.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plug is lyophilized onto the anchor.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plug is adhesively attached to the anchor.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plug is sutured to the anchor.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein (i) the anchor is formed with a head portion to support the plug and a body portion extending from the head portion to fasten into the subchondral portion of the bone, and (ii) the plug is formed to be sufficiently porous to receive cells from adjacent tissue or from synovial fluid and is lyophilized onto the head portion.

11. A method for repairing a diseased or damaged portion of articular cartilage on a bone, the method comprising the steps of:

forming an opening in the articular cartilage so as to remove the diseased or damaged portion thereof;

positioning a plug in the opening so as to be proximate to healthy articular cartilage, wherein the plug comprises a shaped and dried naturally occurring extracellular matrix;

securing the plug to an anchor;

forming an opening in the subchondral portion of the bone; and

wherein (i) the anchor is formed of SIS and (ii) the step of positioning the plug in the opening formed in the cartilage comprises positioning the anchor in the opening formed in the subchondral portion of the bone so as to position the plug in the opening formed in the cartilage.

12. A method of forming a device for repairing a diseased or damaged portion of articular cartilage on a bone, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plug configured conformingly to fit into an opening formed in the cartilage to remove the diseased or damaged portion, the plug comprising a naturally occurring extracellular matrix having a porosity sufficient to promote cell migration from surrounding healthy tissue and synovial fluid, the plug being biodegradable over time in the cartilage opening and effective to synthesize new and healthy cartilage over such time to close and heal the opening, and

providing an anchor configured to position and hold the plug in the opening in contact with the healthy cartilage and subchondral portion of the bone adjacent the opening,

wherein the anchor providing step comprises forming a mass of naturally occurring extracellular matrix cured to have sufficient rigidity and strength to position and hold the plug in the opening.

13. A method of forming a device for repairing a diseased or damaged portion of articular cartilage on a bone, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plug configured conformingly to fit into an opening formed in the cartilage to remove the diseased or damaged portion, the plug comprising a naturally occurring extracellular matrix having a porosity sufficient to promote cell migration from surrounding healthy tissue and synovial fluid, the plug being biodegradable over time in the cartilage opening and effective to synthesize new and healthy cartilage over such time to close and heal the opening, and

providing an anchor configured to position and hold the plug in the opening in contact with the healthy cartilage and subchondral portion of the bone adjacent the opening,

wherein the anchor providing step comprises forming a mass of SIS cured to have sufficient rigidity and strength to position and hold the plug in the opening.

14. A device for repairing a diseased or damaged portion of articular cartilage on a bone of a joint, the cartilage having been prepared by forming an opening therein to remove the diseased or damaged portion, the device comprising:

a plug configured to be positioned in the opening formed in the cartilage, the plug comprising a shaped naturally occurring extracellular matrix, and

an anchor configured to position and hold the plug in the opening,

wherein the anchor is formed of naturally occurring extracellular matrix cured and shaped to fasten into a subchondral portion of the bone.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the anchor comprises (i) a head portion configured to support the plug, and (ii) a body portion extending from the head portion to fasten into the subchondral portion of the bone.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the body portion has outwardly extending barbs to engage the subchondral portion of the bone.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the naturally occurring extracellular matrix from which the anchor is formed comprises SIS.

18. The device of claim 14 , wherein the naturally occurring extracellular matrix from which the anchor is formed comprises comminuted SIS.

19. The device of claim 14 , wherein the naturally occurring extracellular matrix from which the anchor is formed comprises crosslinked SIS.

20. The device of claim 14 , wherein the plug is lyophilized onto the anchor.

21. The device of claim 14 , wherein the plug is adhesively attached to the anchor.

22. The device of claim 14 , wherein the plug is sutured to the anchor.

23. The device of claim 14 , wherein (i) the anchor is formed with a head portion to support the plug and a body portion extending from the head portion to fasten into the subchondral portion of the bone, and (ii) the plug is formed to be sufficiently porous to receive cells from adjacent tissue or from synovial fluid.

24. The device of claim 23 , wherein the plug is lyophilized onto the head portion.