Method for tissue grafting

1. A method for tissue grafting comprising the steps of:

obtaining tissue elements from at least one human body;

enclosing the tissue elements with a retaining structure to form a tissue graft with a first configuration;

shaping the tissue graft to a second configuration; and

implanting the tissue graft in the second configuration in a patient,

wherein the retaining structure is made from material selected from a group consisting of ceramic, polymeric material, metal, and composite material,

wherein the retaining structure is made of a material that expands upon contact with a liquid.

2. A method for tissue grafting comprising the steps of:

obtaining tissue elements from at least one human body;

enclosing the tissue elements with a retaining structure to form a tissue graft with a first configuration;

shaping the tissue graft to a second configuration; and

implanting the tissue graft in the second configuration in a patient,

wherein the retaining structure is made from PEEK.

3. A method for tissue grafting comprising the steps of:

obtaining tissue elements from at least one human body;

enclosing the tissue elements with a retaining structure;

shaping the tissue elements with the retaining structure to form a grafting material having a predetermined configuration; and

implanting the grafting material in a patient,

wherein the retaining structure includes a bone-growth enhancer and is made from material selected from a group consisting of ceramic, polymeric material, metal, and composite material.

4. A method for tissue grafting comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first tissue element from at least one human body;

obtaining a second tissue element of a different tissue type than the first tissue element;

placing the first and second tissue elements in a forming chamber having a predetermined shape, wherein the forming chamber is a press having first and second forming elements and the first and second tissue elements are compressed between the first and second forming elements;

shaping the first and second tissue elements together in the forming chamber to form a composite graft having the predetermined shape, wherein the shaping step includes compressing the first and second tissue elements to form a composite graft and wherein the compression increases the density of the composite graft;

removing the composite graft from the forming chamber; and

implanting the composite graft in a patient.

5. A method for tissue grafting comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first tissue element from at least one human body;

obtaining a second tissue element of a different tissue type than the first tissue element;

placing the first and second tissue elements in a forming chamber having a predetermined shape;

shaping the first and second tissue elements together in the forming chamber to form a composite graft having the predetermined shape;

removing the composite graft from the forming chamber;

implanting the composite graft in a patient; and

at least partially enclosing the composite graft with a retainer prior to implantation.

6. A method for tissue grafting comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first tissue element from at least one human body;

obtaining a second tissue element of a different tissue type than the first tissue element;

placing the first and second tissue elements in a forming chamber having a predetermined shape;

shaping the first and second tissue elements together in the forming chamber to form a composite graft having the predetermined shape;

removing the composite graft from the forming chamber;

implanting the composite graft in a patient; and

at least partially enclosing the first and second tissue elements with a retainer prior to shaping.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the tissue elements include bone tissue.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the tissue elements include tendon tissue.

9. The method of claim 3

wherein the retaining structure is a mesh.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the retaining structure includes a plurality of crossed filaments.

11. The method of claim 3

wherein the retaining structure includes a plurality of longitudinally extending filaments.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein the retaining structure includes a plurality of openings for tissue ingrowth.

13. The method of claim 3 wherein the retaining structure is made from a biodegradable material.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein the retaining structure is made of a material that expands after being compressed.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein the retaining structure includes hydroxyapatite.

16. The method of claim 3 wherein the shaping step includes compressing the tissue elements with the retaining structure to form the grafting material.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the compression of the tissue elements with the retaining structure increases the density of the tissue elements.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein compression of the tissue elements with the retaining structure forces fluid out of the tissue elements.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of cooling the tissue elements during compression.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of heating the tissue elements during compression.

21. The method of claim 4 wherein the shaping step includes compressing the first and second tissue elements to form a composite graft.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the compression increases the density of the composite graft.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of cooling the first and second tissue elements during compression.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of heating the first and second tissue elements during compression.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the composite graft is larger than each of the first and second tissue elements.

26. The method of claim 4 wherein one of the tissue elements comprises cortical bone and the other tissue element comprises cancellous bone.

27. The method of claim 4 wherein the first and second tissue elements have a combined volume prior to shaping and the composite graft has a volume substantially equal to the combined volume.

28. The method of claim 5 wherein the retainer has openings to enable tissue to grow through the openings after the composite graft is implanted in a patient.

29. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of expanding the retainer and at least one of the first and second tissue elements in the retainer after the composite graft is implanted in a patient.