Delivery System for Articular Surface Implant
A implant delivery system for securing an implant to an anchor. The implant delivery system includes a driver including a shaft, a biasing body having a first end region configured to engage said driver and a second end region configured to engage a portion of an implant, and a suture extending between the anchor and the shaft of the driver. The driver may be rotated to reduce the length of the suture between the driver and the anchor and generate a biasing force urging the implant into engagement with the anchor. The biasing force is substantially not transmitted to the bone.
1 . A delivery system for securing an implant with an anchor, the delivery system comprising:
a driver including a shaft, said driver configured to wind a portion of a suture, said suture configured to extend around a contact portion of said anchor disposed within a bone; and
a biasing body having a first end region including a driver cradle configured to generally retain a portion of said shaft as said driver is rotated relative to said biasing body, and a second end region configured to engage a portion of said implant;
wherein rotation of said driver applies a biasing force against said implant and said anchor to secure said implant with said anchor, and wherein said biasing force is substantially not transmitted to said bone.
2 . The delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising said suture, wherein said suture includes a first region configured to be generally secured to said shaft and a second region configured to be disposed about said contact portion of said anchor.
3 . The delivery system of claim 2 , wherein said second region of said suture includes a first and a second portion defining a cradle configured to engage said contact portion of said anchor.
4 . The delivery system of claim 3 , wherein said biasing body is configured to maintain a separation angle of said first and second portions of said cradle.
5 . The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said driver cradle includes an enlarged opening configured to allow said suture to wind about said shaft as said shaft is rotated.
6 . A system comprising:
an implant system including:
an anchor configured to be secured in bone beneath a patient's articular surface; and
an implant configured to be secured to said anchor, said implant replacing a portion of said patient's articular surface;
at least one suture having a first portion configured to be disposed about a portion of said anchor; and
an implant delivery system comprising:
a driver including a shaft; and
a biasing body having a first end region configured to engage said driver and a second end region configured to engage a portion of an implant;
wherein said driver is configured to wind a second portion of said suture while engaged against said first end region to reduce a length of said suture between said driver and said anchor and generate a biasing force urging said implant into engagement with said anchor, and wherein said biasing force is substantially not transmitted to said bone.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein said first end region includes a driver cradle configured to generally retain a portion of said shaft as said driver is rotated relative to said biasing body.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the suture includes a cradle configured to engage a contact portion of said anchor.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said biasing body is configured to maintain a separation angle of said cradle.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the biasing body includes at least one suture alignment guide configured to guide maintain said separation angle of said cradle.
11 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the driver and said anchor include engagement portions configured to transmit torque.
12 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the biasing body is self-aligning with respect to said implant as said biasing force is applied.
13 . A method of installing an articular surface implant in an excision site formed in a patient's bone, said method comprising:
securing an anchor in said patient's bone within said excision site; and
applying a biasing force against an implant to urge said implant into engagement with said anchor, wherein said biasing force is substantially not transmitted to said bone.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the applying said biasing force comprises:
applying a downward force on the implant assembly and an upward force on the fixation element.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein a suture is coupled around a portion of said anchor and a portion of a driver, and wherein said biasing force is transmitted by through suture.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the applying a biasing force comprises:
rotating the driver to increase a tension of the suture between the driver and the anchor.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a biasing body disposed between said drive and said implant.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the suture includes a cradle configured to engage a contact portion of said anchor, and wherein said biasing body is configured to guide maintain a separation angle of said cradle.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a first end region of the biasing body includes a driver cradle configured to generally retain a portion of a shaft of said driver as said driver is rotated relative to said biasing body.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a suture is coupled around a portion of said anchor and a portion of a driver, and wherein applying said biasing force includes reducing a length of said suture between said driver and said anchor.
21 . An implant system comprising:
an implant body comprising:
a load bearing surface having a contour substantially corresponding to a removed portion of a patient's articular surface;
a bone facing surface; and
a first fixation element; and
an anchor configured to be secured in bone beneath said removed portion of said patient's articular surface, said anchor comprising a second fixation element;
wherein said first and said second fixation element are configured to form a snap-fit connection therebetween.
22 . The implant system of claim 21 , wherein said anchor defines an implant cavity configured to receive at least a portion of said bone facing surface of said implant.
23 . The implant system of claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of a periphery of said cavity includes said second fixation element and wherein at least a portion of said bone facing surface includes said first fixation element.
24 . The implant system of claim 23 , wherein said second fixation element extends along the entire periphery of said cavity.
25 . The implant system of claim 23 , wherein said first fixation element extends along a periphery of said implant body.
26 . The implant system of claim 21 , wherein said first and said second fixation elements are configured to prevent rotation of said implant body relative to said anchor.
27 . The implant system of claim 21 , wherein first and said second fixation elements are selected from a protrusion and a groove.
28 . The implant system of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of said anchor includes a threaded region configured to secure said anchor to said bone.
29 . The implant system of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of said anchor includes at least one external protrusion configured to secure said anchor to said bone.
30 . The implant system of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of said anchor includes at least one external groove configured to secure said anchor to said bone.
31 . The implant system of claim 21 , wherein anchor includes a longitudinal passageway.