Tapered Osteochondral Implant

1 . An implant for treating osteochondral defects, comprising:

a cylindrical member comprised of a monophasic synthetic material;

a top portion comprising a first diameter;

a bottom portion comprising a second diameter; and

a tapered sidewall portion disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion.

2 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the tapered sidewall portion includes a diameter that decreases from the first diameter to the second diameter.

3 . The implant of claim 2 , wherein the tapered sidewall portion comprises a degree of tapering that is configured to prevent the implant from subsiding into the hole drilled in bone.

4 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the implant includes a surface area ranging between substantially 6 square inches and substantially 17 square inches.

5 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the monophasic synthetic material includes any one of silicone, bioglass, peek, polyethylene, titanium, and cobalt chrome.

6 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are selected according to a location in a patient that is to be treated.

7 . The implant of claim 6 , wherein a height of the cylindrical member is substantially 10 millimeters (mm), and the first diameter ranges between substantially 5 mm and substantially 10 mm.

8 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes a shape configured to approximate an osteochondral surface to be replaced.

9 . The implant of claim 8 , wherein the shape includes a curvature of the top portion that approximates the curvature of the osteochondral surface to be replaced.

10 . The implant of claim 9 , wherein the curvature is either convex or concave so as to match the anatomy of the osteochondral surface.

11 . The implant of claim 1 , further comprising a rounded periphery that joins the top portion and the tapered sidewall portion, the rounded periphery providing a smooth contact surface to surrounding tissues.

12 . The implant of claim 1 , further comprising a rounded periphery that joins the tapered sidewall portion and the bottom portion, the rounded periphery providing a smooth transition surface between the tapered sidewall portion and the bottom portion.

13 . A sterile instrument kit for repairing osteochondral defects, the instrument kit comprising:

one or more tapered implants configured to treat osteochondral defects in various bone joint locations in a patient's body, the one or more tapered implants each comprising monophasic synthetic material; and

a multiplicity of instruments including any one or more of an implant inserter, a guidewire, a cannulated reamer, a punch, and a size gauge, the multiplicity of instruments being configured for implanting the one or more tapered implants into the patient's body such that the implant is flush or slightly proud of a surrounding native cartilage surface.

14 . The instrument kit of claim 13 , wherein the one or more tapered implants and the multiplicity of instruments are packaged together in an exterior container suitable for delivery to a practitioner.

15 . The instrument kit of claim 14 , wherein the one or more tapered implants are stored in a first sterile container.

16 . The instrument kit of claim 15 , wherein any one or more of the guidewire, the cannulated reamer, the punch, and the implant inserter are stored in a second sterile container.

17 . The instrument kit of claim 16 , wherein the size gauge is stored in a third sterile container.

18 . A method for a sterile instrument kit for repairing osteochondral defects, comprising:

configuring one or more tapered implants to treat osteochondral defects in various bone joint locations in a patient's body; and

combining the one or more tapered implants with a multiplicity of instruments configured for implantation of the one or more tapered implants into the patient's body, the multiplicity of instruments including at least a guidewire, a cannulated reamer, a punch, and a size gauge.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein configuring comprises forming the one or more tapered implants of a monophasic synthetic material, including any or one of silicone, bioglass, peek, polyethylene, titanium, and cobalt chrome.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein configuring comprises foil ling the one or more tapered implants such that the diameters of a top portion of the one or more tapered implants range from substantially 5 mm to substantially 10 mm.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein combining further comprises:

storing the one or more tapered implants in a first sterile container;

storing any one or more of the guidewire, the cannulated reamer, the punch, and an implant inserter in a second sterile container; and

storing the size gauge in a third sterile container.