Materials and methods for repair of cartilage defects

1. A method for repairing a cartilage defect comprising:

creating at least one perforation into or through subchondral bone, below and/or adjacent to the cartilage defect to induce the flow of bone fluid;

allowing the bone fluid to bleed through the at least one perforation and into the cartilage defect to fill at least a portion of a volume of the cartilage defect thereby providing a first volume of bone fluid in the cartilage defect; and

after allowing bleeding into the cartilage defect, applying a biomaterial into the first volume of the cartilage defect so that the biomaterial intermixes with the bone fluid to produce an enhanced clot for cartilage regeneration,

wherein the intermixing of the biomaterial and the bone fluid occurs in a defined volume within the first volume.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first volume is less than the volume of the cartilage defect such that applying the biomaterial into the first volume completely fills the volume of the cartilage defect.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defined volume is located in an uppermost region of the first volume remote from the subchondral bone.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the enhanced clot remains on the surface of the bone fluid defining the first volume.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomaterial remains within the volume of the cartilage defect when the biomaterial intermixes with the bone fluid in the defined volume.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the production of the enhanced clot is a separate process from a formation of a clot within the at least one perforation.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising additional bleeding of bone fluid through the at least one perforation and into the cartilage defect after production of the enhanced clot.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the additional bleeding of bone fluid causes the bone fluid to migrate through a matrix formed by the enhanced clot to replenish nutrients within the cartilage defect.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomaterial is a surgical hemostat that includes thrombin and collagen.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the collagen consists of Type II collagen.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the collagen of the surgical hemostat is a microfibrillar collagen with fibrils ranging from 3 nm to 30 nm in diameter and a melting temperature ranging from 42° C. to 46° C.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the surgical hemostat includes polyethylene glycol in a concentration of 0.1%-0.3%.

13. A method for repairing a cartilage defect in-situ comprising:

creating at least one perforation into or through subchondral bone below and/or adjacent to the cartilage defect to induce the flow of bone fluid;

positioning an applicator over the cartilage defect and the at least one perforation;

allowing the bone fluid to bleed through the at least one perforation and into the cartilage defect to fill at least a portion of the cartilage defect and form a bloody bed; and

after the bloody bed is formed, using the applicator to apply a biomaterial into the bone fluid of the bloody bed located above the subchondral bone so that the biomaterial intermixes with the bone fluid, the intermixing producing an enhanced clot for cartilage regeneration.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein using the applicator to apply the biomaterial into the bone fluid involves positioning a discharge surface of the applicator into an uppermost region of the bloody bed remote from the subchondral bone.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the biomaterial is in one of a solid, powder, granular, putty gel or flowable form.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the applicator is one of a syringe, a spray device, a vial, a sponge, a container, a cannula, a tube or a funnel.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing suction to the at least one perforation to cause additional bone fluid to migrate into the cartilage defect while simultaneously preventing the bone fluid and the biomaterial in the cartilage defect from migrating out of the cartilage defect.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the suction is provided through a cannula with a distal end having an enclosure, the enclosure being flexible such that the cartilage defect site may be depressed relative to a surrounding tissue surface.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the steps of the method are performed arthroscopically.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the cartilage defect is in one of the knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, finger, wrist, toe, temporomandibular, sternoclavicular or zygapophyseal joint.