CHONDROPLASTY TOOL
A device for harvesting cartilage from a subject in a minimally invasive manner, and methods of use thereof, are provided.
1 . A device for harvesting cartilage from a subject, wherein the device is configured to excise and harvest cartilage from the subject in a minimally invasive manner.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be inserted into a subject via a cannula.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the device is configured to be inserted into a knee or a shoulder of the subject.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the device comprises
a lower gouge configured to excise cartilage away from a cartilage surface, and
an upper jaw that rotates about the lower gouge, wherein the upper jaw is configured to close down and grip the excised cartilage.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the device is configured to retract the harvested cartilage back into the cannula for extraction.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the device is configured to be completely contained within the cannula.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the cannula has an outer diameter of about 2.77 mm.
8 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the device is configured to be actuated by a handle with a sliding thumb grip.
9 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the device is capable of providing about 200 mg of cartilage in 3-5 passes.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the cartilage is articular cartilage from either the medial or lateral femoral condyle or the intercondylar notch.
11 . A method of harvesting cartilage from a subject, the method comprising
inserting into a knee or shoulder of a subject a device comprising a lower gouge configured to excise cartilage away from a cartilage surface, and an upper jaw which rotates about the lower gouge, wherein the upper jaw is configured to close down and grip the excised cartilage; and
excising and harvesting a cartilage from the knee or shoulder of the subject in a single pass by actuating the device.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cartilage is articular cartilage.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cartilage is from the non load-bearing surfaces of the medial and lateral femoral condyles.
14 . The method of of claim 11 , wherein the cartilage is harvested for an autologous chondrocyte implantation procedure.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein about 200 mg of cartilage is harvested in 3-5 passes.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cartilage is harvested for a clinical articular cartilage biopsy procedure.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the device is inserted into the knee or shoulder of the subject via a cannula.
18 . The method of claim 17 , the method further comprising retracting the excised cartilage back into the cannula for extraction.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises administering local anesthesia to the subject.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cartilage is harvested without an arthroscopic surgery.