IMPLANTATION OF CARTILAGE
The invention is directed towards a process for implanting a cartilage graft into a cartilage defect and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue by creating a first bore down to the bone portion of the cartilage defect, creating a second shaped bore that is concentric to and on top of the first bore to match the shape and size of the cartilage graft, treating the first bore and the second shaped bore at the defect site with a bonding agent, treating the circumferential area of the cartilage graft with a bonding agent, inserting the cartilage graft into the defect site and wherein the superficial surface of the cartilage graft is at the same height as the surrounding cartilage surface. The first and second bonding agents may be activated by applying a stimulation agent to induce sealing, integration, and restoration of the hydrodynamic environments of the recipient tissue. The invention is also directed towards a process for repairing a cartilage defect and implanting a cartilage graft into a human or animal by crafting a cartilage matrix into individual grafts, cleaning and disinfecting the cartilage graft, applying a pretreatment solution to the cartilage graft, removing cellular debris using an extracting solution to produce a devitalized cartilage graft, implanting the cartilage graft into the cartilage defect with or without an insertion device, and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The devitalized cartilage graft is optionally recellularized in vitro, in vivo, or in situ with viable cells to render the tissue vital before or after the implantation. The devitalized cartilage graft is also optionally stored between the removing cellular debris and the recellularizing steps. The invention is further directed toward a repaired cartilage defect.
1 .- 200 . (canceled)
201 . A process for preparing a cartilage graft, comprising:
machining an osteochondral matrix that matches the size, contour, and location of a defect site in a human patient, wherein the osteochondral matrix further comprises a cartilage cap and a subchondral bone portion contacted to the cartilage cap with a tidemark at an interface between the cartilage cap and subchondral bone portion, the cartilage cap having a superficial surface, wherein the osteochondral matrix is isolated from whole condyles, whole plateaus, hemicondyles, hemiplateaus, femoral heads, phalanges, talus, tibia, fibula, rib, intervertebral discs, menisci, nose, or ear; and
cutting the osteochondral matrix to obtain one or more gaps that extend from the subchondral bone portion through the tidemark into the cartilage cap but not penetrating the superficial surface of the cartilage cap;
wherein the one or more of the gaps are crafted to facilitate disinfection and/or cleaning after implantation.
202 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 201 , wherein the osteochondral matrix is drilled at the cartilage/bone interface surface to enlarge the one or more gaps to form one or more channels in the subchondral bone that are perpendicular to the superficial surface of the cartilage cap.
203 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 201 , wherein the osteochondral matrix is drilled at the cartilage/bone interface surface to form one or more slots in the subchondral bone that are perpendicular to the superficial surface of the cartilage cap.
204 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 201 , further comprising microperforating the superficial surface of the cartilage cap.
205 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 204 , wherein the microperforations range from about 20 to 500 micrometers.
206 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 204 , wherein the microperforations are created using enzyme linked microparticles.
207 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 204 , wherein the microperforations are created using mechanical drilling.
208 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 204 , wherein the microperforations are created using laser drilling.
209 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 201 , further comprising removing the subchondral bone portion.
210 . The process of preparing a cartilage graft of claim 201 , further comprising cutting off the subchondral bone portion.