METHODS AND DEVICES FOR REPAIRING CARTILAGE DEFECTS

1 - 72 . (canceled)

73 . An arthroscopic measurement probe, comprising:

a handle comprising a top shell piece and a bottom shell piece;

an adjusting knob;

a stroke arm disposed concentrically through the adjusting knob and coupled thereto in arrangement whereby the adjusting knob and the stroke arm selectively rotate and axially translate together about and along an axis of the stroke arm;

a sizer tube disposed concentrically about the stroke arm; and

a flexible ruler disposed through an interior of the sizer tube, coupled to a distal end of the stroke arm, and configured to translate axially within the sizer tube,

wherein rotation of the adjusting knob causes the stroke arm to rotate, and

wherein translation of the adjusting knob along a longitudinal axis of the measurement probe causes the ruler to selectively extend out of, or retract back into, a distal end of the sizer tube.

74 . The arthroscopic measurement probe of claim 73 , further comprising:

a rotating plug coupled to a proximal end of the sizer tube and nested between the top shell piece and bottom shell piece, thereby allowing rotation of the sizer tube while preventing axial translation of the sizer tube relative to the handle; and

a dowel pin disposed within the adjusting knob, and anchoring the stroke arm to the adjusting knob.

75 . The arthroscopic measurement probe of claim 73 , wherein the rotating plug, the adjusting knob, the stroke arm, the sizer tube, and the flexible ruler are assembled in a coaxial arrangement.

76 . The measurement probe of claim 73 , wherein the flexible ruler comprises:

a cylindrical rod comprising polyether ether ketone (PEEK);

an interior flexible wire comprising nickel titanium (or Nitinol); and

multiple markings distributed along a length of an exterior surface of the cylindrical rod near the distal end of the cylindrical rod,

wherein the markings comprise thin lines perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical rod, the markings being separated by spacings in a range from about 2.5 mm to about 5.0 mm.

77 . The measurement probe of claim 73 , wherein the sizer tube comprises:

a hollow cylindrical tube; and

two slits disposed at the proximal end of the hollow cylindrical tube and positioned at diametrically opposite locations.

78 . The measurement probe of claim 73 , wherein the sizer tube further comprises:

a curved portion of the hollow cylindrical tube at the distal end, wherein the curve comprises a bend in the tube at an angle in a range from about 75 degrees to about 105 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the measurement probe; and

an opening in the distal end of the hollow cylindrical tube,

wherein the hollow cylindrical tube is composed of at least one of stainless steel T304, stainless steel T316, and fractional hypodermic tubing.

79 . The measurement probe of claim 77 , comprising:

a dowel pin disposed laterally within the adjusting knob, and anchoring the stroke arm to the adjusting knob,

wherein lateral ends of the dowel pin are disposed within, and interface with, the two slits, thereby allowing:

(1) the adjusting knob and stroke arm to axially translate relative to the sizer tube, and

(2) rotational coupling of the adjusting knob to the sizer tube.

80 . The measurement probe of claim 73 , wherein the top shell piece and the bottom shell piece comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other similar plastic.

81 . A method for determining the size of a lesion during arthroscopic surgery, comprising:

inserting a cannula comprising a dam seal sub-assembly into an incision, the incision providing access to a defect site;

inserting a measuring tool into the cannula through the dam seal sub-assembly;

extending a ruler from the measuring tool adjacent to at least one lesion or defect located at the defect site;

measuring at least one dimension of the at least one lesion or defect using one or more markings on the ruler;

retracting the ruler into the measuring tool; and

removing the measuring tool from the cannula and the dam seal sub-assembly.

82 . The method of claim 81 , further comprising at least one of selectively rotating, extending and retracting the ruler as needed to align the ruler with the at least one lesion or defect such that visual comparison of the at least one lesion or defect to the ruler may be made.

83 . The method of claim 81 , wherein the dam seal assembly comprises a multi-layer assembly comprising a top piece, a bottom piece, and at least one dam seal disposed between the top piece and the bottom piece, the at least one dam seal comprising at least one of a hole and a slit.

84 . An articulated arthroscopic cutting tool comprising:

a handle;

a thumb slider disposed within the handle and configured to translate along a longitudinal axis of the handle;

a linear stator shaft protruding from a distal end of the handle;

a curved oval blade connected by a hinged joint to the linear stator shaft;

a linear transmission shaft connected to the thumb slider; and

a linkage piece rotatably connected to both the linear transmission shaft and the curved oval blade,

wherein movement of the thumb slider causes the curved oval blade to rotate relative to the linear stator shaft.

85 . The cutting tool of claim 84 , wherein the handle comprises:

an upper shell comprising a ridged half-cylinder and a rectangular opening cut longitudinally along the ridged half-cylinder closer to the distal end of the ridged half-cylinder; and

a lower shell comprising a ridged half-cylinder,

wherein the upper shell and lower shell are closed together to form a full cylinder with a circular opening at the distal end, and

wherein a plurality of notches are disposed on the underside of the upper shell around the rectangular opening.

86 . The handle of claim 85 , wherein the upper shell and the lower shell comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or equivalent plastic.

87 . The cutting tool of claim 84 , wherein the thumb slider comprises:

a slider button comprising a raised top surface at the distal end of the button and a ridged top surface at the proximal end of the button;

a slider clamp piece; and

a spring attached to the slider button at one end of the spring and attached to the slider clamp piece at another end of the spring, such that the spring is disposed perpendicularly between the slider button and the slider clamp piece,

wherein a cylindrical pin actuated by the slider button is configured to interface with the plurality of notches on the underside of the upper shell.

88 . The cutting tool of claim 84 , wherein the linear stator shaft comprises:

a cylindrical rod;

a rectangular groove cut longitudinally along the cylindrical rod;

a portion of reduced diameter along the cylindrical rod near the proximal end of the cylindrical rod; and

a circular ring protruding perpendicularly from a distal end of the cylindrical rod.

89 . The linear stator shaft of claim 88 , wherein the linear stator shaft comprises stainless steel type 17-4PH (630), UNS S17400, per ASTM A564.

90 . The cutting tool of claim 84 , wherein the curved oval blade comprises:

an oval ring;

at least three crossbar pieces spanning across a top surface of the oval ring;

a circular ring extending perpendicularly from the first crossbar piece;

two circular rings extending perpendicularly from the second crossbar piece; and

a curved cutting surface along a bottom circumference of the oval ring,

wherein the oval ring is thicker at narrow ends of the oval ring, and

wherein the curved cutting surface comprises a surgically sharp edge.

91 . The curved oval blade of claim 90 , wherein the curved oval blade comprises stainless steel type 17-4PH (630), UNS S17400, per ASTM A564.

92 . A method for scoring cartilage using the articulated arthroscopic cutting tool of claim 84 , the method comprising:

providing the articulated arthroscopic cutting tool;

removing a dam seal sub-assembly from a cannula;

inserting the articulated arthroscopic cutting tool into the cannula;

adjusting a tilt angle of a blade using a thumb slider;

locking the tilt angle;

pressing the blade into a cartilage area surrounding a defect; and

removing the articulated arthroscopic cutting tool from the cannula.

93 . The method of claim 92 , wherein providing the articulated arthroscopic cutting tool comprises choosing an articulated arthroscopic cutting tool to match measured dimensions of the defect.