CHONDROPLASTY TOOL
A device for harvesting cartilage from a subject in a minimally invasive manner, and methods of use thereof, are provided.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A device for harvesting cartilage from a subject comprising:
a body portion;
a lower gouge extending from the body portion, the lower gouge being fixed relative to the body portion and having an opening extending axially along a portion thereof; and
an upper jaw coupled to the body portion, the upper jaw being rotatable relative to the lower gouge between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the opening of the lower gouge is exposed when the upper jaw is in the open position; and
wherein the opening of the lower gouge is enclosed by the upper jaw when in the closed position.
22 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the lower gouge is configured to excise cartilage away from a cartilage surface when the upper jaw is in the open position.
23 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the upper jaw is configured to enclose and hold cartilage within the opening of the lower gouge when in the closed position.
24 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the device is configured to be inserted into the subject via a cannula.
25 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the device is configured to retract cartilage within the enclosed opening of the lower gouge into a cannula for extraction.
26 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the device is configured to be completely contained within the cannula.
27 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the cannula has an outer diameter of about 2.77 mm.
28 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the upper jaw is actuated by a sliding thumb grip.
29 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the device is configured to excise and harvest cartilage from the subject in a minimally invasive manner.
30 . The device of claim 29 , wherein the cartilage comprises live cartilage for treatment of damaged cartilage.
31 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the device is configured to be inserted into a knee or a shoulder of the subject.
32 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the device is capable of providing about 200 mg of cartilage in 3-5 passes.
33 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the cartilage is articular cartilage from either the medial or lateral femoral condyle or the intercondylar notch.
34 . A method of harvesting cartilage from a subject, the method comprising inserting into a knee or shoulder of a subject the device according to claim 21 ;
actuating the upper jaw of the device to enclose cartilage within the opening of the lower gouge; and
excising and harvesting the enclosed cartilage from the knee or shoulder of the subject in a single pass.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the cartilage is from non-load-bearing surfaces of at least one of medial and lateral femoral condyles.
36 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the cartilage is harvested for an autologous chondrocyte implantation procedure.
37 . The method of claim 36 , further comprising implanting the harvested cartilage into a cartilage defect in the subject.
38 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the cartilage is harvested for a clinical articular cartilage biopsy procedure.
39 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the method is performed under local anesthesia.
40 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the cartilage is harvested without an arthroscopic surgery.