Method of selling procedure specific allografts and associated instrumentation

• US 7,548,865 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Schmieding, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Najarian; Lena
• Application Number:
  US09/981,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,797 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 600/300
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

A method for selling a product and all phases of service and support to a customer for optimal use of the product includes customizing a product for a surgical allograft procedure to be performed and providing the customized product and services as an integrated turnkey package to a medical provider. The products include bone and soft tissue allografts for all types of orthopedic reconstructive procedures and a loan of the associated instrumentation. The service portion of the package includes training support on use of the instruments, training of operating room personnel, technical and customer support both before the performance of the procedure and on-site support. After completion of the surgical procedure, the service provider arranges for the return of the loaned instrumentation.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a customized donor allograft for a predetermined surgical procedure, the method comprising:

receiving at a first business entity predetermined specifications and conditions of a patient to undergo the predetermined surgical procedure, said predetermined specifications and conditions being received from a medical provider separate from said first business entity;

the first business entity providing the predetermined specifications and conditions of the patient to a second business entity comprising a tissue bank;

the tissue bank harvesting and sizing to a specific diameter, length, width and/or thickness, at least one of a meniscal and an osteochondral donor allograft according to the predetermined specifications and conditions of the patient, and also according to the predetermined surgical procedure to be performed on the patient, as received from the first business entity, thereby creating said customized donor allograft;

the first business entity effecting delivery of the customized donor allograft from the tissue bank to the medical provider, and

the first business entity delivering surgical instrumentation to the medical provider, said surgical instrumentation being selected based on the customized donor allograft and on the predetermined surgical procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue bank delivers the customized donor allograft directly to the medical provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrumentation includes at least one of a fixation plate and an interference screw.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized donor allograft is prepared without the use of antibiotics.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized donor allograft is delivered to a medical facility at which the predetermined surgical procedure is to be performed.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the first business entity training operating personnel in the use of the surgical instrumentation to perform the predetermined surgical procedure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrumentation is loaned by the first business entity to the medical provider, and wherein, at the request of the first business entity, the medical provider returns the surgical instrumentation to the first business entity after the predetermined surgical procedure is completed.