Articular surface implant and delivery system

• US 7,828,853 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrosurface, Inc (Anika Therapeutics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arthrosurface, Inc (Anika Therapeutics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ek, Steven W., Miniaci, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Araj; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/359,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20070005143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 606/80, 606/86.R, 606/87, 606/88, 606/96, 623 1311- 1314
• US Class Current: 623/20.32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1662 for particular parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1664 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1675 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1684 for the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3603 implanted without ablation of the whole natural femoral head endoprosthetic cartilage A61F2/30756
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4607 of hip femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/461 of knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4618 of cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30827 Plurality of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4007 implanted without ablation of the whole natural humeral head
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4677 using a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

A method is provided for delivering an implant for replacing a portion of an articular surface. The method may include forming a socket in an articulating feature that is capable of moving relative to the articular surface. An implant may be placed in the socket and the articulating feature may be moved relative to the articular surface to generally align the socket with an implant site formed in the articular surface. The implant may be transferred from the socket into the implant site.

Claims

1. A method for delivering an articular surface implant within a joint comprising a first and a second bone having at least a first and a second articular surface, respectively, said method comprising:

forming an implant site in said first articular surface, said implant site configured to receive said articular surface implant for replacing at least a portion of said first articular surface;

forming a socket in an articulating feature associated with said second articular surface of said second bone;

disposing said articular surface implant at least partially in said socket,

moving said second bone from a first position, wherein said socket is exposed relative to said first articular surface of said first bone and is configured to receive said articular surface implant, to a second position, wherein said socket is generally aligned with implant site; and

pulling said articular surface implant from said socket at least partially into said implant site via a tether extending through an access tunnel extending through said first bone in a direction away from said first articular surface.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein moving said second bone relative to said first bone comprises articulating said joint.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein forming said socket in said articulating feature comprises excising at least a portion of said second bone.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising securing said articular surface implant in said implant site.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprises forming a tunnel extending from said first articular surface through said first bone to a position disposed beneath said first articular surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein forming said implant site in said first articular surface comprises retrograde drilling said first articular surface.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein transferring said implant from said socket at least partially into said implant site further comprises urging said implant into said implant site with a tether extending through said tunnel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein disposing said articular surface implant at least partially in said socket further comprises disposing said implant within said socket with a load bearing surface facing generally into said socket, said load bearing surface of said implant being configured to replace said at least a portion of said first articular surface.

9. A method of replacing a portion an articular surface of a tibia within a knee joint, said method comprising:

excising an implant site in said articular surface of said tibia, said excising comprising creating an access tunnel through bone behind, and extending toward, said articular surface of said tibia, and excising at least a portion of said articular surface adjacent to said tunnel;

excising a socket in an articular surface of a femur adjacent to said tibia;

disposing at least a portion of an implant within said socket;

articulating said femur relative to said tibia from a first position, wherein said socket is exposed relative to said articular surface of said tibia and is configured to receive said implant, to a second position, wherein said socket is generally aligned with said implant site; and

transferring said implant from said socket at least partially into said implant site.

10. A method according to claim 9,wherein transferring said implant comprises pulling said implant into said implant site via said tunnel.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein disposing said implant in said socket comprises articulating said femur relative to said tibia to exposed said socket.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising securing said implant in said implant site.

13. A method for delivering an articular surface implant within a joint comprising a first and a second bone having at least a first and a second articular surface, respectively, said method comprising:

forming an implant site in said first articular surface, said implant site configured to receive said articular surface implant for replacing at least a portion of said first articular surface;

forming a socket in an articulating feature associated with said second articular surface of said second bone;

disposing said articular surface implant at least partially in said socket,

moving said second bone from a first position, wherein said socket is exposed relative to said first articular surface of said first bone and is configured to receive said articular surface implant, to a second position, wherein said socket is generally aligned with implant site;

forming a tunnel extending from said first articular surface through said first bone to a position disposed beneath said first articular surface; and

transferring said articular surface implant from said socket at least partially into said implant site.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein moving said second bone relative to said first bone comprises articulating said joint.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein forming said socket in said articulating feature comprises excising at least a portion of said second bone.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein transferring said articular surface implant from said socket to said implant site comprises pulling said articular surface implant at least partially into said implant site via a tether extending through an access tunnel extending through said first bone in a direction away from said first articular surface.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising securing said articular surface implant in said implant site.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein forming said implant site in said first articular surface comprises retrograde drilling said first articular surface.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein disposing said articular surface implant at least partially in said socket further comprises disposing said implant within said socket with a load bearing surface facing generally into said socket, said load bearing surface of said implant being configured to replace said at least a portion of said first articular surface.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein transferring said implant from said socket at least partially into said implant site further comprises urging said implant into said implant site with a tether extending through said tunnel.