Tapered joint implant and related tools

• US 9,155,543 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cartiva, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cartiva, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Walsh, Steven P., Tudor, Letitia, Corrao, Ernest N. Jr., Berky, Craig B., Bauer, Jonathan P., Hemingway, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): STEWART, JASON-DENNIS NEILKEN
• Application Number:
  US13/480,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11.11, 623/14.12, 623/16.11, 623/18.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1617 with mobile or detachable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4618 of cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3021 frustoconical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30327 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30759 Mosaicplasty, i.e. using a plurality of individual cartilage plugs for filling a substantial cartilage defect
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4628 with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a method of treating a joint of a patient comprises creating a recess in a bone located at or near a targeted joint, wherein the recess includes a generally wedge or truncated cone shape. In one embodiment, the recess in a bone comprises a surface opening along an outer surface of the bone and a bottom opening along the distal end of the recess, such that a diameter of the surface opening is generally smaller than a diameter of the bottom opening. The method additionally comprises providing a joint implant having a wedge or truncated cone shape, wherein a diameter of a top end of the joint implant is generally smaller than a diameter of a bottom end of the joint implant, inserting the joint implant within the recess.

Claims

1. A hydrogel implant configured for implantation within a joint of a patient, comprising:

a top end configured to form an articulation surface when properly implanted within a joint;

a bottom end generally opposite of the top end;

a main hydrogel body extending between the top end and the bottom end, said main hydrogel body comprising a longitudinal centerline;

wherein a diameter or other cross-section dimension of the bottom end is greater than a diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top end; and

side walls generally extending between the top end and the bottom end, said side walls being generally sloped relative to the longitudinal centerline;

wherein the implant comprises a tapered shape due to, at least in part, to a difference between the diameters or other cross-sectional dimensions of the top end and the bottom end;

wherein the implant consists essentially of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and saline, and wherein the implant is configured for placement within an implant site having a similar reverse tapered shape, thereby reducing the likelihood of unintentional removal of the implant from the implant site following implantation;

wherein the implant is non-biodegradable and non-erodable so that the hydrogel is configured for long term implantation within a patient, wherein the implant is configured to maintain its original physical and chemical characteristics present in the implant at the time of implantation during said long term implantation; and

wherein the hydrogel implant is configured to be secured within a target site of a patient as a result of the implant shape without the need for an anchoring or other fixation methods or features, including coatings and other additives.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is load bearing.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured for placement within at least one of a toe, finger, ankle, knee, shoulder, hip or other joint.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein a transition between the top end and the side walls is generally curved.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the bottom end is approximately 5% to 25% larger than the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top end.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the bottom end of the implant to the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top end of the implant is approximately between 1.05 and 1.3.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the bottom end of the implant to the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top end of the implant is at least 1.1.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein each of the top end, the bottom end and the side walls is generally planar so that the implant comprises a truncated cone shape.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the content of PVA in the implant is approximately 20% to 60% by weight.

10. A hydrogel implant configured for implantation within a joint of a subject, comprising:

a top surface configured to form an articulation surface when properly implanted within a joint;

a bottom surface generally opposite of the top surface, wherein the bottom surface is generally planar;

a main hydrogel body extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the main hydrogel body comprising a longitudinal centerline;

wherein a diameter or other cross-section dimension of the bottom surface is greater than a diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top surface; and

at least one side wall generally extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the at least one side wall being sloped relative to the longitudinal centerline;

wherein the implant comprises a tapered shape due to, at least in part, to a difference between the diameters or other cross-sectional dimensions of the top surface and the bottom surface;

wherein the implant is configured for placement within an implant site having a similar reverse tapered shape, thereby reducing the likelihood of unintentional removal of the implant from the implant site following implantation; and

wherein the implant does not comprise growth factors, and wherein the implant is non-biodegradable and non-erodable such that the hydrogel is configured for long term implantation within a subject, wherein the implant is configured to generally maintain its original chemical characteristics of the implant at the time of implantation during said long term implantation; and

wherein the hydrogel implant is configured to be secured within a target site of a patient as a result of the implant shape without the need for an anchoring or other fixation methods or features, including coatings and other additives.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the hydrogel comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein the content of PVA in the implant is approximately 20% to 60% by weight.

13. The implant of claim 10, wherein the implant is load bearing.

14. The implant of claim 10, wherein the implant is configured for placement within at least one of a toe, finger, ankle, knee, shoulder, hip or other joint.

15. The implant of claim 10, wherein the at least one side wall is generally flat so that the implant comprises a truncated cone shape.

16. The implant of claim 10, wherein the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the bottom surface is approximately 5% to 25% larger than the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top surface.

17. The implant of claim 10, wherein a ratio of the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the bottom surface of the implant to the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top surface of the implant is approximately between 1.05 and 1.3.

18. The implant of claim 10, wherein a ratio of the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the bottom surface of the implant to the diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top surface of the implant is at least 1.1.

19. The implant of claim 10, wherein a transition between the top surface and the at least one side wall is generally curved.

20. A hydrogel implant configured for implantation within a joint of a subject, comprising:

a top surface configured to form an articulation surface when implanted within a joint of a subject;

a bottom surface generally opposite of the top surface;

a main hydrogel body extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the main hydrogel body comprising a longitudinal centerline;

side walls extending between the top and bottom surfaces; and

wherein a diameter or other cross-section dimension of the bottom surface is greater than a diameter or other cross-sectional dimension of the top surface;

wherein the side walls are sloped relative to the longitudinal centerline;

wherein the implant is configured for placement within an implant site having a similar reverse tapered shape, thereby preventing removal of the implant from the implant site following implantation;

wherein the implant is non-biodegradable and non-erodable such that the hydrogel is configured for long term implantation within a subject, wherein the implant is configured to generally maintain its original chemical characteristics of the implant at the time of implantation during said long term implantation; and

wherein the hydrogel implant is configured to be secured within a target site of a patient as a result of the implant shape without the need for an anchoring or other fixation methods or features, including coatings and other additives.

21. The implant of claim 20, wherein the implant consists essentially of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and saline.