Microfracture apparatuses and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end, the cannula having a primary portion and a distal portion between the primary portion and the second end, the distal portion configured such that a second end of the channel is disposed at an angle relative to a first end of the channel;
a penetrator having an enlarged head and a monolithic wire extending from the enlarged head to a pointed distal end, a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm), and a second transverse dimension that is larger than the first transverse dimension, the penetrator including a primary portion extending from the enlarged head toward the distal end, and a penetration portion extending from the primary portion to the distal end, where the first transverse dimension is in the penetration portion and the second transverse dimension is in the primary portion, the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance of at least 5 mm that is limited by the enlarged head contacting the cannula;
where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture having a depth of at least 5 mm.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration).
136 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end, the cannula having a primary portion and a distal portion between the primary portion and the second end, the distal portion configured such that a second end of the channel is disposed at an angle relative to a first end of the channel; a penetrator having an enlarged head and a monolithic wire extending from the enlarged head to a pointed distal end, a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm), and a second transverse dimension that is larger than the first transverse dimension, the penetrator including a primary portion extending from the enlarged head toward the distal end, and a penetration portion extending from the primary portion to the distal end, where the first transverse dimension is in the penetration portion and the second transverse dimension is in the primary portion, the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance of at least 5 mm that is limited by the enlarged head contacting the cannula; where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture having a depth of at least 5 mm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end; a penetrator including a primary portion extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, a penetration portion comprising a monolithic wire extending from the primary portion to the distal end, where a first transverse dimension is in the penetration portion and a second transverse dimension is in the primary portion and the first transverse dimension is less than 1.2 millimeters (mm), the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance of at least 5 mm; where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture having a depth of at least 5 mm; where the cannula includes a recessed portion and a shelf, the recessed portion extending from the first end of the cannula toward the second end of the cannula, the shelf disposed between the recessed portion and the second end of the cannula such that the penetration distance is limited by the enlarged head contacting the shelf; and where the enlarged head has a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal length and a transverse dimension that is smaller than the length. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end; a penetrator having a primary portion and a penetration portion comprising a monolithic wire extending from the primary portion to a distal end, the penetration portion having a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm) and the primary portion having a second transverse dimension that is larger than the first transverse dimension, the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance of at least 5 mm; where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture having a depth of at least 5 mm; where a coating is disposed on at least the penetration portion of the penetrator; and where the coating is hydrophilic. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end; a penetrator having a primary portion and a penetration portion comprising a monolithic wire extending from the primary portion to a distal end, the penetration portion having a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm), the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance of at least 5 mm; where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture having a depth of at least 5 mm; where the penetration portion is disposed between the primary portion and the distal end and a second transverse dimension is between the first transverse dimension and the primary portion; and where the second transverse dimension is smaller than the first transverse dimension. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end; a penetrator having a primary portion and a penetration portion comprising a monolithic wire extending from the primary portion to a distal end, the penetration portion having a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm) and the primary portion having a second transverse dimension that is larger than the first transverse dimension, the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance of at least 5 mm; a penetrator removal tab coupled to the penetrator and configured to retract the penetrator relative to the cannula; where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture having a depth of at least 5 mm; where; the cannula includes a handle, the penetrator includes a flange, the penetrator removal tab includes an opening that is has at least one transverse dimension that is smaller than a transverse dimension of the flange, and the penetrator removal tab is configured to be disposed between the handle and the flange with the penetrator extending through the opening. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification