Cancellous constructs, cartilage particles and combinations of cancellous constructs and cartilage particles

Abstract

Constructs that are at least partially constructed of allograft cancellous bone are disclosed, along with cartilage particles that may be used with the constructs for repairing articular cartilage defects. A multi-piece construct includes a base member, a cap member and at least one pin that secures the cap member to the base member. The base member may be constructed of mineralized cancellous bone, and is used to replace the subchondral bone removed when a surgeon cuts a bore in the area of an adjacent cartilage defect. The base member includes a blind bore and first and second through-going transverse bores in opposite sides of a wall of the base member. The cap member includes an upper section that has a thickness that is similar to that of a patient's surrounding articular cartilage layer and a stem depending from the upper section that is dimensioned to be received in and by the blind bore of the base member. The stem includes a transverse through-going bore, which may be aligned with the transverse through-going bores of the base member to receive the pin therein when the construct has been assembled. The cap member is at least partially formed of demineralized allograft cancellous bone, into which a mixture containing lyophilized, freeze-milled allograft cartilage particles may be infused for the repair of articular cartilage defects. The cartilage particles have a size within a range of from about 10 microns to about 210 microns.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 381,072, filed Mar. 5, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 657,042, filed Jan. 24, 2007; (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 043,001, filed Mar. 5, 2008; (iii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 328,306, filed Dec. 4, 2008; and (iv) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 079,629, filed Mar. 26, 2008, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 960,960, filed Oct. 12, 2004, now abandoned, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 381,072 claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to (a) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 189,252, filed Aug. 15, 2008; and (b) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 205,433, filed Jan. 15, 2009; and is related to (c) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 904,809, filed Mar. 6, 2007; and (d) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 996,800, filed De...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

If the lining becomes worn or damaged resulting in lesions, joint movement may be painful or severely restricted.

Whereas damaged bone typically can regenerate successfully, articular cartilage regeneration is quite limited because of its limited regenerative and reparative abilities.

Articular cartilage lesions generally do not heal, or heal only partially under certain biological conditions, due to the lack of nerves, blood vessels and a lymphatic system.

The limited reparative capabilities of articular cartilage usually results in the generation of repair tissue that lacks the structure and biomechanical properties of normal articular cartilage.

Generally, the healing of the defect results in a fibrocartilaginous repair tissue that lacks the structure and biomedical properties of articular cartilage and degrades over the course of time.

These lesions are difficult to treat because of the distinctive structure and function of articular cartilage.

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability and impairment in middle-aged and older individuals, entailing significant economic, social and psychological costs.

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