Allograft templates and methods of use

Abstract

Allograft templates and methods of use are disclosed where a template for resecting a tissue region may generally comprise a template frame having a surface for contacting the tissue region and which defines an open area of tissue to be resected. One or more inner guidance slots may be defined along the frame such that the inner guidance slots are spaced relative to one another to define the tissue within the open area to be resected from a patient. Additionally, one or more outer guidance slots may also be defined along the frame and aligned adjacent to the inner guidance slots. The outer guidance slots may be spaced relative to one another to define the tissue to be resected from a donor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Prov. App. 61 / 756,214 filed Jan. 24, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for resecting allogeneic grafts and implanting them in a controlled manner. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for resecting allogeneic grafts and implanting them in a patient in a controlled manner through use of an allograft template.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]An osteochondral lesion (osteochondritis dissecans or OCD) is an injury or small fracture of the cartilage surface of the talus which typically occurs via a crush or injury to the surface of the bone during the abnormal motion of the ankle in a sprain. The OCD sits on the medial or lateral shoulder of the talar dome and is situated on the top and the side of the joint surface. The talus bone is part o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes an allograft template for bone grafting that helps guide a saw and maintain consistent cuts between a patient's bone and a donor graft. The template reduces errors in forming a resection site and ensures a secure graft. The frame and cross member provide structural support and stability, and handles make it easy to handle the template during a grafting and / or resection procedure. The template has guides for controlling the depth of the cuts, and securement wires with markings to determine the insertion depth into the bone. The invention improves the accuracy and quality of bone grafting.

Problems solved by technology

With an inversion or eversion stress on the ankle, the talus and tibia and / or fibula will contact each other with massive stress, resulting in a compression or shear stress on the surface of the talus and underlying injury.

However, such cutting jigs are time-consuming to set up and use and may not enable enough of a precise cut for providing a bone graft suitable for resection and implantation.

Such an ill-fitting graft may subsequently increase the time for bone in-growth and patient recovery time.

Moreover, part of the imprecise cuts may occur because of improper offsetting of the jigs in failing to account for kerf losses incurred when cutting into the bone due to the saw or blade.

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