Cartilage implants and related devices and methods

Abstract

We provide implantable implants. [Solution] This disclosure relates to a transplantable implant. The transplantable implant is configured to be implanted in a patient's cartilage and decompose over time, and comprises a biocompatible scaffold having multiple pores and multiple chondrocytes incorporated into the scaffold. In some embodiments, the implant has a longitudinal length so as to be implanted into a graft hole created on the cartilage, the graft hole has a graft depth, and the ratio of the total longitudinal length to the thickness of the cartilage is about 3 or less.

Claims

1. A transplantable implant, A biocompatible scaffold containing multiple pores is implanted into the patient's cartilage and designed to decompose over time. The scaffold includes a plurality of chondrocytes incorporated into it, The implant has a total longitudinal length so as to be implanted into the graft hole formed on the cartilage. The aforementioned graft hole has a grafting depth. When the implant is placed in the graft hole along its entire longitudinal length, it has a first longitudinal length in the graft hole that corresponds to the cartilage portion along the graft depth, The graft hole selectively has a second longitudinal length corresponding to the mineral bone portion along the graft depth, A transplantable implant in which the ratio of the first longitudinal length to the total longitudinal length is at least about 0.

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2. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is at least about 0.

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3. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is at least about 0.

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4. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is approximately 0.8 at most.

5. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is between approximately 0.3 and approximately 1.

6. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first longitudinal length to the total longitudinal length is between approximately 0.35 and approximately 0.

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7. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is from about 0.4 to about 0.

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8. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first longitudinal length to the total longitudinal length is from about 0.42 to about 0.

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9. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is from about 0.45 to about 0.

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10. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is between approximately 0.45 and approximately 0.

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11. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first vertical length to the total vertical length is between approximately 0.5 and approximately 0.

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12. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the implant has a total longitudinal length that is implanted into a graft hole formed on the cartilage, and the total longitudinal length is approximately 12 mm or less.

13. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 9.0 mm or less.

14. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 8.0 mm or less.

15. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 6.0 mm or less.

16. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 5.5 mm or less.

17. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 5.0 mm or less.

18. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 4.8 mm or less.

19. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 4.7 mm or less.

20. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 4.6 mm or less.

21. The implantable implant according to claim 12, wherein the total vertical length is approximately 4.5 mm or less.

22. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible scaffold has a total longitudinal length that is longer than the thickness of the cartilage.

23. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible scaffold has a porosity of at least about 60%.

24. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible scaffold has a porosity of at least about 65%.

25. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible scaffold has a porosity of at least about 75%.

26. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the average size of the plurality of holes is from about 100 μm to about 700 μm.

27. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the average size of the plurality of holes ranges from approximately 225 μm to approximately 450 μm.

28. The transplantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of chondrocytes include a plurality of autologous chondrocytes.

29. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible scaffold comprises a poly-L-lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA).

30. The implantable implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible scaffold comprises tricalcium phosphate (TCP).

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