Abstract: A surgical instrument has an elongate guide member and a reciprocable member. The elongate guide member provides a protected path of travel for an implant from outside the body to a position near a damaged tissue site. The reciprocable member is movable along the elongate guide member to push the implant along its path of travel. The reciprocable member can include an implant carrier. The implant can be an orthopaedic implant for repair or regeneration of soft tissue at a damaged joint site. The implant can be larger than the transverse dimension of the elongate guide member and folded or rolled to fit within the elongate guide member. Use of this instrument protects the implant from damage as it is delivered to the damaged joint site. The invention also includes a surgical method for delivering an implant to a damaged tissue site.

Abstract: A slide instrument has a longitudinal slide portion and spaced walls defining longitudinal channels. The slide instrument may be sized so that it can be inserted through standard arthroscopic portals to position the distal end of the slide instrument at a damaged tissue site. The slide instrument may be used to deliver an implant to the damaged tissue site. The implant has edges that fit within the longitudinal channels so that the implant can be moved along the slide portion to the distal end of the slide to deliver the implant to the damaged tissue site. The shape of the slide instrument protects the implant from damage as the implant is delivered from outside the patient's body to the damaged tissue site.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has a main shaft underlying a slide member. The slide member is movable in a proximal-distal direction. The distal end of the slide member has an open position and a closed position. The closed position is spaced from the open position in the proximal-distal direction. There is a gap between the distal end of the slide member and the distal end of the main shaft when the instrument is in the open position. The gap is smaller when the instrument is in the closed position. An implant can be received in the gap and delivered to a damaged tissue site using the instrument. An implant protector can be used when delivering the implant with the instrument. A pivotable implant cover can be used to protect the implant instead of the slide member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument stabilizes an implant as the implant is secured to native tissue at a damaged tissue site such as in an intra-articular space. The instrument has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an intermediate portion. The distal end portion has a template for guiding an attachment mechanism into the implant and the adjacent native tissue. The distal end portion can also have barbs to engage the implant to enhance stabilization of the implant. Several instruments can be provided in a surgical kit with different lengths and shapes of distal end portions. A surgical kit could also contain modular distal end portions of varying sizes and shapes. A surgical method utilizing the stabilizing instrument is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has an elongate guide member and a reciprocable member. The elongate guide member provides a protected path of travel for an implant from outside the body to a position near a damaged tissue site. The reciprocable member is movable along the elongate guide member to push the implant along its path of travel. The reciprocable member can include an implant carrier. The implant can be an orthopaedic implant for repair or regeneration of soft tissue at a damaged joint site. The implant can be larger than the transverse dimension of the elongate guide member and folded or rolled to fit within the elongate guide member. Use of this instrument protects the implant from damage as it is delivered to the damaged joint site. The invention also includes a surgical method for delivering an implant to a damaged tissue site.

Abstract: A surgical instrument stabilizes an implant as the implant is secured to native tissue at a damaged tissue site such as in an intra-articular space. The instrument has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an intermediate portion. The distal end portion has a template for guiding an attachment mechanism into the implant and the adjacent native tissue. The distal end portion can also have barbs to engage the implant to enhance stabilization of the implant. Several instruments can be provided in a surgical kit with different lengths and shapes of distal end portions. A surgical kit could also contain modular distal end portions of varying sizes and shapes. A surgical method utilizing the stabilizing instrument is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has a main shaft underlying a slide member. The slide member is movable in a proximal-distal direction. The distal end of the slide member has an open position and a closed position. The closed position is spaced from the open position in the proximal-distal direction. There is a gap between the distal end of the slide member and the distal end of the main shaft when the instrument is in the open position. The gap is smaller when the instrument is in the closed position. An implant can be received in the gap and delivered to a damaged tissue site using the instrument. An implant protector can be used when delivering the implant with the instrument. A pivotable implant cover can be used to protect the implant instead of the slide member.

Abstract: A slide instrument has a longitudinal slide portion and spaced walls defining longitudinal channels. The slide instrument may be sized so that it can be inserted through standard arthroscopic portals to position the distal end of the slide instrument at a damaged tissue site. The slide instrument may be used to deliver an implant to the damaged tissue site. The implant has edges that fit within the longitudinal channels so that the implant can be moved along the slide portion to the distal end of the slide to deliver the implant to the damaged tissue site. The shape of the slide instrument protects the implant from damage as the implant is delivered from outside the patient's body to the damaged tissue site.