Abstract: The invention is directed toward a sterile cartilage defect implant material comprising milled lyophilized allograft cartilage pieces ranging from 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm in size in a bioabsorbable carrier taken from a group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid and its derivatives, gelatin, collagen, chitosan, alginate, buffered PBS, Dextran or mixed polymers with allograft chondrocytes added in an amount ranging from 2.5×105 to 2.5×107.

Abstract: A construct for repairing articular cartilage defects includes a cap member and a base member. The cap member has an upper section and a stem depending from a central region thereof. The upper section includes a peripheral region. The stem includes a cavity. The base member has first and second ends, the first end including an annular recess dimensioned such that the stem is receivable therein. The first end also includes an annular edge positioned laterally outwardly from the annular recess, for abutting and supporting the peripheral region of the upper section when the stem is received in the annular recess. The base member further includes an island which is surrounded by the annular recess and receivable in the cavity of the stem, such that the island is abuttable with and may thereby support the central region of the upper section when the stem is received in the annular recess.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a cartilage repair assembly comprising a shaped allograft structure of subchondral bone with an integral overlying cartilage cap which is treated to remove cellular debris and proteoglycans and milled allograft cartilage in a bioabsorbable carrier. The shaped structure is dimensioned to fit in a drilled bore in a cartilage defect area so that either the shaped bone or the cartilage cap engage the side wall of the drilled bore in an interference fit and is in contact with a milled cartilage and biocompatible carrier mixture allowing cell transfer throughout the defect area. A method for inserting the shaped allograft structure into a cartilage defect area is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a sterile cartilage defect implant material comprising milled lyophilized allograft cartilage pieces ranging from 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm in size in a bioabsorbable carrier taken from a group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid and its derivatives, gelatin, collagen, chitosan, alginate, buffered PBS, Dextran or mixed polymers with allograft chondrocytes added in an amount ranging from 2.5×105 to 2.5×107.

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.

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.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a cartilage repair assembly comprising a shaped allograft structure of subchondral bone with an integral overlying cartilage cap which is treated to remove cellular debris and proteoglycans and milled allograft cartilage in a bioabsorbable carrier. The shaped structure is dimensioned to fit in a drilled bore in a cartilage defect area so that either the shaped bone or the cartilage cap engage the side wall of the drilled bore in an interference fit and is in contact with a milled cartilage and biocompatible carrier mixture allowing cell transfer throughout the defect area. A method for inserting the shaped allograft structure into a cartilage defect area is also disclosed.

Abstract: Mixtures, such as gels or pastes, comprising freeze-milled cartilage particles and exogenous growth factors are used for repairing chondral defects. Such mixtures may be applied to constructs comprising cancellous bone for implantation at the defect site. Suitable growth factors include variants of FGF-2, particularly variants that include a sole amino acid substitution for asparagine at amino acid 111 of the ?8-?9 loop of the FGF-2 peptide. Such FGF-2 variants are released slowly and continuously at a constant rate from cartilage pastes. In other embodiments, the amino acid substituted for asparigine is glycine. Other variants that may be used include FGF-9 variants having truncated chains and a sole amino acid substitution in the ?8-?9 loop of the FGF-9 peptide either for tryptophan at amino acid 144 or for asparagine at amino acid 143.

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.

Abstract: An allograft osteochondral plug is combined with a mixture that includes freeze-milled cartilage particles, and such combination is used to repair defects in articular cartilage. The plug includes an subchondral bone portion and an integral overlying cartilage cap which is treated to remove cellular debris and proteoglycans. At least a portion of the plug has a lateral dimension selected to form an interference fit against a tissue layer exposed as a result of a bore formed in a defect area in articular cartilage of a host. The cartilage particle mixture is placed adjacent at least a portion of the plug for promoting cartilage cell migration into (i.e., from the adjacent host cartilage) and proliferation in the bore, and for enhancing tissue integration between the plug and patient (i.e., host) tissue when the plug is inserted into the bore. Methods for surgical implantation of the plug into a patient are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a cartilage repair assembly comprising a shaped allograft structure of subchondral bone with an integral overlying cartilage cap which is treated to remove cellular debris and proteoglycans and milled allograft cartilage in a bioabsorbable carrier. The shaped structure is dimensioned to fit in a drilled bore in a cartilage defect area so that either the shaped bone or the cartilage cap engage the side wall of the drilled bore in an interference fit and is in contact with a milled cartilage and biocompatible carrier mixture allowing cell transfer throughout the defect area. A method for inserting the shaped allograft structure into a cartilage defect area is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a cartilage repair assembly comprising a shaped structure of subchondral bone with an integral overlying cartilage cap which is treated to remove cellular debris and proteoglycans and milled cartilage in a bioabsorbable carrier. The shaped structure is dimensioned to fit in a drilled bore in a cartilage defect area so that said shaped bone and cartilage cap when centered in the bore does not engage the side wall of the bore in an interference fit and is surrounded by milled cartilage and carrier. A method for inserting the assembly into a cartilage defect area is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a cartilage repair assembly comprising a cylindrically shaped allograft structure of subchondral bone with an integral overlying smaller diameter cartilage cap which is treated to remove cellular debris and proteoglycans. The shaped structure is dimensioned to fit in a drilled bore in a cartilage defect area so that the subchondral bone of the structure engages the side wall of the bone portion of the drilled bore in an interference fit while the cartilage cap is spaced from cartilage portion of the side wall of the drilled bore forming a gap in which a milled cartilage and biocompatible carrier mixture is placed allowing cell transfer throughout the defect area. A method for inserting the shaped allograft structure into a cartilage defect area is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a sterile cartilage defect implant material comprising milled lyophilized allograft cartilage pieces ranging from 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm in size in a bioabsorbable carrier taken from a group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid and its derivatives, gelatin, collagen, chitosan, alginate, buffered PBS, Dextran or polymers with allogenic chondrocytes or bone marrow cells in an amount exceeding the natural occurrence of same in hyaline cartilage and adding a cell growth additive.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a sterile cartilage defect implant material comprising milled lyophilized allograft cartilage pieces ranging from 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm in size in a bioabsorbable carrier taken from a group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid and its derivatives, gelatin, collagen, chitosan, alginate, buffered PBS, Dextran or polymers with allogenic chondrocytes or bone marrow cells in an amount exceeding the natural occurrence of same in hyaline cartilage and adding a cell growth additive.