An apparatus for slicing a cartilage sample includes a rear cartilage support cup, a cartilage clamp, a front cartilage support, a cartilage receiving region, and a cartilage cutting element. The cartilage clamp has first and second clamp members spaced apart from and aligned in a clamping direction transverse to a longitudinal axis. The cartilage receiving region is bounded by the first and second clamp members, the front cartilage support, and the rear cartilage support cup. The cartilage cutting element is spaced rearwardly from the front cartilage support by a cartilage slice thickness, the cartilage cutting element being movable across the cartilage receiving region in a cutting direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Subchondral bone analog materials and osteochondral constructs that incorporate the subchondral bone analogs are described. The subchondral bone analog materials include a biodegradable matrix, calcium phosphate particles (e.g., hydroxy apatite) and bioactive glass particles. The materials can exhibit sufficient mechanical strength and biochemical properties such that the materials can support boney integration and healing. Osteochondral constructs can include a first layer of the subchondral bone analog material, a second layer of a calcified cartilage analog material, and a third layer of a cartilage analog material.

An apparatus and a method are provided for performing cartilage graft implant surgeries. The apparatus comprises a graft plug kit comprising one or more grafts configured to treat osteochondral defects in various bone joint locations in a patient's body. Each of the grafts comprises a cartilage layer coupled with a bone portion. The cartilage layer comprises a thickness selected to closely match the thickness of existing cartilage at an implant location. The bone portion comprises surface features configured to encourage the patient's bone tissue to grow into the bone portion, thereby accelerating incorporation of the graft into the patient's bone. An instrument kit comprises a multiplicity of instruments configured for implantation of the grafts into the patient's body, including at least a graft inserter, a guidewire, a reamer, and a size gauge.

The present invention relates to a removable implantable device intended for the production of articular cartilage, comprising: a first support portion (2) made of biocompatible material, a second support portion (3) made of biocompatible material and movably mounted on the first support portion (2), the first support portion (2) and the second support portion (3) defining therebetween a cavity that forms a cell-growth space provided for receiving osteochondrogenic cells which multiply in the cell-growth space, and operable external mobilisation means (5A, 5B) which can be configured to move the second support portion (3) relative to the first support portion (2) so as to generate shear inside the cell-growth space.

Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.

There are disclosed compositions for achieving reverse phase characteristics, methods of preparation thereof, and the use of amniotic tissue for cartilage repair. In an embodiment, a biocompatible articular tissue repair composition may have a therapeutic material and a carrier configured for achieving reverse phase characteristics, and methods for using the composition. In various embodiments, the therapeutic material may be amniotic tissue. In various embodiments, the carrier may be a poloxamer such as poloxamer 407. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.

A system for performing osteochondral transplantation surgery includes a harvesting guide tool for harvesting one or more osteochondral plugs and a transfer guide tool for insertion of each osteochondral plug in a damage site on an articular surface of a joint. A cartilage contact surface of each respective guide tool is adapted to follow the shape of a surface of cartilage or subchondral bone such that they conform to each other. Each respective guide tool includes one or more guide channels adapted to receive a respective surgical tool that slides within the guide channel, and is supported by the guide channel during surgery. The guide channels are configured to harvest and insert a plurality of osteochondral plugs of different sizes. The interiors of the guide channels are provided with markings for marking a rotational position of harvested plugs enabling positioning of the osteochondral plugs at a predetermined angle of rotation.

A composite for osteochondral defect repair includes a porous scaffold and a periosteal graft secured to a surface of the scaffold. The composite provides cartilage growth from autologous periosteum chondrogenesis. Biological resurfacing of large osteochondral defects, or a complete joint is feasible using the porous scaffold/autologous periosteal composite. The use of this composite eliminates the necessity of using normal cartilage surface as a donor site and its respective associated morbidity. In one form, the strong bone integration capacity of a porous metal (e.g., tantalum) scaffold and the high grade of integration observed from periosteal chondrogenesis into the normal cartilage eliminates the lack of chondral-chondral integration observed in the autologous osteochondral graft technique.

The invention provides treatment methods of using meniscus to repair injured and/or arthritic joints, for example, small hand joints including but not limited to radiocarpal, metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints. The invention also provides various implants made of meniscus for injured and/or arthritic joints.