Advanced Solutions for Joint Repair with Customized Osteochondral Allografts

Introduction

Joint injuries and cartilage degeneration are some of the most common orthopedic issues, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. These conditions, which can stem from trauma, aging, or degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis, often lead to significant pain and reduced mobility. Traditional treatments such as joint replacement surgeries, autografts, or off-the-shelf allografts have limitations in their ability to precisely mimic the natural structure of cartilage. Our patented customized bendable osteochondral allografts offer a new approach, providing a tailored solution for joint repair and cartilage restoration that adapts to the patient’s specific anatomical needs.

The Limitations of Traditional Treatments

Current surgical options for joint repair, including conventional grafts or synthetic materials, often fail to provide the flexibility and precision required for long-term success. Allografts that are rigid or non-customizable can lead to improper fit, suboptimal healing, and complications post-surgery. Additionally, these limitations may result in longer recovery times and the need for future interventions. As patients and surgeons increasingly demand solutions that improve outcomes and restore joint function more effectively, there is a need for grafts that offer both structural integrity and flexibility in surgical application.

Bendable and Customizable Grafts for Precision Repair

Our patented customized bendable osteochondral allografts are designed to meet the specific anatomical needs of each patient, offering flexibility in both design and surgical use. These allografts are uniquely engineered to bend and adapt to the natural contours of the joint, ensuring a more accurate fit during implantation. This flexibility allows surgeons to restore cartilage more precisely, improving the integration of the graft with the surrounding tissue and promoting faster, more effective healing.

In addition to being bendable, the allografts can be customized based on the patient’s specific condition, making them an ideal solution for treating a wide range of joint issues. This tailored approach reduces the risk of complications, enhances surgical outcomes, and minimizes the need for repeat procedures, giving patients a more durable and long-lasting solution for joint repair.

Key Benefits of This Technology

Personalized Fit: Each graft can be customized to fit the patient’s specific anatomy, improving the precision of joint repair.
Flexible Design: The bendable nature of these allografts allows for better integration with surrounding tissue, promoting faster healing.
Versatile Applications: These grafts can be used to treat a wide variety of joint and cartilage issues, from sports injuries to degenerative conditions.
Reduced Complications: By offering a better anatomical fit, this technology reduces the risk of complications and revision surgeries.

A Breakthrough in Orthopedic Care

Licensing this patented technology provides an opportunity to deliver cutting-edge, personalized solutions in orthopedic care. With the growing demand for better joint repair options, customized bendable osteochondral allografts are a game-changing tool for surgeons looking to improve patient outcomes and restore mobility with precision and flexibility. This innovation has the potential to set a new standard in joint repair and cartilage restoration.

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Abstract
Claims

A customized allograft that is bendable and suitable for allo-grafting of an articular joint, including the thumb.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preparing a customized osteochondral graft, the method comprising:

selecting a donor graft comprising an uninterrupted cartilaginous layer having a surface disposed on a bone portion, the bone portion having a width and a height;

cutting a groove across the width of the bone portion of the donor graft to produce the customized osteochondral allograft,

wherein the groove depth extends through the height of the bone portion,

wherein the customized osteochondral graft is bendable into a shape that conforms to a host site, and

wherein bending is localized in the cartilaginous layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartilaginous layer comprises articular cartilage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone portion comprises subchondral bone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartilaginous layer comprises viable chondrocytes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartilaginous layer is devitalized.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the uninterrupted cartilaginous layer is convex along one direction and concave along the corresponding perpendicular direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the uninterrupted cartilaginous layer has a thickness of about 2 mm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone portion has a thickness of about 4 mm.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising bending the customized osteochondral graft to conform to the host site.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein cutting a groove comprises cutting a plurality of grooves spaced across the width of the bone portion of the donor graft, wherein the depth of the plurality of grooves extends through the height of the bone portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the host site comprises a thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the donor graft comprises recovering the graft from a trochlea selected from the group consisting of a distal femur trochlea, a distal humerus trochlea, a proximal ulna trochlea, and a talus trochlea.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the donor graft comprises recovering the graft from a human diarthrodial joint having a trochlear surface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the donor graft comprises recovering the graft from a joint selected from the group consisting of a knee joint, an elbow joint, and an ankle joint.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartilaginous layer of the donor graft has a thickness that matches a combined thickness of the trapezium and metacarpal articular layers of the host site.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartilaginous layer of the donor graft has a thickness that is greater than a natural thickness of a cartilage of the host site.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the groove depth during the cutting step.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step comprises measuring a light transmissivity of the customized osteochondral graft.

19. A method for preparing a customized osteochondral graft, the method comprising:

selecting a donor graft comprising an uninterrupted cartilaginous layer having a naturally saddle-shaped articular surface disposed on a bone portion, the bone portion having a width and a height;

cutting one or more grooves across the width of the bone portion of the donor graft to produce the customized osteochondral allograft,

wherein the groove depth extends through the height of the bone portion,

wherein the customized osteochondral graft is bendable into a shape that conforms to a host site, and

wherein bending is localized in the cartilaginous layer.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising bending the customized osteochondral graft to conform to the host site.

Title

Customized bendable osteochondral allografts

Inventor(s)

Melvin P. Rosenwasser, Gerard A. Ateshian, Clark T. Hung, Brian K. Jones

Assignee(s)

Columbia University in the City of New York

Patent #

10722370

Patent Date

July 28, 2020