Instrument and Method to Enhance Articular Cartilage Regeneration

A perforation instrument constructed of medical-grade materials, comprising:

• a handle graspable by a hand of a user;
• a shaft capable of being inserted into a joint of a patient, having a proximal end connected to the handle, having a longitudinal axis, and carrying at least two piercing members at a distal end, each piercing member having a tip suitable to pierce sub-chondral bone to a depth sufficient to release marrow-derived cells;
• and
• at least one actuation mechanism to alter the instrument between an exposed condition wherein the tip of each of the at least two piercing members is exposed and a safety condition wherein the tip of the at least two piercing members is not capable of piercing tissue.

A method of performing microfracture of sub-chondral bone tissue, comprising:

• selecting a region within a joint of a patient having sub-chondral bone to be perforated;
• selecting a perforation instrument including a shaft having a longitudinal axis and carrying at least one piercing member, each piercing member having a tip suitable to pierce sub-chondral bone;
• placing the instrument into a safety condition wherein the tip of the at least one piercing member is not capable of piercing tissue;
• inserting the instrument, in the safety condition, into the joint of the patient in the vicinity of the selected region;
• altering the instrument into an exposed condition wherein the tip of the at least one piercing member is exposed;
• forming multiple perforations in the sub-chondral bone;
• returning the instrument to the safety condition;
• and
• removing the instrument from the patient.