System, apparatus, and method for grafting tissue

A method of grafting tissue at a tissue site, comprising:

• obtaining a tapered graft tissue having an insertion end and an exposed end separated by a length, the tapered graft tissue having a first diameter at the exposed end that is larger than a second diameter at the insertion end, the length between the first diameter and the second diameter defining an external taper;
• preparing a tapered socket in the tissue site for receiving the tapered graft tissue, the tapered socket defining an internal taper that substantially corresponds to the external taper of the tapered graft tissue;
• and
• inserting the tapered graft tissue into the tapered socket.

A method of grafting tissue at a tissue site, comprising:

• providing a cutting apparatus, comprising:
• an elongate housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a bore defining a longitudinal axis,
• a plurality of elongate cutting members extending lengthwise at the distal end of the elongate housing and positioned about the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing, the elongate cutting members defining an annular cutting surface adapted to contract from a first diameter to a second diameter that is less than the first diameter thereby defining a tapered profile between the first diameter and the second diameter, and
• a plunger having an external surface slidably disposed in the bore of the elongate housing, wherein when the annular cutting surface has the first diameter the elongate cutting members are biased against the external surface of the plunger at the distal end of the elongate housing;
• positioning the plunger at the distal end of the elongate housing to place the annular cutting surface in the first diameter;
• inserting the annular cutting surface longitudinally into a donor tissue source;
• displacing the plunger toward the proximal end of the elongate housing with donor tissue entering the bore of the elongate housing as the annular cutting surface advances into the donor tissue source;
• obtaining a tapered graft tissue having an external taper by contracting the annular cutting surface from the first diameter to the second diameter along the tapered profile as the plunger is displaced;
• reaming a tapered socket in the tissue site for receiving the tapered graft tissue, the tapered socket defining an internal taper that substantially corresponds to the external taper of the tapered graft tissue;
• and
• inserting the tapered graft tissue into the tapered socket.