Apparatus and methods for articular cartilage defect repair

Abstract

A bone plug removal and emplacement tool includes a cylindrical cutting element having a proximal cutting edge and a cutting tooth. The outer surface of the cutting element can include an integral shoulder (e.g., in lieu of a replaceable outer sheath) that is spaced-apart from the proximal cutting edge and that engages the surface of the bone to define a depth stop for the cutting edge. An additional cylindrical element can be disposed within the cutting element. The proximal end of that additional element, which is referred to as a "harvester," is substantially aligned with the proximal end of the cutting element to receive a plug cut from the bone. The harvester can be slidably withdrawn from the cutting element to facilitate transplating the bone plug at another location. For this purpose, a stem or plunger can be slidably inserted and moved in the harvester to dislodge the plug.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.