Patent ID: 8062364
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for subchondrally treating arthritis of a joint, wherein the method stabilizes the bone in order to prevent further biomechanical breakdown of the bone and of adjacent meniscal tissues, and alleviates pain in the joint, said method comprising: identifying a bone marrow lesion in a subchondral portion of a bone adjacent to the joint based on a magnetic resonance imaging of the joint; determining a grade for the bone marrow lesion based on the size of the bone marrow lesion identified in the magnetic resonance image; determining, after identifying the bone lesion, an extent of treatment based on a size of the at least one bone marrow lesion; selecting at least one reinforcing member in accordance with the grade for the bone marrow lesion; creating, in said bone that contains the bone marrow lesion in its subchondral portion, subchondral access into an area in or adjacent to the bone marrow lesion, while preserving the articular surface of said bone, the articular surface being substantially over the subchondral portion of said bone that contains the bone marrow lesion; and implanting in the subchondral portion of said bone the selected at least one reinforcing member in or adjacent to the bone marrow lesion via the subchondral access.