Patent ID: 7887546

Claim:
A method of grasping an osteochondral plug, the method comprising: employing a surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft with proximal and distal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the distal end of the elongate shaft being configured to contact an osteochondral plug; a ribbon extending along opposing sides of the elongate shaft and forming a loop at the distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein when in use, the loop is sized to receive the osteochondral plug to the distal end of the elongate shaft; an elongate sleeve having a proximal and a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, wherein the elongate sleeve surrounds the elongate shaft and facilitates holding the ribbon in place relative to the elongate shaft; and a locking mechanism disposed near the proximal end of the elongate shaft for locking the ribbon relative to the elongate shaft when in a locked position, wherein the locking mechanism includes a clamp and a rotatable bolt mounted to the clamp, the rotatable bolt being longitudinally movable between a proximal unlocked position wherein the ribbon is not locked and a distal locked position wherein the bolt engages and secures an end portion of the ribbon between a surface of the bolt and a proximal surface of the clamp, wherein the ribbon includes a first end portion secured by the clamp when the bolt is in the proximal unlocked position and in and opposite thereto, a second end portion which is releasably secured by the bolt; placing the osteochondral plug within the loop of the ribbon; pulling one end of the ribbon to adjust a length of the ribbon and thereby size of the loop to tighten the loop around the osteochondral plug; and engaging the locking mechanism to secure the ribbon relative to the elongate shaft and thereby secure the osteochondral plug to the distal end of the elongate shaft.