Patent ID: 8920499

Claim:
A method of repairing articular cartilage comprising: (a) locating articular cartilage having a lesion; (b) utilizing an implant having dimensions compatible with the lesion, wherein the implant comprises; (i) an articular end having an upper surface, a side surface, and a lower surface; wherein the upper surface and lower surface each intersect the side surface, the upper surface has a first surface curvature, a central surface curvature, and a second surface curvature; and wherein the upper surface blends into the side surface, the side surface blends into the upper surface and the lower surface, and the lower surface blends into the side surface, and wherein each blend has an edge radius of from about 0.1 millimeters to about 2 millimeters; and (ii) an oval-shaped stem, which extends from the lower surface in a direction away from the upper surface of the articular end; (c) forming a cavity in the articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and cancellous bone; and (d) engaging the implant with the cavity so that the lower and side surfaces of the articular end abut against the subchondral and cancellous bone and the stem abuts against the cancellous bone.