Patent ID: 8801800

Claim:
A system for treatment of a subchondral bone defect, comprising: an implantable device comprising a first, leading end, a second, trailing end, and a main body extending between the ends, a central opening extending through the length of the main body, and at least one channel in fluid communication with the central opening to allow extrusion of a flowable material from the central opening to outside the main body, the device being formed of bone material and configured as both a mechanical support to stabilize the defect, and as a portal to disperse the flowable material to the defect, the implantable device having a tapered tip at the first, leading end to facilitate ease of insertion, and further comprising a plurality of recesses extending along the longitudinal axis of the main body, the at least one channel being located within one of the recesses; and an inserter tool comprising a shaft having at one end a device-engaging portion and at an opposite end a handle portion, the device-engaging portion comprising a plurality of movable finger-like projections configured to slide along and reside within the recesses of the implantable device to occlude the at least one channel and allow a firm grip of the implantable device without significantly increasing the outer diameter of the device during insertion, each finger-like projection being capable of separate and independent sliding movement with respect to the other projections to control access to the at least one channel and the direction in which the flowable material is extruded.