Patent ID: 8632601

Claim:
A method for enhancing articulation between a first joint surface and a second joint surface with a prosthetic device, said first joint surface and said second joint surface forming a joint, said prosthetic device including a first panel and a second panel, said first panel and said second panel being deformable and having articulation surfaces, said articulation surfaces of said first panel and of said second panel facing each other in an implanted state, said first panel being sized and shaped to be positioned over at least a portion of the first joint surface, and said second panel being sized and shaped to be positioned over at least a portion of the second joint surface; said method comprising: creating a channel in a bone, said bone comprising the second joint surface and said channel having a first aperture in fluid communication with a second aperture which is positioned in said second joint surface of said bone, a cross-sectional area of said channel being smaller than said first panel and said second panel in said implanted state; inserting into said channel through said first aperture, in order, a first panel central portion of said first panel, a first peripheral region of said first panel which extends from said first panel central portion, and said second panel; applying pressure to said prosthetic device to move said prosthetic device through said channel until said first panel central portion, said first peripheral region and said second panel emerge through said second aperture, said first panel central portion emerging first and being pressured against said first joint surface, said first peripheral region emerging after said first panel central portion, said pressure causing said first peripheral region to unfurl away from said second aperture as said second panel emerges through said second aperture.