A method for safely bending osteochondral allografts

This technology is a method to allow gentle bending of osteochondral allografts to match the curvature of the host recipient and thereby increase the effectiveness and availability of allograft transplants.

Unmet Need: A method to safely offset donor-recipient mismatch of osteochondral allografts

Osteochondral allografts are typically from the same originating joint and are currently subjected to donor-host anatomical matching. To achieve more frequent matching of donor-host anatomies and expand allograft availability to differing donor sites (e.g., from knee to thumb), bending of the subchondral bone in allografts has been proposed as a potential method. However, bending can result in cartilage strains that can lead to mechanical failure and cell death. Other methods with similar objectives include mosaicplasty or osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS), whereby small cores of osteochondral autografts are used to fill a defect region in a joint, however this leaves gaps between osteochondral plugs in the site, compromising the integrity of repair.

The Technology: Non-destructive method to bend osteochondral allografts for increased donor-recipient matching

This technology involves carving out grooves in subchondral bone to enable gentle bending of osteochondral allografts to alter their curvature and match to natural articular host layers. The method involves curvature matching from a database of donor allograft geometries and modeling to ensure allograft-specific strains will not be exceeded to preserve mechanical integrity and retain enough cartilage to maintain cell viability. The technology can be effective with surfaces that have convex, concave, and mixed (saddle-shaped) curvatures to increase the matching capabilities and viability window of osteochondral allografts.

This technology has been validated with finite element analysis.

Applications:

• Method for preparing customized osteochondral grafts
• Method for screening and categorizing donor material in biobanks
• Research model for studying ideal characteristics of graft-host interactions

Advantages:

• Obviates need for autograft and associated site morbidity
• Increases potential of receiving suitable graft
• Reduces waste in biobanks
• Patient-specific
• Preserves donor graft viability and mechanical strength

Lead Inventor:

Gerard Ateshian, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications:

• Petersen CA, Spack KA, Cook JL, Hung CT, Rosenwasser MP, Ateshian GA. Bendable osteochondral allografts for patellar resurfacing: A finite element analysis of congruence. J Biomech. 2022 Sep; 142: 111240.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU14124, CU18414

• Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu