Methods and compositions for articular resurfacing

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for producing articular repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. In particular, methods for providing articular replacement material, the method comprising the step of producing articular replacement material of selected size, curvature and/or thickness are provided. Also provided are articular surface repair systems designed to replace a selected area cartilage, for example, a system comprising at least one solid, non-pliable component and an external surface having near anatomic alignment to the surrounding structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making an implant for repairing a joint of a patient, comprising:
 obtaining electronic image data from three dimensional or two dimensional images of one or more portions of the joint of the patient;   providing a cut along a surface of the joint derived from the electronic image data, wherein the cut surface comprises an outer periphery; and   designing or selecting an implant comprising an outer periphery that substantially matches the outer periphery of the cut surface   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the joint of the patient is a knee joint of the patient, wherein the surface of the joint includes a tibial plateau of the knee joint of the patient derived from the electronic image data.