US Patent 9526632 Methods of repairing a joint using a wedge-shaped implant

According to some embodiments, a method of treating a joint of a patient comprises creating a recess in a bone located at or near a targeted joint, wherein the recess includes a generally wedge or truncated cone shape. In one embodiment, the recess in a bone comprises a surface opening along an outer surface of the bone and a bottom opening along the distal end of the recess, such that a diameter of the surface opening is generally smaller than a diameter of the bottom opening. The method additionally comprises providing a joint implant having a wedge or truncated cone shape, wherein a diameter of a top end of the joint implant is generally smaller than a diameter of a bottom end of the joint implant, inserting the joint implant within the recess.