Tissue holding implants
AssigneeArch Day Design, LLC
InventorsThomas Weisel, Roger Pisarnwongs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Tissue holding implants which enable two or more layers of tissue to be held in approximation for an extended period. One and two-piece implants are described, made from materials that are biocompatible, and may also be biodegradable. Some embodiments include a portion which is deformed to capture the tissues to be held, and others are made from a super-elastic or shape memory material and hold the tissues in approximation when the implant is reverted to a known preformed shape.
Claims56
An implant for holding two or more tissues in approximation, comprising:
- a head portion;
- and
- a first shaft which extends from said head portion, at least a portion of said implant being deformable;
- such that, when said first shaft is inserted through said tissues to be held and said deformable portion is deformed, said tissues are held in approximation by said implant.
A implant for holding two or more tissues in approximation, comprising:
- a head portion;
- and
- at least one shaft which extends from said head portion, each of said shafts including at least one barb;
- such that, when said at least one shaft is inserted through said tissues to be held, said tissues are held in approximation between said head portion and said at least one barb.
A implant for holding two or more tissues in approximation, comprising:
- a biocompatible material formed into a corkscrew shape such that it can be twisted into said tissues to be held,
- such that, when twisted into said tissues to be held, said tissues are held in approximation between the coils of said corkscrew-shaped material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.