System for providing fluid flow to nerve tissues

A system for providing reduced pressure to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the system comprising:

• a pressure source for supplying the reduced pressure;
• a nerve conduit having a generally tubular shape having walls including an exterior wall and a luminal wall surrounding the tissue site to contain fluids within a luminal space between the tissue site and the luminal wall;
• a manifold having a generally cylindrical body having surfaces including a side wall surface and two end wall surfaces, a first end wall surface of the two end wall surfaces in fluid communication with the pressure source, a fluid contact surface including a first portion of the surfaces of the cylindrical body other than the first end wall surface for fluid communication with the luminal space, and a support surface including a second portion of the surface of the cylindrical body other than the first end wall surface and the fluid contact surface;
• and
• a first support structure having a generally tubular shape for enclosing the support surface, a first end portion for coupling the first end wall surface to the reduced-pressure source, and a second end portion for coupling the manifold to the nerve conduit in a generally radial direction with respect to the luminal wall.

A method for providing reduced pressure to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the method comprising:

• implanting a nerve conduit having a generally tubular shape having walls including an exterior wall and a luminal wall;
• sealing the nerve conduit around the tissue site to contain fluids within the luminal space between the tissue site and the luminal wall;
• implanting a manifold and a support structure at the tissue site wherein the manifold has a generally cylindrical body having surfaces including a side wall surface and two end wall surfaces, a first end wall surface of the two end wall surfaces for receiving reduced pressure, a fluid contact surface including a first portion of the surfaces of the cylindrical body other than the first end wall surface for fluid communication with the luminal space, and a support surface including a second portion of the surface of the cylindrical body other than the first end wall surface and the fluid contact surface and wherein the support structure has a generally tubular shape for enclosing the support surface, a first end portion for coupling the first end wall surface to the reduced-pressure source, and a second end portion for coupling the manifold to the nerve conduit in a generally radial direction with respect to the luminal wall;
• and
• applying reduced pressure through the manifold to the tissue site.