Device and method for assisting in flexor tendon repair and rehabilitation
OwnerEduardo Gonzalez-Hernandezinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method used to protect at least one end of a severed flexor tendon from contacting the edge of a flexor tendon pulley. The device, in one embodiment, can include a body forming a complete perimeter around at least a portion of a cavity passing through the device. The body of the device includes a first portion that is adapted for insertion through the passage of a flexor tendon pulley, a second portion that adapted funnel the severed flexor tendon into the cavity, and a perforation that extends the length of the body that is adapted to be torn along the length thereof to afford removal of the device from around the previously-severed flexor tendon.
Claims26
A device for protecting at least one end of a severed flexor tendon from contacting an edge of a flexor tendon pulley, the device comprising:
- a body formed from a material suitable for implantation, said body having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a length therebetween, said body having a cavity defined by a first portion and a second portion, said first portion extending from said distal end to said second portion and being configured for insertion through a passage of the flexor tendon pulley, said second portion extending from said first portion to said proximal end and being at least in part arcuate and adapted for placement adjacent the edge of the flexor tendon pulley, at least a portion of said body configured to encircle at least a portion of the severed flexor tendon inserted therethrough, said body being perforated along the length thereof.
A device for protecting at least one end of a severed flexor tendon from contacting an edge of a flexor tendon pulley, the device comprising:
- a cavity extending through the device, said cavity adapted to receive the severed flexor tendon therethrough;
- a body forming a complete perimeter around at least a portion of said cavity, said body having a first portion, a second portion, and a mid-longitudinal axis extending through said first portion and said second portion, said first portion having a cross-section transverse to the mid-longitudinal axis, said second portion having a cross-section transverse to the mid-longitudinal axis, said first portion adapted to be inserted into the flexor tendon pulley, and said second portion adapted to funnel the severed flexor tendon into the cavity, said cross-section of said second portion being greater than said cross-section of said first portion;
- and
- a perforation formed through said body, said perforation having a length extending along said first and second portions, said perforation adapted to be torn along the length thereof, wherein, when said perforation is torn, said complete perimeter of said body is eliminated to afford removal of the device from around a previously-severed flexor tendon.
A method for reattaching severed ends of a flexor tendon, the method comprising:
- providing a device having a cavity, a body forming a complete perimeter around at least a portion of the cavity, and a perforation formed through the body, the perforation having a length extending along the body;
- inserting at least a portion of the device through a flexor tendon pulley;
- inserting one of the severed ends of the flexor tendon through the cavity;
- reattaching the severed ends of the flexor tendon;
- tearing the perforation along the length thereof to eliminate the complete perimeter around the at least a portion of the cavity;
- and
- removing the device from around the reattached flexor tendon.
An implant for implantation into a human hand for protecting at least one end of a severed flexor tendon from contacting an edge of a flexor tendon pulley, the implant comprising:
- a lip portion formed from a material suitable for implantation into the human hand, said lip portion being at least in part arcuate and adapted for placement in contact with the edge of the flexor tendon pulley, said lip portion having a channel defined by a first portion, a second portion, and a connecting portion extending between said first portion and said second portion, said channel configured to receive the edge of the flexor tendon pulley, wherein, when the edge is received in said channel, said first portion contacts the interior of the flexor tendon pulley and said second portion contacts the exterior of the flexor tendon pulley;
- and
- at least one leg extending outwardly from one of said first portion and said second portion, said at least one leg portion aligned with said first portion and adapted to contact the interior of said flexor tendon pulley when extending outwardly from said first portion, and aligned with said second portion and adapted to contact the exterior of said flexor tendon pulley when extending outwardly from said second section portion.
An implant for implantation into a human hand for protecting at least one end of a severed flexor tendon from contacting an edge of a flexor tendon pulley, the implant comprising:
- a lip portion formed from a material suitable for implantation into the human hand and adapted for placement in contact with the edge of the flexor tendon pulley, said lip portion having an at least in part arcuate shape and a cross section transverse to the at least in part arcuate shape, said lip portion having a channel with an at least in part U-shape along the cross section of said lip portion, said channel defined by a first portion, a second portion, and a connecting portion extending between said first portion and said second portion, said first portion and said second portion having lengths no greater than 3 mm along the cross section of said lip portion, said channel configured to receive the edge of the flexor tendon pulley, wherein, when the edge is received in said channel, said first portion contacts the interior of the flexor tendon pulley and said second portion contacts the exterior of the flexor tendon pulley.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.