Connective tissue repair pad

A kit for use in repairing connective tissue in an animal or human, the kit comprising:

• an implantable prosthetic device comprising a biocompatible pad having an open structure to provide a scaffold for the in-growth of tissue into the pad, and a reinforcement region attached to or formed integrally with the pad;
• and
• a suture for attaching the device to tissue;
• in which the device is attached to the tissue by forming a puncture:
• a) within the reinforcement region;
• or
• b) in an area of the pad which is inboard of the reinforcement region;
• so that the suture can be located through the puncture, the reinforcement region serving to support tensile loading in the device during use by resisting pull-through of the suture.

A method of repairing connective tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a biocompatible pad of an implantable prosthetic device relative to a first biological tissue site, the pad having an open structure to provide a scaffold for the in-growth of tissue into the pad and a reinforcement region attached to or formed integrally with the pad;
• forming a puncture:
• a) within the reinforcement region;
• or
• b) in an area of the pad which is inboard of the reinforcement region;
• attaching the device to the first tissue site using a suture which passes through the tissue and the puncture, so that the reinforcement region can support tensile loading in the device during use by resisting pull-through of the suture;
• and
• attaching the device to a second biological tissue site such that the device forms a bridge between the first and second tissue sites.

A method of repairing connective tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a biocompatible pad of an implantable prosthetic device relative to a first biological tissue site, the pad having an open structure to provide a scaffold for the in-growth of tissue into the pad and a cord attached to the pad, the cord having a bent or curved section which at least partially defines an eyelet;
• attaching the device to the first tissue site by passing a suture through the tissue and through the eyelet;
• and
• attaching the device to a second biological tissue site such that the device forms a bridge between the first and second tissue sites.