Nanofiber nerve caps to inhibit neuroma formation
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsHai-Quan MAO, Sami TUFFAHA, Ahmet HOKE, Anson Y. ZHOU, Bruce Peter ENZMANN, Michael James LAN, Erica LEE, Ruifa MI, Russell MARTIN
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Abstract
Nanofiber nerve caps, methods of their preparation, and methods of their use for inhibiting neuroma formation associated with peripheral nerve injury are disclosed.
Claims38
A nerve cap for inhibiting neuroma formation and/or growth at a site of nerve injury, wherein the nerve cap has a tubular body having an open aperture proximate a severed end of the nerve and a cap distal the severed end of the nerve, wherein the tubular body has a shape defined by an outer wall, wherein an inner surface of the outer wall further defines a lumen, wherein the tubular body is configured to cover the severed end of the nerve at the site of injury.
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A method for preparing a nerve cap having a predetermined shape, the method comprising:
- (a) preparing or providing an outer nanofiber scaffold;
- (b) deposing a portion of the outer nanofiber scaffold over a mold having a predetermined shape and having a tip of a predetermined shape;
- (c) heating the outer nanofiber scaffold at a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt fibers of the outer nanofiber scaffold while the scaffold is deposed on the mold;
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- (d) allowing the heated outer nanofiber scaffold to solidify to form the nerve cap.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.