Systems and methods for promoting tissue growth
AssigneeChildren's Medical Center Corporation
InventorAnthony Atala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the treatment of volume deficiency disorders of body structures and related syndromes, and more particularly to devices that deliver fluid at a controlled pressure into an interstice of a patient to effect tissue expansion and to surgical procedures for augmenting volumetrically deficient structures or for reconstructing damaged natural body tissue by attachment of tissue segments cultivated by dilation. Methods of delivering fluid at a controlled pressure into an interstice are also disclosed.
Claims26
Apparatus for delivering fluid under pressure to an interstitial cavity to promote tissue expansion, the apparatus comprising
- an intracorporeal catheter for conveying a source of fluid under pressure to the interstitial cavity,
- an attachment element having a tissue engaging surface for coupling the interstitial cavity into fluid communication with a distal end of said catheter to form a pressure resistant seal,
- an injection port also in fluid communication with said catheter for introduction of a fluid under pressure to a proximal end of said catheter,
- a valve element adapted to restrict leakage of said pressurized fluid from said injection port following introduction of said fluid into the interstitial cavity, and
- a pressure release valve for reducing fluid pressure within the interstitial cavity by releasing fluid if said pressure exceeds a predefined level, the release value further comprising a release port element arranged in fluid communication with said catheter and a release plug that fluidicly seals said release port and is adapted for disengaging from said release port in response a pressure greater than a user-selected fluid pressure limit.
Apparatus for delivering fluid under pressure to an interstitial cavity to promote tissue expansion, the apparatus comprising
- an intracorporeal catheter for conveying a source of fluid under pressure to the interstitial cavity,
- an attachment element having a tissue engaging surface for coupling the interstitial cavity into fluid communication with a distal end of said catheter to form a pressure resistant seal, said attachment element further comprising a fibrin glue to couple the tissue engaging surface to said interstitial cavity;
- an injection port also in fluid communication with said catheter for introduction of a fluid under pressure to a proximal end of said catheter, and
- a valve element adapted to restrict leakage of said pressurized fluid from said injection port following introduction of said fluid into the interstitial cavity.
Method of treating interstitial cavity volume deficiency disorder by augmenting a volumetrically deficient body structure, comprising the steps of
- providing a tissue dilation system having a source of fluid under a select pressure, a catheter element for carrying said fluid under pressure to an interstitial cavity, a valve element for restricting back flow of said fluid and an attachment element for forming a pressure resistant seal that couples said catheter element and an interstitial cavity into fluid communication,
- preparing a portion of an interstitial cavity to receive a fluid under pressure,
- coupling said tissue dilation system to the prepared portion of interstitial cavity and introducing fluid into the prepared portion to dilate a tissue wall of the interstitial cavity and thereby promote tissue expansion,
- excising a portion of the dilated tissue wall, and
- attaching the excised portion of tissue wall to the volumetrically deficient body structure such that the volume capacity of the structure is increased.
Apparatus for delivering fluid under pressure to an interstitial cavity to promote tissue expansion, the apparatus comprising
- an intracorporeal catheter for conveying a source of fluid under pressure to the interstitial cavity,
- an attachment element having a tissue engaging surface for coupling the interstitial cavity into fluid communication with a distal end of said catheter, wherein said attachment element is a collar element movably disposed on said catheter for slidingly engaging said catheter to the tissue surrounding the interstitial cavity,
- an injection port also in fluid communication with said catheter for introduction of a fluid under pressure to a proximal end of said catheter, and
- a valve element adapted to restrict leakage of said pressurized fluid from said injection port following introduction of said fluid into the interstitial cavity.
Apparatus for introducing fluid into an interstitial cavity, comprising
- a pump element for providing fluid at a select pressure,
- a catheter for fluidicly coupling said pump element with said interstitial cavity, and having an injection port that receives pressurized fluid from said pump element and a valve element that restricts fluid backflow, and
- an attachment element having a tissue engaging surface for sealing said interstitial cavity to said catheter, said an attachment element having a collar element movably disposed on said catheter for slidingly engaging said catheter to the tissue surrounding the interstitial cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.