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US 6,946,003 B1Granted
Implants for connective tissue reconstruction
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsSorrel Wolowacz, Nicholas John Cotton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Biocompatible, implantable material comprising flexible, elongate tape and a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element being aligned along and independently translatable in the longitudinal direction of the tape; implants manufactured from this material, for the partial or total replacement or reinforcement of connective tissue such as ligament, cartilage, bone, meniscus tendon, skin.
Claims40
Biocompatible, implantable material suitable for use in the partial or total replacement or reinforcement of connective tissue, the implantable material comprising:
- a flexible, elongate tape, said tape being generally planar, having a longitudinal direction, and including
- (a) a series of parallel warp strands extending longitudinally, and
- (b) a series of parallel weft strands which cross the warp strands and which have first interconnections with the warp strands to locate the weft strands in place spaced relative to one another;
- a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element
- (a) having a property which mimics the connective tissue being replaced or reinforced, the property of the elongate elements being different from a corresponding property of the warp strands, and
- (b) being aligned between respective adjacent parallel warp strands;
- and
- second interconnections between said weft strands and each of said plurality of elongate elements, said second interconnections holding each elongate element to the tape so as to be
- (a) in an orientation parallel to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the tape,
- (b) separated from one another in the plane of the tape, and
- (c) independently translatable in the longitudinal direction relative to one another and to the tape.
8 more elements
A method of supporting tissue growth at a selected site in a body, comprising:
- providing a biocompatible, implantable material comprising
- a flexible, elongate tape which is generally planar, which has a longitudinal direction, and which includes
- (a) a series of parallel warn strands extending longitudinally, and
- (b) a series of parallel weft strands which cross the warp strands and which have first interconnections with the warp strands to locate the weft strands in place spaced relative to one another;
- a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element
- (a) having a property which mimics the tissue being grown, the property of the elongate elements being different from a corresponding property of the warp strands, and
- (b) being aligned between respective adjacent parallel warp strands;
- and
- second interconnections between the weft strands and each of the plurality of elongate elements, the second interconnections holding each elongate element to the tape so as to be
- (a) in an orientation parallel to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the tape,
- (b) separated from one another in the plane of the tape, and
- (c) independently translatable in the longitudinal direction relative to one another and to the tape;
- and
- implanting the implantable material at the selected site.
11 more elements
A method of supporting growth of a knee ligament, comprising:
- providing a biocompatible, implantable material comprising
- a flexible, elongate tape which is generally planar, which has a longitudinal direction, and which includes
- (a) a series of parallel warp strands extending longitudinally, and
- (b) a series of parallel weft strands which cross the warn strands and which have first interconnections with the warp strands to locate the weft strands in place spaced relative to one another:
- a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element
- (a) having a property which mimics the ligament being grown, the property of the elongate elements being different from a corresponding property of the warp strands, and
- (b) being aligned between respective adjacent parallel warp strands;
- and
- second interconnections between the weft strands and each of the plurality of elongate elements, the second interconnections holding each elongate element to the tape so as to be
- (a) in an orientation parallel to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the tape
- (b) separated from one another in the plane of the tape, and
- (c) independently translatable in the longitudinal direction relative to one another and to the tape;
- attaching a first portion of the implantable material to a first support structure of the knee;
- and
- attaching a second portion of the implantable material to a second support structure of the knee.
12 more elements
A method of supporting growth of a rotator cuff, comprising:
- providing a biocompatible, implantable material comprising
- a flexible, elongate tape which is generally planar, which has a longitudinal direction, and which includes
- (a) a series of parallel warp strands extending longitudinally, and
- (b) a series of parallel weft strands which cross the warp strands and which have first interconnections with the warn strands to locate the weft strands in place spaced relative to one another;
- a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element
- (a) having a property which mimics the tissue being grown, the property of the elongate elements being different from a corresponding property of the warp strands, and
- (b) being aligned between respective adjacent parallel warp strands;
- and
- second interconnections between the weft strands and each of the plurality of elongate elements, the second interconnections holding each elongate element to the tape so as to be
- (a) in an orientation parallel to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the tape,
- (b) separated from one another in the plane of the tape, and
- (c) independently translatable in the longitudinal direction relative to one another and to the tape;
- and
- attaching a first portion of the implantable material to a first support structure of the shoulder;
- and
- attaching a second portion of the implantable material to a second support structure of the shoulder.
13 more elements
A method of supporting growth of an Achilles tendon, comprising:
- providing a biocompatible, implantable material comprising
- a flexible, elongate tape which is generally planar, which has a longitudinal direction, and which includes
- (a) a series of parallel warp strands extending longitudinally, and
- (b) a series of parallel weft strands which cross the warp strands and which have first interconnections with the warp strands to locate the weft strands in place spaced relative to one another;
- a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element
- (a) having a property which mimics the tissue being grown, the property of the elongate elements being different from a corresponding property of the warp strands, and
- (b) being aligned between respective adjacent parallel warn strands;
- and
- second interconnections between the weft strands and each of the plurality of elongate elements, the second interconnections holding each elongate element to the tape so as to be
- (a) in an orientation parallel to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the tape,
- (b) separated from one another in the plane of the tape, and
- (c) independently translatable in the longitudinal direction relative to one another and to the tape;
- and
- attaching a first portion of the implantable material to a first support structure of an ankle;
- and
- attaching a second portion of the implantable material to a second support structure of the ankle.
13 more elements
A method of treating a tissue harvest site, comprising:
- providing a biocompatible, implantable material comprising
- a flexible, elongate tape which is generally planar, which has a longitudinal direction, and which includes
- (a) a series of parallel warn strands extending longitudinally, and
- (b) a series of parallel weft strands which cross the warp strands and which have first interconnections with the warp strands to locate the weft strands in place spaced relative to one another;
- a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element
- (a) having a property which mimics the tissue being treated, the property of the elongate elements being different from a corresponding property of the warp strands, and
- (b) being aligned between respective adjacent parallel warp strands;
- and
- second interconnections between the weft strands and each of the plurality of elongate elements, the second interconnections holding each elongate element to the tape so as to be
- (a) in an orientation parallel to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the tape,
- (b) separated from one another in the plane of the tape, and
- (c) independently translatable in the longitudinal direction relative to one another and to the tape;
- and
- implanting the implantable material at the harvest site.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.