Methods and apparatus for treating an injured nerve pathway
AssigneeNexeon MedSystems, Inc.
InventorMark C. Bates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for treating an injured or severed nerve pathway, wherein one or more microporous tubes are implanted into the nerve pathway to bridge the injured or severed region. A bioactive matrix including stem cells and nutrients is disposed within the microporous tube to facilitate growth of the stem cells and reestablishment of the sensory and motor conductive pathways through the injured or severed region. The microporous tube protects the bioactive matrix during development of the stem cells, and also retains the end regions in proper alignment during the nerve pathway regeneration.
Claims18
Apparatus for spanning an injured region of a nerve pathway, the apparatus comprising:
- an implantable scaffold having a length preselected span said injured region of said nerve pathway;
- and
- a bioactive matrix including stem cells capable of differentiating into nerve cells and a culture medium comprising trypsin, the bioactive matrix disposed within and filling the implantable scaffold to promote growth of the stem cells within the implantable scaffold after implantation, so that the stem cells re-establish an electrically conductive nerve pathway within the implantable scaffold that spans the injured region.
Apparatus for spanning an injured region of a nerve pathway, the apparatus comprising:
- an implantable scaffold having a length preselected to span said injured region of said nerve pathway;
- and
- a bioactive matrix including stem cells capable of differentiating into nerve cells and a culture medium comprising trypsin, the bioactive matrix disposed within and filling the implantable scaffold to promote growth of the stem cells within the implantable scaffold after implantation so that the stem cells re-establish an electrically conductive nerve pathway within the implantable scaffold that spans the injured region, the apparatus further comprising an insertion device, the insertion device comprising a needle having a shaft, a tissue-piercing tip and a sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.