# US 8,771,353 B2 · Method and implant for replacing damaged meniscal tissue

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- Number: US 8,771,353 B2
- Document ID: US8771353B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/397,482
- Filed: 2012-02-15
- Published: 2012-09-13
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-08
- Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Applicants: Philippe Gedet; Beat Lechmann; Nicolas Bouduban
- Inventors: Philippe Gedet; Beat Lechmann; Nicolas Bouduban
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771353B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/3872: {Meniscus for implantation between the natural bone surfaces}
- A61F 2/30756: {Cartilage endoprostheses (A61F2/3603 takes precedence)}
- A61F 2002/30581: {having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid}
- A61F 2002/30586: {having two or more inflatable pockets or chambers}
- A61F 2002/3068: {the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir}
- A61F 2002/30733: {Inserts placed into an endoprosthetic cavity, e.g. for modifying a material property}
- A61F 2002/30761: {Support means for artificial cartilage, e.g. cartilage defect covering membranes}
- A61F 2002/30766: {Scaffolds for cartilage ingrowth and regeneration}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2002/3092: {having an open-celled or open-pored structure}
- A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
- A61F 2310/00365: Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
- A61L 2430/06: for cartilage reconstruction, e.g. meniscus
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for replacing damaged meniscal tissue includes a meniscus implant including a porous body having a plurality of interconnected open micro-pores and one or more open cavities for receiving meniscal tissue. The interconnected micro-pores are arranged to allow fluid to flow into the porous body and are in fluid communication with the one or more open cavities.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A meniscus implant for replacing damaged meniscal tissue, comprising:
a substantially C-shaped porous body comprising an outer convex peripheral surface, an inner concave peripheral surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a cross-sectional area in a plane orthogonal to the lower surface which tapers from the outer convex peripheral surface to the inner concave peripheral surface, the porous body having a plurality of interconnected open micro-pores arranged to allow fluid to flow into the porous body and a plurality of open cavities equally spaced along the porous body for receiving meniscal tissue,
wherein each of the plurality of open cavities penetrates through the porous body from the upper surface to the lower surface, wherein each of the plurality of open cavities having a diameter between about 1.5 mm and about 5.5 mm,
wherein the interconnected micro-pores are open at the outer convex peripheral surface, the inner concave peripheral surface, the upper surface, and the lower surface, the micro-pores having a diameter between about 120 μm and about 370 μm,
wherein the interconnected micro-pores are in fluid communication with the plurality of open cavities,
wherein the porous body further comprises one or more transverse passages penetrating through the porous body and through the cavities from the outer convex peripheral surface to the inner concave peripheral surface.

### Claim 2

The meniscus implant 1, wherein the cavities are cylindrical or prismatical and have a longitudinal axis each that extends essentially orthogonally to the lower surface of the porous body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The meniscus implant of claim 1, wherein the porous body is made of a material with an elastic modulus in tension Eci of minimum of about 10 MPa measured in a circumferential direction, an elastic modulus in tension Er of minimum about 1 MPa measured in a radial direction, and an elastic modulus in compression Eco of minimum of about 0.1 MPa.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The meniscus implant of claim 3, wherein the porous body is made of a synthetic material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The meniscus implant of claim 1, wherein the interconnected micro-pores of the porous body are filled with a hydrogel-like substance containing cells.