System for providing fluid flow to nerve tissues
AssigneeKCI Licensing, Inc.
InventorsLarry D. Swain, Michael E. Manwaring, Douglas A. Cornet, Braden K. Leung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is an apparatus that includes a nerve conduit and a nested manifold for providing a reduced pressure. Also provided is a system that includes a source of reduced pressure, a nerve conduit and nested manifold, and a conduit for providing fluid communication between the manifold and the source of reduced pressure. Additionally provided is a method that includes implanting the above nerve conduit and manifold at a site of damaged nerve tissue and applying a reduced pressure to the manifold thereby stimulating repair or regrowth of nerve tissue.
Claims51
An apparatus for providing reduced pressure to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the apparatus comprising:
- a nerve conduit having a luminal wall for surrounding the tissue site and forming a luminal space between the tissue site and the luminal wall;
- a manifold having a connector for receiving reduced pressure to distribute the reduced pressure to the defect;
- and
- a scaffold formed from a bioabsorbable material, the scaffold having:
- pores that are sufficiently small to bind cells and proteins,
- a generally tubular frustum shape extending between a base opening at one end and a vertex opening at the other end,
- at least one fiber guide extending through the luminal space and the vertex opening of the scaffold that is adapted to be in fluid communication with the tissue site of the nerve, and
- the scaffold being positioned within the luminal space with the vertex opening oriented closer to the manifold.
An apparatus for providing reduced pressure to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the apparatus comprising:
- a nerve conduit having a generally tubular shape and having a luminal wall for surrounding the tissue site to contain fluids within a luminal space between the tissue site and the luminal wall;
- a manifold having a connector for receiving reduced pressure to distribute the reduced pressure to the defect;
- and
- a scaffold formed from a bioabsorbable material and comprising:
- at least one scaffold guide having pores that are sufficiently small to collect cells and a generally frusto-tubular shape with a base opening at one end and a vertex opening at the other end, the at least one scaffold guide is positioned within the luminal space in fluid communication with the manifold and oriented therein with the vertex opening positioned closer to the manifold than the base opening,
- at least one fiber guide extending generally longitudinally through the luminal space and the vertex opening of the at least one scaffold guide and is adapted to be in fluid communication with the tissue site of the nerve;
- whereby the at least one scaffold guide facilitates tissue growth at the tissue site by organizing matrix deposition, promoting cell binding, or guiding the migration of cells through the luminal space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.