Back to results
US 9,955,973 B2Granted
Nerve coaptation apparatus
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsJonathan M. Winograd, Cameron P. Keating, Mark Omobono
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for coaptation of first and second severed nerve segments. The apparatus includes a plurality of nerve-engaging features or coupling members that each connect to another coupling member to form coupling pairs. The coupling pairs are advantageously movable relative to each other to permit nerve swelling, inhibit nerve compression, and facilitate delivery of pharmaceutical agents.
Claims13
An apparatus for coaptation of a first nerve segment separated from a second nerve segment, comprising:
- a first coaptation member configured to extend about the first nerve segment and engage the first nerve segment, the first coaptation member including (i) a first connection element configured to be disposed apart from the first nerve segment (ii) an inlet passageway configured to deliver a pharmaceutical agent to the first nerve segment and the second nerve segment, and (iii) an outlet passageway configured to evacuate the pharmaceutical agent;
- and
- a second coaptation member configured to connect to the first coaptation member and configured to extend about the second nerve segment, the second coaptation member including (i) a first coupling member and a second coupling member each configured to engage the second nerve segment to inhibit the second nerve segment from moving away from the first nerve segment in a longitudinal direction, and (ii) a second connection element configured to be disposed apart from the second nerve segment and engaging the first connection element to connect the second coaptation member to the first coaptation member, the first coupling member and the second coupling member being movable relative to each other in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to inhibit nerve compression, and
- wherein (i) the first and second connection elements inhibit movement of the first and second coaptation members and first and second never segments apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, (ii) the first coupling member includes a first epineurium pin extending substantially in the longitudinal direction and configured to pierce the epineurium of the second nerve segment, and the second coupling member includes a second epineurium pin extending substantially in the longitudinal direction and configured to pierce the epineurium of the second nerve segment, and (iii) the first coaptation member detachably supports the first epineurium pin, and the second coaptation member detachably supports the second epineurium pin.
1 more element
An apparatus for coaptation of a first nerve segment separated from a second nerve segment, comprising:
- a first coaptation member configured to extend about the first nerve segment and including (i) a first coupling member configured to engage the first nerve segment, the first coupling member including a first epineurium pin configured to pierce the epineurium of the first nerve segment and (ii) a first connection element configured to be disposed apart from the first nerve segment;
- and
- a second coaptation member configured to extend about the second nerve segment and including (i) a second coupling member configured to engage the second nerve segment, the second coupling member including a second epineurium pin configured to pierce the epineurium of the second nerve segment, and connected to the first coupling member to inhibit the first and second coaptation members from moving apart in a longitudinal direction and to inhibit the first and second nerve segments from moving apart in the longitudinal direction, and (ii) a second connection element configured to be disposed apart from the second nerve segment, the second connection element engaging the first connection element to connect the first coaptation member to the second coaptation member;
- wherein (i) the first coupling member and the second coupling member are movable in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to inhibit nerve compression, and (ii) the first coaptation member detachably supports the first epineurium pin and the second coaptation member detachably supports the second epineurium pin.
1 more element
An apparatus for coaptation of a first nerve segment separated from a second nerve segment, comprising:
- a first coupling pair including a first coupling member configured to connect to the first nerve segment and a second coupling member configured to connected to the second nerve segment, and the first coupling member connecting to the second coupling member to engage the first nerve segment with the second nerve segment;
- a second coupling pair including a third coupling member configured to connect to the first nerve segment and a fourth coupling member configured to connected to the second nerve segment, and the third coupling member connecting to the fourth coupling member to engage the first nerve segment with the second nerve segment;
- a first cylinder-shaped deployment member releasably supporting the first coupling member and the third coupling member and configured to surround the first nerve segment, the first cylinder-shaped deployment member including (i) an inlet passageway configured to deliver a pharmaceutical agent to the first nerve segment and the second nerve segment, and (ii) an outlet passageway configured to evacuate the pharmaceutical agent;
- and
- a second cylinder-shaped deployment member releasably supporting the second coupling member and the fourth coupling member and configured to surround the second nerve segment,
- wherein the first coupling pair is movable relative to the second coupling pair to inhibit compression of the first nerve segment and the second nerve segment.
3 more elements
An apparatus for coaptation of a first nerve segment separated from a second nerve segment, comprising:
- a first coaptation member configured to extend about the first nerve segment and engage the first nerve segment, the first coaptation member including a first connection element configured to be disposed apart from the first nerve segment;
- and
- a second coaptation member configured to connect to the first coaptation member and configured to extend about the second nerve segment, the second coaptation member including
- (i) a first coupling member and a second coupling member each configured to engage the second nerve segment to inhibit the second nerve segment from moving away from the first nerve segment in a longitudinal direction, and the first coupling member and the second coupling member being movable relative to each other in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to inhibit nerve compression, the first coupling member including a first epineurium pin extending substantially in the longitudinal direction and configured to pierce the epineurium of the second nerve segment, the second coupling member including a second epineurium pin extending substantially in the longitudinal direction and configured to pierce the epineurium of the second nerve segment, and
- (ii) a second connection element configured to be disposed apart from the second nerve segment and engaging the first connection element to connect the second coaptation member to the first coaptation member, the first and second connection elements inhibiting movement of the first and second coaptation members and first and second nerve segments apart from each other in the longitudinal direction,
- wherein the first coaptation member detachably supports the first epineurium pin, and the second coaptation member detachably supports the second epineurium pin.
3 more elements
An apparatus for coaptation of a first nerve segment separated from a second nerve segment, comprising:
- a first coaptation member configured to extend about the first nerve segment and including a first coupling member configured to engage the first nerve segment, the first coupling member including first epineurium pin configured to pierce the epnieuirum of the first nerve segment;
- and
- a second coaptation member configured to extend about the second nerve segment and including a second coupling member configured to engage the second nerve segment and connected to the first coupling member to inhibit the first and second coaptation members from moving apart in a longitudinal direction and to inhibit the first and second nerve segments from moving apart in the longitudinal direction, the second coupling member including a second epineurium pin configured to pierce the epineurium of the second nerve agent,
- wherein (i) the first coupling member and the second coupling member are movable in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to inhibit nerve compression and (ii) the first coaptation member detachably supports the first epineurium pin, and the second coaptation member detachably supports the second epineurium pin.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.