US4870966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bioabsorbable surgical device for treating nerve defects
Assignee: Wyeth Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1988-02-01
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Granted: 1989-10-03
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Expires: 2008-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A bioabsorbable tube device for the repair of nerve defects or gaps comprising a flexible, porous, knitted or woven mesh tube. The tube device is crimped along its exterior to provide a tube which can be bent without pinching or crimping the internal circumference of the tube. The internal tube surface is relatively smooth to provide an optimum environment for longitudinal nerve axon growth within the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold L. Dellon
- 👤 Susan E. Mackinnon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B17/1128; A61B2017/00004; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A medical device adaptable for use in the treatment of a nerve gap or defect comprising a flexible, porous tube of a bioabsorbable polymer material, said tube having a plurality of corrugations on its exterior surface positioned so as to allow said tube to be bent without crimping the internal surface of said tube and having a plurality of flats provided on its interior surface to provide a relatively smooth interior surface and having a substantially constant internal diameter to promote longitudinal axon growth within the tube device and across the nerve gap, and being capable of enclosing and protecting the ends of a severed or lacerated nerve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A medical device adaptable for use in the treatment of a nerve gap or defect comprising a flexible, porous tube of a bioabsorbable polymer material, said tube having a plurality of corrugations on its exterior surface positioned so as to allow said tube to be bent without crimping the internal surface of said tube and having a plurality of flats provided on its interior surface to provide a relatively smooth interior surface and having a substantially constant internal diameter to promote longitudinal axon growth within the tube device and across the nerve gap, and being capable of enclosing and protecting the ends of a severed or lacerated nerve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device according to claim 1 adaptable for use when the nerve gap or defect is from about 2 millimeters to about 6 centimeters in length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said device is adaptable for use when the nerve gap is from about 2 millimeters to about 2 centimeters in length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said device is adaptable for use when the nerve gap is at least 2 centimeters in length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device according to claim 2 adaptable for receiving severed nerve ends wherein a plurality of bioabsorbable microsutures projecting through the tube wall and into the epineural layer of the nerve ends are utilized to affix the nerve ends within a tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein the tube is knitted or woven from a plurality of bioabsorbable polymer fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device according to claim 6 wherein the tube is knitted from a plurality of yarns on a weft knitting machine using a single feed jersey stitch type construction, the bioabsorbable polymer fibers being formed by combining three plies of 50 denier yarn and one ply of 25 denier yarn, all plied at 2.3 turns per inch twist.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device according to claim 6 wherein the tube is woven from a plurality of yarns, the warp yarn being 3 ply 46 denier/21 filament biabsorbable polymer yarn having 5 turns per inch twist, the weft (filling) yarn being 3 ply 46 denier/21 filament biabsorbable polymer yarn having 1.5 turns per inch twist.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device according to claim 6 wherein said polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polydioxanone, polylactide-co-glycolide, poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate), polyestermides, and copolymers and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 9 wherein said polymer fibers are polyglycolic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 9 wherein said polymer fibers are poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
A medical device adaptable for use in the treatment of a nerve gap or defect comprising a flexible, porous tube manufactured from a bioabsorbable polymer fiber which is knitted or woven into tube shape, said knitted or woven mesh tube having a plurality of corrugations on its exterior surface such that said tube may be bent without crimping the internal surface of said tube and having a plurality of flats provided on its interior surface to provide a relatively smooth interior surface and having a substantially constant internal diameter to promote longitudinal axon growth within the tube device and across the nerve gap, and being capable of enclosing and protecting the ends of a severed or lacerated nerve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
A medical device adaptable for use in the treatment of a nerve gap or defect comprising a flexible, porous tube manufactured from a bioabsorbable polymer fiber which is knitted or woven into tube shape, said knitted or woven mesh tube having a plurality of corrugations on its exterior surface such that said tube may be bent without crimping the internal surface of said tube and having a plurality of flats provided on its interior surface to provide a relatively smooth interior surface and having a substantially constant internal diameter to promote longitudinal axon growth within the tube device and across the nerve gap, and being capable of enclosing and protecting the ends of a severed or lacerated nerve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device according to claim 12 adaptable for receiving severed nerve ends wherein a plurality of bioabsorbable microsutures projecting through the tube wall and into the epineural layer of the nerve ends affix the nerve ends within the tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device according to claim 12 wherein the tube is knitted from a plurality of yarns on a weft knitting machine using a single feed jersey stitch type construction, the bioabsorbable polymer fibers being formed by combining three plies of 50 denier yarn and one ply of 25 denier yarn, all plied at 2.3 turns per inch twist.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device according to claim 12 wherein the tube is woven from a plurality of yarns, the warp yarn being 3 ply 46 denier/21 filament bioabsorbable polymer yarn having 5 turns per inch twist, the weft (filling) yarn being 3 ply 46 denier/21 filament biabsorbable polymer yarn having 1.5 turns per inch twist.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device according to claim 12 wherein said polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polyactic acid, polydioxanone, poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) poly (glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate), polyestermides, and copolymers and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device according to claim 16 wherein said polymer fibers are polyglycolic acid, and said device is adaptable for use when the nerve gap or defect is from about 1 cm to 3 cm in length.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device according to claim 16 wherein said polymer fibers are poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate), and said device is adaptable for use when the nerve gap is from 1 cm to 6 cm in length.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-02 | 1993-04-03 | 1993-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-02 | 1997-04-03 | 1997-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-02 | 2001-04-03 | 2001-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |