Connective tissue stabilizer and method of use

Claim 1

A soft tissue stabilizer for supporting cartilage in a surgical area comprising an elongated, substantially rigid rod means having first and second ends with a body portion therebetween said body portion having a generally rounded cross section with said first end having a flattened configuration, said stabilizer also being comprised of a biocompatible hypo-allergenic material having shape memory for maintaining the stability thereof when implanted in a body, said first end including suture receiving means for anchoring said rod means to the cartilage being supported and stabilized, wherein the cartilage has a discrete shape and flexibility, and said rod means being configured to generally conform to said shape and having the flexibility of the cartilage being supported and stabilized so as to support said cartilage in a selected position in axial alignment with said stabilizer and to resist forces tending to cause motion, whereby once the stabilizer is formed into a particular shape and implanted, the supported cartilage may be moved but will return to the selected position in generally axial alignment with the stabilizer.

Claim 9

A method for implanting a soft tissue stabilizer adjacent cartilaginous tissue that is to be maintained in a preselected position, said stabilizer being an elongated rod means for holding said cartilaginous tissue in said preselected position and having sufficient flexibility to generally conform to said tissue when the tissue has been placed in said preselected position and having suture receiving means formed at one end thereof for anchoring said stabilizer, comprising the steps of: a) creating an opening into a selected area containing the cartilaginous tissue to be stabilized; b) placing said stabilizer generally in axial alignment with the cartilaginous tissue to be stabilized and across a conformational defect in said tissue that is being modified; c) securing said stabilizer substantially adjacent to the cartilaginous tissue to be supported; d) placing securing means in said suture receiving means for anchoring said stabilizer and around at least a portion of said stabilizer for providing substantial stabilizer contact with said cartilaginous tissue and maintaining said stabilizer in axial alignment therewith; and e) closing said opening with said stabilizer in place.

Claim 10

A method for implanting a soft tissue stabilizer adjacent cartilaginous tissue that is to be maintained in a preselected position, said stabilizer being an elongated rod means for holding said cartilaginous tissue in said preselected position and having sufficient flexibility to generally conform to said tissue when the tissue has been placed in said preselected position and having suture receiving means formed at one end thereof for anchoring said stabilizer, comprising the steps of: a) creating an opening into a selected area containing the cartilaginous tissue to be stabilized; b) placing said stabilizer generally in axial alignment with the cartilaginous tissue to be stabilized and across a conformational defect in said tissue that is being modified; c) securing said stabilizer substantially adjacent to the cartilaginous tissue to be supported; d) placing securing means in said suture receiving means for anchoring said stabilizer and around at least a portion of said stabilizer for providing substantial stabilizer contact with said cartilaginous tissue and maintaining said stabilizer in axial alignment therewith; and e) closing said opening with said stabilizer in place.