Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A replacement device for fibrous connective tissue, the device having a generally tubular form and comprising: a. a series of nonabsorbable lateral fibers arranged in parallel and spaced apart by a distance adequate to allow cellular ingrowth; b. a series of nonabsorbable longitudinal threads arranged in parallel and woven through the lateral fibers such that longitudinal force applied along various ones of the threads is partially transmitted, via the fibers, to adjacent threads, the adjacent longitudinal threads being spaced apart by a distance exceeding the distance between the adjacent lateral fibers and projecting beyond the lateral fibers for attachment to an anatomical structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A replacement device for fibrous connective tissue, the device having a generally tubular form and comprising: a. a series of nonabsorbable lateral fibers arranged in parallel and spaced apart by a distance adequate to allow cellular ingrowth; b. a series of nonabsorbable longitudinal threads arranged in parallel and woven through the lateral fibers such that longitudinal force applied along various ones of the threads is partially transmitted, via the fibers, to adjacent threads, the adjacent longitudinal threads being spaced apart by a distance exceeding the distance between the adjacent lateral fibers and projecting beyond the lateral fibers for attachment to an anatomical structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the lateral fibers are spaced at least 300 μm apart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the fibers form a bounded sheet and the threads extend beyond opposed edges of the sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the lateral fibers are interwoven with longitudinal threads that are identical to the lateral fibers to form a mesh in which the spacing between lateral fibers is at least 300 μm, and the longitudinal threads are interwoven into the mesh with a spacing between threads that exceeds the spacing between lateral fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein adjacent longitudinal threads are woven through the lateral fibers in an alternating pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 3 further comprising a second, bioabsorbable sheet at least as large as the fiber sheet and disposed on a side thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the threads are interwoven through the fibers and through the absorbable sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the device is rolled into a tubular form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the tubular device forms a channel between the fibers and the absorbable sheet capable of receiving fibroblasts and vascular tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the sheet and the threads are fabricated from a synthetic polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the threads are braided polyester fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the mesh is coated with a thin layer of bioabsorbable polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the bioabsorbable polymer comprises at least one material from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polydioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein either the fibers or the threads are fabricated from precipitated collagen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein both the fibers and the threads are fabricated from precipitated collagen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the sheet is fabricated from at least one material from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polydioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the mesh has a length and a width, the threads being interwoven along the length of the mesh and the ratio of length to width being in excess of 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 6 further comprising a coating of a natural tissue factor on at least one element selected from the group consisting of the fiber sheet, the bioabsorbable sheet and the threads.