Resorbable tendon and bone augmentation device

Claim 1

A method of connecting a first and second tissue in a living body, the first tissue having an outer surface and a distal cut end, the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing a substantially flat membrane having a rounded outer shape, a tendon/bone facing surface, and two pairs of perforations; the membrane containing resorbable or degradable polymeric material having a Young's modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa on the outer surface of the first tissue with the tendon/bone facing surface contacting the outer surface of the first tissue, the membrane being placed wholly on the first tissue; (2) pulling a suture, which enters the first tissue through the distal cut end, through the first tissue in a longitudinal direction; (3) pulling the suture through the outer surface of the first tissue at an area opposite that where the flat membrane is placed; (4) inserting the suture into the first tissue below a perforation in the flat membrane and pulling the suture through the first tissue and the perforation in the membrane; (5) inserting the suture into the paired perforation in the membrane and pulling the suture through paired perforation in the membrane and the first tissue; (6) repeating steps (4) and (5) for remaining paired perforations; (7) inserting the suture into the first tissue and pulling the suture through the first tissue in the longitudinal direction toward the distal cut end; (8) attaching the ends of the suture to the second tissue.

Claim 2

A method of connecting a first and second tissue in a living body, the first tissue having an outer surface and a distal cut end, the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing a substantially flat membrane having a rounded outer shape, a tendon/bone facing surface, and two pairs of perforations; the membrane containing resorbable or degradable polymeric material having a Young's modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa on the outer surface of the first tissue with the tendon/bone facing surface contacting the outer surface of the first tissue, the membrane being placed wholly on the first tissue; (2) pulling a suture, which enters the first tissue through the distal cut end, through the first tissue in a longitudinal direction; (3) pulling the suture through the outer surface of the first tissue at an area opposite that where the flat membrane is placed; (4) inserting the suture into the first tissue below a perforation in the flat membrane and pulling the suture through the first tissue and the perforation in the membrane; (5) inserting the suture into the paired perforation in the membrane and pulling the suture through paired perforation in the membrane and the first tissue; (6) repeating steps (4) and (5) for remaining paired perforations; (7) inserting the suture into the first tissue and pulling the suture through the first tissue in the longitudinal direction toward the distal cut end; (8) attaching the ends of the suture to the second tissue.

Claim 3

A method of connecting a first and second tissue in a living body, the first tissue having an outer surface and a distal cut end, the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing a first substantially flat membrane having a circular outer shape, a tendon/bone facing surface, two perforations and two corresponding cuts; the membrane containing resorbable or degradable polymeric material having a Young's modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa on the outer surface of the first tissue with the tendon/bone facing surface contacting the first tissue, the membrane being placed wholly on the first tissue; (2) inserting a suture into the distal cut end of the first tissue and pulling the suture longitudinally through the first tissue toward the first circular membrane; (3) pulling the suture through the outer surface and one of the perforations in the circular membrane; (4) inserting the suture into the outer surface proximate to the membrane cut corresponding to the membrane perforation and pulling the suture through the first tissue causing the suture to pierce the outer surface of the first tissue, opposite the circular membrane. (5) pulling the suture into the first tissue below the remaining cut and causing the suture to exit the first tissue proximate to the remaining cut in the membrane; (6) inserting the suture into the remaining perforation in the membrane and pulling the suture back into the first tissue; (7) pulling the suture longitudinally through the first tissue to its distal cut end; (8) repeating steps (1) through (7) for a second membrane; (9) attaching the ends of the sutures to the second tissue.

Claim 4

A method of connecting a first and second tissue in a living body, the first tissue having an outer surface and a distal cut end, the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing a first substantially flat membrane having a circular outer shape, a tendon/bone facing surface, two perforations and two corresponding cuts; the membrane containing resorbable or degradable polymeric material having a Young's modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa on the outer surface of the first tissue with the tendon/bone facing surface contacting the first tissue, the membrane being placed wholly on the first tissue; (2) inserting a suture into the distal cut end of the first tissue and pulling the suture longitudinally through the first tissue toward the first circular membrane; (3) pulling the suture through the outer surface and one of the perforations in the circular membrane; (4) inserting the suture into the outer surface proximate to the membrane cut corresponding to the membrane perforation and pulling the suture through the first tissue causing the suture to pierce the outer surface of the first tissue, opposite the circular membrane. (5) pulling the suture into the first tissue below the remaining cut and causing the suture to exit the first tissue proximate to the remaining cut in the membrane; (6) inserting the suture into the remaining perforation in the membrane and pulling the suture back into the first tissue; (7) pulling the suture longitudinally through the first tissue to its distal cut end; (8) repeating steps (1) through (7) for a second membrane; (9) attaching the ends of the sutures to the second tissue.