Apparatus and method for promoting growth and repair of soft tissue

Claim 2

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; and fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein the spring means is a fixed coil spring.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2, wherein the fixed coil spring exerts a constant force.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2, wherein the fixed coil spring exerts a variable force.

Claim 6

The device of claim 2, further comprising: adjustment means for adjusting the tension in the spring.

Claim 7

A method for inducing growth of soft tissue comprising: attaching the device of claim 1 to soft tissue such that tension applied to the soft tissue by the spring means results in elongation of the soft tissue in a direction along a line drawn between the attachment means and the fixation means.

Claim 8

A method for preparing graft tissue comprising: elongating soft tissue by the method of claim 6; and excising elongated tissue for use on grafting tissue.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1, wherein the attachment means is from the group consisting of surgical hooks, staples, sutures, collars, clamps and clips.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1, wherein the spring means automatically maintains constant force on the soft tissue as the attached soft tissue grows.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10, wherein the coil spring is a fixed coil spring.

Claim 14

The device of claim 11, wherein the coil spring exerts a variable force.

Claim 15

The device of claim 10, wherein said pair of opposed coils winds up in response to growth of attached soft tissue.

Claim 16

The device of claim 10, wherein said fixed point is within said attachment means.

Claim 17

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, wherein: the spring means include at least one pair of opposed coils.

Claim 18

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, wherein: the spring means include at least one pair of opposed coils.

Claim 19

The device of claim 15, wherein the coil is a fixed coil spring.

Claim 20

The device of claim 16, wherein the coil spring exerts a variable force.

Claim 21

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, means for remotely monitoring the amount of tissue growth; wherein: the spring means include at least one pair of opposed coils, and said pair of opposed coils winds up in response to growth of attached soft tissue.

Claim 22

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, means for remotely monitoring the amount of tissue growth; wherein: the spring means include at least one pair of opposed coils, and said pair of opposed coils winds up in response to growth of attached soft tissue.

Claim 23

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, wherein the spring means includes a coil which winds up in response to growth of attached soft tissue.

Claim 24

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, wherein the spring means includes a coil which winds up in response to growth of attached soft tissue.

Claim 25

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, wherein the spring means automatically maintains tension on the soft tissue as the attached soft tissue grows.

Claim 26

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point, wherein the spring means automatically maintains tension on the soft tissue as the attached soft tissue grows.

Claim 27

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point; and control means for remotely monitoring the amount of tissue growth.

Claim 28

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point; and control means for remotely monitoring the amount of tissue growth.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the monitoring means includes: a first movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the first end of the spring means; a second movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the second end of the spring means; a distance-determining means for determining the distance between the first movable adjustor and the second movable adjustor; a receiving device for use outside of a patient's body; transmitting means for transmitting the distance between the adjustors to the receiving device.

Claim 30

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point; and control means for remotely controlling the amount of tissue growth.

Claim 31

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: spring means having a first end and a second end; attachment means for removably securing said first end of said spring means to a soft tissue; fixation means for removably securing said second end of said spring means to a second point, such that tension is created by the spring means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point; and control means for remotely controlling the amount of tissue growth.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the control means includes: a first movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the first end of the spring means; a second movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the second end of the spring means; a distance-determining means for determining the distance between the first movable adjustor and the second movable adjustor; a receiving device for use outside of a patient's body; transmitting means for transmitting the distance between the adjustors to the receiving device; means for controllably moving the first movable adjustor relative to the second movable adjustor.

Claim 33

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: (a) growth-inducement means having a first end and a second end; (b) attachment means for removably securing said first end of the growth-inducement means to a soft tissue; (c) fixation means for removably securing said second end of the growth-inducement means to a second point, such that tension can be created by the growth-inducement means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point; and (d) control means for remotely controlling the amount of tissue growth, the control means including: (i) a first movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the first end of the growth-inducement means; (ii) a second movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the second end of the growth-inducement means; (iii) a distance-determining means for determining the distance between the first movable adjustor and the second movable adjustor; (iv) a receiving device for use outside of a patient's body; (v) transmitting means for transmitting the distance between the adjustors to the receiving device; and (vi) means for controllably moving the first movable adjustor relative to the second movable adjustor.

Claim 34

A removable biocompatible device for promoting growth of soft tissue comprising: (a) growth-inducement means having a first end and a second end; (b) attachment means for removably securing said first end of the growth-inducement means to a soft tissue; (c) fixation means for removably securing said second end of the growth-inducement means to a second point, such that tension can be created by the growth-inducement means in the soft tissue, and in a direction along a line drawn from the attachment means to the second point; and (d) control means for remotely controlling the amount of tissue growth, the control means including: (i) a first movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the first end of the growth-inducement means; (ii) a second movable adjustor which is fixedly attached to the second end of the growth-inducement means; (iii) a distance-determining means for determining the distance between the first movable adjustor and the second movable adjustor; (iv) a receiving device for use outside of a patient's body; (v) transmitting means for transmitting the distance between the adjustors to the receiving device; and (vi) means for controllably moving the first movable adjustor relative to the second movable adjustor.