Devices and methods for repairing damage to a tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11918801-B2
Application number	US-202117519817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	Sep 6, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

An example device for repairing a tissue is described herein. The device can include a flexible carrier layer, and a support member including a plurality of micro-protrusions extending therefrom. The support member can be at least partially integrated with the flexible carrier layer. Additionally, the flexible carrier layer can be configured to cover at least a portion of the tissue, and the micro-protrusions can be configured to mechanically interface with the tissue.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A device, comprising:
a flexible carrier layer; and
a support member comprising a plurality of micro-protrusions extending therefrom, wherein:
the support member is at least partially integrated with the flexible carrier layer,
the flexible carrier layer is configured to cover at least a portion of a tissue,
the micro-protrusions are configured to mechanically interface with the tissue, and
the flexible carrier layer comprises a wrapping portion, the wrapping portion being configured as a self-closure mechanism for the device, wherein the wrapping portion is a flap without a separate mechanical element or a separate adhesive material configured to enable closure and sealing of the device, wherein the flexible carrier layer and the wrapping portion are a single sheet of material.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier layer further comprises a micro-protrusion portion, the support member being at least partially integrated with the flexible carrier layer in the micro-protrusion portion.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the micro-protrusions are not arranged in the wrapping portion.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapping portion is sized and/or shaped such that the flexible carrier layer is configured to entubulate the tissue.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier layer comprises a plurality of layers, wherein the support member is laminated between the plurality of layers.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of layers is a biologic material.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a nerve, a muscle, a tendon, or vasculature.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier layer is a two-dimensional sheet.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the micro-protrusions are bent out of plane with respect to the support member in a direction of a first axis or a second axis of the support member.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the micro-protrusions are bent out of plane with respect to the support member in the direction of the first axis, and wherein the first axis substantially corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the tissue.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the micro-protrusions are bent out of plane with respect to the support member in the direction of the second axis, wherein the first axis substantially corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the tissue, and wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the micro-protrusions comprise a first group of micro-protrusions and a second group of micro-protrusions, and wherein the first and second groups of micro-protrusions are oriented in opposite directions.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flexible carrier layer or the support member is configured for drug delivery or cell transplantation.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the micro-protrusions comprise at least one of micro-hooks or micro-needles.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the micro-protrusions comprises a barb.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support member or the micro-protrusions is configured for delivering electrical stimulation or recording electrical activity.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support member is formed from a metal.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the metal is a superelastic alloy.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein the micro-protrusions are configured to attach to a superficial aspect of the tissue.

20. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a nerve, and wherein the micro-protrusions are sized and shaped to pierce the outer epineurium of the nerve.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the micro-protrusions are sized and shaped to not pierce a fascicle of the nerve.

22. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier layer is formed from biocompatible, biodegradable, or bioresorbable material.

23. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier layer is a biologic material.

24. The device of claim 23 , wherein the biologic material is an extracellular material, small intestine submucosa (SIS), collagen, amniotic tissue, or chitosan.

25. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of elongate strips, and wherein the micro-protrusions extend from the elongate strips.

26. The device of claim 25 , wherein the elongate strips are not interconnected with one another within the flexible carrier layer.

27. The device of claim 25 , wherein the elongate strips are configured to not directly overlay a repair site.

28. The device of claim 1 , wherein the micro-protrusions form an array of interconnected micro-protrusions.

29. The device of claim 28 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of intersecting cross bridges, and wherein the micro-protrusions are interconnected via the intersecting cross bridges.

30. The device of claim 29 , wherein at least one of widths of the intersecting cross bridges or spaces between the intersecting cross bridges are configured to optimize at least one of strength or flexibility of the support member.

31. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flap is configured to adhere to the flexible carrier layer.

32. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible carrier layer has a bioadhesive property, and wherein the wrapping portion is configured as the self-closure mechanism for the device due to the bioadhesive property of the flexible carrier layer.

Assignees

• Biocircuit Tech Inc
• Univ Virginia Commonwealth

Inventors

• Isaacs Jonathan
• Clements Isaac Perry
• Willsie Andrew
• Ross James David
• Weidenbach Alex

Classifications

• A61N1/0556 Primary

  Cuff electrodes · CPC title

• A61B5/24

  Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof · CPC title

• A61B5/6877

  Nerve · CPC title

• A61B5/6882

  Anchoring means · CPC title

• A61N1/0558

  Anchoring or fixation means therefor · CPC title