Devices and methods for repairing damage to a nerve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018064931-A1
Application number	US-201715697358-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 6, 2017
Priority date	Sep 6, 2016
Publication date	Mar 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An example device for repairing a nerve is described herein. The device can include a flexible carrier layer made of a biologic material, and a metallic support member including a plurality of micro-protrusions extending therefrom. The metallic 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 nerve, and the micro-protrusions can be configured to attach to a superficial tissue of the nerve.

First claim

1 . A device for repairing a nerve, comprising:
a flexible carrier layer, wherein the flexible carrier layer is a biologic material; and a metallic support member comprising a plurality of micro-protrusions extending therefrom, wherein: the metallic 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 the nerve, and the micro-protrusions are configured to attach to a superficial tissue of the nerve.

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

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the micro-protrusions are sized and shaped to not pierce a fascicle of the nerve.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the metallic support member is a superelastic alloy.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the superelastic alloy is of a composition that comprises nickel and titanium.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the biologic material is small intestine submucosa (SIS).

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

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the flexible carrier layer is further configured to entubulate a repair site or sandwich a repair site.

9 . (canceled)

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible carrier layer comprises a wrapping portion for maintaining entubulation or sandwiching of the repair site.

13 . The device of claim 8 , further comprising a fastener for maintaining entubulation or sandwiching of the repair site.

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

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the micro-protrusions are bent out of plane with respect to the metallic support member in the direction of the first axis, and wherein the first axis substantially corresponds to an axis along a length of the nerve.

16 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the micro-protrusions are bent out of plane with respect to the metallic support member in the direction of the second axis, and wherein the second axis substantially corresponds to an axis following a circumference of the nerve.

17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the micro-protrusions comprises 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.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second groups of micro-protrusions are oriented to face each other.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the micro-protrusions are not arranged in a region of the surface of the metallic support member in proximity to a repair site.

21 . The device of any one of claim 1 , wherein the metallic support member is a planar base, and wherein the micro-protrusions extend from a surface of the planar base.

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

23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the metallic support member comprises a plurality of intersecting cross bridges, and wherein the micro-protrusions are interconnected via the intersecting cross bridges.

24 . The device of claim 23 , 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 metallic support member.

25 . (canceled)

26 . The device of claim 23 , wherein the metallic support member further comprises at least one extending feature configured to at least partially surround a micro-protrusion.

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

28 . The device of claim 27 , wherein the elongate strips extend in a direction substantially corresponding to an axis along a length of the nerve.

29 . The device of claim 27 , wherein each of the elongate strips comprises one or more projecting members.

30 . The device of claim 27 , wherein the elongate strips are not provided in proximity to a repair site.

31 . The device of claim 27 , wherein the elongate strips are free floating within the flexible carrier layer.

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

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

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

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

36 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flexible carrier layers, each flexible carrier layer being a biologic material, wherein the metallic support member is sandwiched between the flexible carrier layers.

37 . A method for repairing a nerve, comprising:
macroscopically positioning a device comprising a plurality of micro-protrusions extending therefrom in proximity to the nerve, wherein the micro-protrusions are configured to attach to a superficial tissue of the nerve; and covering at least a portion of the nerve with the device.

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . (canceled)

41 . (canceled)

42 . (canceled)

43 . A device for repairing a nerve, comprising:
a flexible carrier layer; and a metallic support member comprising a micro-protrusion extending therefrom, wherein: the metallic 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 the nerve, and the micro-protrusion is configured to attach to a superficial tissue of the nerve.

44 . The device of claim 43 , further comprising a plurality of metallic support members, each metallic support member comprising a micro-protrusion extending therefrom.

Assignees

• Axion Biosystems Inc
• Univ Virginia Commonwealth

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61N1/36103

  Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke · CPC title

• A61B5/6877

  Nerve · CPC title

• A61N1/0556 Primary

  Cuff electrodes · CPC title

• A61B5/6882

  Anchoring means · CPC title

• A61N1/0558

  Anchoring or fixation means therefor · CPC title