Tissue repair device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020121315-A1
Application number	US-201716325707-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 15, 2017
Priority date	Nov 15, 2016
Publication date	Apr 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Repair devices and methods allow better contact between two tissues, such as tendon and bone for better healing process. The repair device is used for re-attaching and securing a torn tissue in place or realigning torn edges back together, or connecting any two tissues. The device includes a tissue attachment unit, a clamp and a binder and/or an anchor.

First claim

1 . A repair device for a torn tissue, comprising:
a) a tissue attachment comprising an attachment head configured for securing said repair device to said torn tissue; and b) a clamp holding said tissue attachment, comprising: (i) a base acting as a positioning platform; (ii) side walls securing the torn tissue in place and determining the attachment area; and (iii) a setter holding the attachment.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said attachment head is further configured for: (i) realigning and fixing torn edges/tips of said torn tissue back together; and/or (ii) connecting any two tissues.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said device or at least said tissue attachment unit is made of a biocompatible material(s); and/or of a biodegradable material(s).

6 . (canceled)

7 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said device or at least a part thereof comprises a drug releasing material(s).

8 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said tissue is a torn tendon.

9 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said attachment head: (i) comprises spikes, hooks or rough surface(s), or a combination thereof; (ii) has a perforated structure for allowing tissue to grow therewithin; and/or (iii) is made of bio-degradable and/or bio-compatible material.

10 - 11 . (canceled)

12 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said attachment head is: (i) coated with drug releasing capabilities, healing/regeneration-mediated substances, immunodepression material(s), growth factors, stem cells, and/or anti-inflammatory substance(s); (ii) costume made according to patient's/tissue's anatomy and/or the tissue being repaired; and/or (iii) perforated or net-like structured.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The repair device of claim 12 , wherein said attachment head comprises spikes and/or hooks, said spikes and/or hooks: (i) distribute the pulling force applied onto the attached tissue between all of said spikes and/or hooks, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the tissue and/or the risk of tearing/ripping the attachment element off of the tissue; and/or (ii) designed such that said spikes can be inserted into said torn tissue at a predefined angle, removed-therefrom if needed, and subsequently reinserted into said torn tissue.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The repair device of claim 14 , wherein said spikes are: differential, personalized, perforated, foldable and/or extractable.

17 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said elongation tail is absent and said attachment element is secured in place via a direct connection to the anchoring site, e.g. through a (drill) hole at the attachment head.

20 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said anchor is: (i) present, and configured to secure said attachment element, optionally via said elongation tail, to a bone or to any other tissue, or to another device; or (ii) absent, and said attachment element, optionally via said elongation tail, is attached to a second attachment element or any other device, optionally via its elongation tail.

21 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said clamp defines a tissue-attachment area at said torn tissue to which said attachment head binds/attaches.

25 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein said side walls further comprise a mechanical element that assists in spreading, stretching and/or straightening the tissue for attaching said tissue attachment thereto.

26 . The repair device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of: an optic fiber, a light, forceps or other grasping means, electromagnet, springs, pressure sensors, tension sensors, tendon conveyor belt, or any other component that might be of use during surgery.

27 . The repair device of claim 1 further comprising: (i) at least one or more attachment heads; and/or (ii) a folding-, opening- and/or extractable-attachment head.

28 . (canceled)

29 . A method for repairing a torn tissue, said method comprising:
a) isolating said torn tissue; b) selecting an attachment area on said isolated tissue and securing same with the clamp unit of a repair device according to claim 1 , wherein: the side walls secure the torn tissue and outline the selected attachment area, while the base serves as a tray on which said tissue lays; c) reviewing the selected attachment area, and making adjustments in the attachment area if needed; d) pressing the setter of said clamp unit holding an attachment head to thereby secure said attachment head to said torn tissue at said attachment area, wherein said pressing is carried out in a fixed movement, and wherein the base of said clamp unit provides a counter support when said setter is pushed against the torn tissue; e) fastening the attachment, either via the elongation tail, if present, or directly to its target area; and f) removing the clamp, leaving only the attachment element secured to said tissue.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said tissue is a tendon.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein in step (d) said setter participates in the actual pushing of the spikes/hooks of the attachment head into the tissue.

32 . (canceled)

33 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising attaching another attachment head to another location and/or direction at said attachment area or another attachment area, wherein said attachment head is either an attachment head of another repair device, or a secondary attachment head present in the same repair device.

34 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein the tissue attachment further comprises an elongation tail and a binder and/or an anchor associated with said elongation tail.

35 . The repair device of claim 1 , wherein., the tissue attachment sets the angle of its insertion into said tissue.

36 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising lifting the setter to extract said attachment head from said tissue, adjusting the attachment area, and re-pressing the setter after step (e) or after step (f) by re-connecting the clamp to said attachment.

Assignees

• Univ Ramot
• Medical Res Infrastructure & Health Services Fund Tel Aviv Medical Ct

Inventors

• Gigi Roy
• Scheinowitz Mickey
• Reisman Noaa
• Mallayev Itzhak
• Ziv Roman
• Goldin Sivan

Classifications

• A61B17/068

  Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) · CPC title

• A61B17/0469

  Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery · CPC title

• A61B2017/0411

  Instruments for removing suture anchors · CPC title

• A61B17/0401

  Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00893

  pharmaceutically effective · CPC title