Mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects

• US 20060142786A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novus Scientific AB (Novus Scientific Pte., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Radi Medical Systems AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Magnusson, Henrik, Mathisen, Torbjorn
• Granted Patent: US 9,566,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/003 differing in adsorbability or resorbability, i.e. in adsorption or resorption time
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/48 with macromolecular fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/58 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/125 having a macromolecular matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/129 containing macromolecular fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/148 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body

Abstract

The present invention relates to a resorbable polymeric mesh implant, that is intended to be used in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. The mesh implant comprises at least a first and a second material, wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the first material following the time of implantation. The mesh implant is adapted to have a predetermined modulus of elasticity that gradually is decreased until the mesh implant is completely degraded and subsequently resorbed. Due to the gradual decrease in the modulus of elasticity of the inventive mesh implant, the regenerating tissue may gradually take over the load applied to the tissue defect area.

Claims

1. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, wherein the mesh implant comprises at least a first material and a second material, wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the first material characterized in that

the modulus of elasticity of the mesh implant is substantially constant and equal to the modulus of elasticity of the first material following the time of implantation and until said first material is substantially degraded, and in that

the modulus of elasticity of the mesh implant is substantially equal to the second material after the first material is substantially degraded, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the second material is lower than the modulus of elasticity of the first material.

2. A mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the mesh implant comprises a third material that is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the second material and has a significantly lower modulus of elasticity than the second material and in that the modulus of elasticity of the mesh implant is substantially equal to the third material after the second material is substantially degraded.

3. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the last substantially degraded material has a modulus of elasticity that is compatible with the elasticity of the surrounding tissue so that the flexibility of said tissue is not substantially restricted.

4. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the first substantially degraded material is substantially degraded at a point in time within the time range of 14-30 days following implantation.

5. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the last substantially degraded material is substantially degraded at a point in time within the time range of 3-18 months following implantation.

6. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the mesh implant is provided with a further material, which further material is substantially degraded approximately at the same point in time as the first substantially degraded material.

7. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the mesh implant is provided with still a further material, which material is substantially degraded approximately at the same point in time as any of the other materials present in the mesh implant.

8. A mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the materials are chosen in order to construe a mesh implant that is tailored for the specific soft tissue defect to be reconstructed.

9. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the mesh implant is provided with a resorbable film in order to prevent adhesion of the mesh implant onto surrounding tissue.

10. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 9, characterized in that the resorbable film is a hydrophilic carbohydrate film.

11. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the first substantially degraded material and/or the further material has or is incorporated into a woven or knitted, porous structure with a pore size in the range of 50-4000 microns.

12. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the first substantially degraded material and/or the further material has or is incorporated into a non-woven structure.

13. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 12, characterized in that the non-woven structure is an electro-spun structure.

14. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1, characterized in that the last substantially degraded material has a woven or knitted, porous structure with a pore size in the range of 0.5-4 mm.

15. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant kit, comprising at least a first and a second material, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the second material is lower than the modulus of elasticity of the first material and wherein the second material is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the first material, said materials are intended to be combined into a mesh implant according to claim 1 that is tailored for the specific soft tissue defect to be reconstructed.

16. A resorbable polymeric mesh implant kit according to claim 15, characterized in that the kit comprises a third material that is substantially degraded at a later point in time than the second material and has a significantly lower modulus of elasticity than the second material.

17. Use of a resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to claim 1 in the reconstruction of a soft tissue defect.

18. Use according to claim 17, wherein the soft tissue defect is an abdominal wall defect.

19. Use according to claim 18, wherein the abdominal wall defect is a result from a hernia.

20. Use of a resorbable polymeric mesh implant kit according to claim 15 in the reconstruction of a soft tissue defect.

21. Use according to claim 20, wherein the soft tissue defect is an abdominal wall defect.

22. Use according to claim 21, wherein the abdominal wall defect is a result from a hernia.