Stent for a vascular meniscal repair and regeneration

• US 20070067025A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BioDuct, LLC
• Inventors: Schwartz, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.390
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2493 Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3872 Meniscus for implantation between the natural bone surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30761 Support means for artificial cartilage, e.g. cartilage defect covering membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30766 Scaffolds for cartilage ingrowth and regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

A surgical stent made of biocompatible material for implantation in human tissue to enable blood and nutrients to flow from an area of vascular tissue to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.

Claims

1. A surgical stent for avascular or partially vascular tissue repair and regeneration, said stent comprising an elongated member made of a biocompatible material, said member having a passage therein, said member having an outer surface, whereby said stent may be implanted in a patient to deliver blood, nutrients, and cells from an area of vascular tissue through said passage to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.

2. The stent according to claim 1 wherein said member comprises a hollow tube which is open at both ends to define end apertures.

3. The stent according to claim 2 wherein the wall of the hollow tube includes a plurality of apertures to enable blood, nutrients, and cells to enter the stent from vascular tissue.

4. The stent according to claim 2 wherein the outer surface of the tube is smooth.

5. The stent according to claim 2 wherein the outer surface of the tube is roughened.

6. The stent according to claim 2 wherein the outer surface of the tube includes a rib, whereby said stent may be secured in tissue and used as a fixation device to fixate a tear tissue with little or no vasculature.

7. The stent according to claim 6 wherein the ribs encircle the outer surface.

8. The stent according to claim 6 wherein the ribs comprise threads to enable the stent to be threaded into tissue.

9. The stent according to claim 8 wherein the threads have varying pitch across the length of the threads.

10. The stent according to claim 6 wherein the ribs include sharp outer edges.

11. The stent according to claim 6 wherein the ribs are longitudinal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

12. The stent according to claim 2 wherein one of said end apertures comprises at least one of a non-circular aperture to enable a driving tool to engage said aperture to rotationally drive said stent into tissue.

13. The stent according to claim 11 wherein one of said end apertures comprises a slot.

14. The stent according to claim 2 wherein said stent includes a collar for limiting the travel of the stent into tissue.

15. The stent according to claim 1 wherein said member comprises a porous rod.

17. The stent according to claim 14 wherein the outer surface of the rod is smooth.

18. The stent according to claim 14 wherein the outer surface of the rod is roughened.

19. The stent according to claim 14 wherein the outer surface of the rod includes a rib, whereby said stent may be secured in tissue and used as a fixation device to fixate a tear in tissue with little or no vasculature.

20. The stent according to claim 19 wherein the rib encircles the outer surface.

21. The stent according to claim 19 wherein the rib comprises threads to enable the stent to be threaded into tissue.

22. The stent according to claim 19 wherein the rib includes sharp outer edges.

23. The stent according to claim 19 wherein the rib is longitudinal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

24. The stent according to claim 14 wherein at least one end of said rod has a non-circular geometry to enable a driving tool to engage said aperture to rotationally drive said stent into tissue.

25. The stent according to claim 14 wherein the rod includes a collar for limiting the travel of the stent into tissue.

29. The stent according to claim 5 wherein said stent may be secured in tissue and used as a fixation device to fixate a tear in tissue with little or no vasculature.

16. A surgical stent for avascular or partially vascular tissue repair and regeneration, said stent comprising a rod made of a biocompatible material, said rod having one of a plurality of interconnected apertures and porosity to define a passage, said rod having an outer surface, whereby said stent may be implanted in a patient to deliver blood, nutrients, and cells from an area of vascular tissue through said passage to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.

26. A surgical stent for avascular or partially vascular tissue repair and regeneration, said stent comprising an elongated member made of a biocompatible material, said member having an outer surface, said stent including fixation means and transfer means, whereby said stent may be implanted and secured in the tissue of a patient, said fixation means capable of fixating a tear in such tissue, and said transfer means capable of delivering blood, nutrients, and cells from an area of vascular tissue to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.

27. The stent according to claim 26 wherein said transfer means comprise a passage in said elongate member.

28. The stent according to claim 26 wherein said transfer means comprise a porous passage defined by said biocompatible material.