Novel skin staples

• US 20080015598A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Prommersberger, Megan
• Application Number:
  US11/827,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015598A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric

Abstract

The present disclosure provides composite staples which include legs made of a bioabsorbable shape memory material capable of gripping tissue upon application in vivo and holding the staple in place.

Claims

1. A staple comprising:

a backspan comprising a non-absorbable material; and

two leg portions, at least a portion of each of the two leg portions comprising a shape memory polymeric material.

2. The staple of claim 1, wherein the non-absorbable material comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, steel alloys, titanium alloys, nickel chromium alloy, nickel/cobalt/chrome, and combinations thereof.

3. The staple of claim 1, wherein the non-absorbable material comprises titanium.

4. The staple of claim 1, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a copolymer of a diol ester and an ether-ester diol.

5. The staple of claim 1, wherein the shape memory polymer is selected from the group consisting of oligo (epsilon caprolactone) diol/oligo (p-dioxanone) diol copolymers, lactide, glycolide, and combinations thereof.

6. The staple of claim 1, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a blend of materials selected from the group consisting of urethanes, lactic acid, glycolic acid, acrylates, caprolactones, homopolymers thereof, copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof.

7. The staple of claim 1, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a blend selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid/urethane blends, polyglycolic acid/urethane blends, copolymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid/urethane blends, polycaprolactone dimethacrylate poly(butyl acrylate) blends, and combinations thereof.

8. The staple of claim 1, wherein the legs have a permanent memory comprising a bent shape and a temporary memory comprising a straight shape.

9. The staple of claim 1, wherein the backspan and the legs are joined by mechanical means selected from the group consisting of tongue and groove frictional coupling means, locking tapers, pins, screws, rivets, and combinations thereof.

10. The staple of claim 1, wherein the backspan and the legs are joined by means selected from the group consisting of injection molding, casting from a solvent, melt pressing, the use of bioabsorbable adhesives, and combinations thereof.

11. The staple of claim 1, wherein the legs further comprise a medicinal agent.

12. The staple of claim 11, wherein the medicinal agent is selected from the group consisting of antimicrobials, analgesics, antipyretics, anesthetics, antiepileptics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, cardiovascular agents, diagnostic agents, sympathomimetics, cholinomimetics, antimuscarinics, antispasmodics, hemostats, muscle relaxants, adrenergic neuron blockers, antineoplastics, immunogenic agents, immunosuppressants, gastrointestinal drugs, diuretics, steroids, lipids, lipopolysaccharides, polysaccharides, enzymes, local anesthetics, non-steroidal antifertility agents, parasympathomimetic agents, psychotherapeutic agents, tranquilizers, sedative hypnotics, sulfonamides, vaccines, vitamins, antimalarials, anti-migraine agents, anti-parkinson agents, anti-spasmodics, anticholinergic agents, bronchodilators, alkaloids, narcotics, non-narcotics, opioid receptor antagonists, anticoagulants, anti-convulsants, antidepressants, anti-emetics, prostaglandins, cytotoxic drugs, estrogens, antibiotics, anti-fungals, anti-virals, immunological agents, viruses, cells, peptides, polypeptides, proteins, muteins, vaccines, antigens, blood coagulation factors, growth factors, protein inhibitors, protein antagonists, protein agonists, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, ribozymes, and combinations thereof.

13. A method comprising:

providing a staple of claim 1 possessing leg portions having a straight, temporary shape;

applying the staple to tissue adjacent a wound; and

heating the leg portions to recover a permanent, bent shape which affixes the staple to tissue adjacent the wound.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein heating the leg portions occurs with body heat.

15. A staple comprising:

a backspan comprising a non-absorbable material selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, steel alloys, titanium alloys, nickel chromium alloy, nickel/cobalt/chrome, and combinations thereof; and

two leg portions, at least a portion of each of the two leg portions comprising a shape memory polymeric material.

16. The staple of claim 15, wherein the shape memory polymer is selected from the group consisting of oligo (epsilon caprolactone) diol/oligo (p-dioxanone) diol copolymers, lactide, glycolide, and combinations thereof.

17. The staple of claim 15, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a blend of materials selected from the group consisting of urethanes, lactic acid, glycolic acid, acrylates, caprolactones, homopolymers thereof, copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof.

18. The staple of claim 15, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a blend selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid/urethane blends, polyglycolic acid/urethane blends, copolymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid/urethane blends, polycaprolactone dimethacrylate poly(butyl acrylate) blends, and combinations thereof.

19. The staple of claim 15, wherein the legs have a permanent memory comprising a bent shape and a temporary memory comprising a straight shape.

20. The staple of claim 15, wherein the legs further comprise a medicinal agent selected from the group consisting of antimicrobials, analgesics, antipyretics, anesthetics, antiepileptics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, cardiovascular agents, diagnostic agents, sympathomimetics, cholinomimetics, antimuscarinics, antispasmodics, hemostats, muscle relaxants, adrenergic neuron blockers, antineoplastics, immunogenic agents, immunosuppressants, gastrointestinal drugs, diuretics, steroids, lipids, lipopolysaccharides, polysaccharides, enzymes, local anesthetics, non-steroidal antifertility agents, parasympathomimetic agents, psychotherapeutic agents, tranquilizers, sedative hypnotics, sulfonamides, vaccines, vitamins, antimalarials, anti-migraine agents, anti-parkinson agents, anti-spasmodics, anticholinergic agents, bronchodilators, alkaloids, narcotics, non-narcotics, opioid receptor antagonists, anticoagulants, anti-convulsants, antidepressants, anti-emetics, prostaglandins, cytotoxic drugs, estrogens, antibiotics, anti-fungals, anti-virals, immunological agents, viruses, cells, peptides, polypeptides, proteins, muteins, vaccines, antigens, blood coagulation factors, growth factors, protein inhibitors, protein antagonists, protein agonists, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, ribozymes, and combinations thereof.

21. A method comprising:

providing a staple of claim 15 possessing leg portions having a straight, temporary shape;

applying the staple to tissue adjacent a wound; and

heating the leg portions to recover a permanent, bent shape which affixes the staple to tissue adjacent the wound.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein heating the leg portions occurs with body heat.