METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING VARIABLE STIFFNESS AND/OR REDUCTION OF SOFT TISSUE
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for creating variable stiffness along a soft tissue region comprising:
- an implantable device of bio-absorbable or biodegradable material;
wherein the device has a drug to promote formation of an abscess and/or induce tissue necrosis following placement of the device in soft tissue; and
wherein the drug is of a variable concentration gradient along a length of the device whereby the abscess and/or tissue necrosis forms scar tissue having variable stiffness along the soft tissue region.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating variable stiffness along a soft tissue region is disclosed herein generally having an implantable device of bio-absorbable or biodegradable material. The implantable device has a drug of variable concentration along the length of the device to promote formation of an abscess and/or induce tissue necrosis following placement of the device in soft tissue. The abscess and/or tissue necrosis forms scar tissue having a variable stiffness along the soft tissue which in turn reduces the vibration of the soft tissue.
38 Citations
51 Claims
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1. An apparatus for creating variable stiffness along a soft tissue region comprising:
an implantable device of bio-absorbable or biodegradable material; wherein the device has a drug to promote formation of an abscess and/or induce tissue necrosis following placement of the device in soft tissue; and wherein the drug is of a variable concentration gradient along a length of the device whereby the abscess and/or tissue necrosis forms scar tissue having variable stiffness along the soft tissue region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for creating variable stiffness of a soft tissue region comprising:
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providing an implantable device of bio-absorbable or biodegradable material wherein the device has a drug of a variable concentration gradient along a length of the device; and inserting the device into a desired deployment site within the soft tissue region. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for creating variable stiffness of a soft tissue region comprising:
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an implantable device of bio-absorbable or biodegradable material wherein the implantable device has a drug of a variable concentration gradient along a length of the implantable device; and a delivery tool for inserting the implantable device into soft tissue. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification