Reinforced Tissue Patch

• US 20110125287A1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP New Haven CT and Confluent Surgical Incorporated
• Inventors: Mukherjee, Nilay, Hotter, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• 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 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable

Abstract

A method of improving the mechanical properties of a tissue patch is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a tissue patch and placing at least one barbed suture along at least a portion of the tissue patch. The method may further include the step of placing one or more additional barbed sutures in a laterally spaced relation to the barbed suture. The barbed suture may be biodegradable or non-biodegradable.

Claims

1. A method of improving the mechanical properties of a tissue patch, the method comprising the steps of

providing a tissue patch;

and

placing at least one barbed suture along at least a portion of the tissue patch.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of placing one or more additional barbed sutures in a laterally spaced relation to the at least one barbed suture.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one barbed suture is one of biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of securing the tissue patch to a patient using the at least one barbed suture placed therethrough.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of placing at least one additional barbed suture at an angle relative to the previously placed at least one barbed suture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue patch comprises allograft, xenograft or autologous tissue.

7. A method of repairing a rotator cuff comprising the steps of:

accessing a surgical site including a humerus and a rotator cuff tendon;

creating a defect in the humerus;

providing a reinforced tissue patch having a first end and a second end;

attaching the first end of the patch within the defect of the humerus such that the patch extends from the humerus; and

attaching the second end of the reinforced tissue patch to the rotator cuff tendon.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of:

debriding the rotator cuff tendon.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of providing a reinforced tissue patch includes attaching a bone segment to the first end of the patch.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of accessing the humerus and the rotator cuff includes accessing the humerus and the rotator cuff via an access port.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rotator cuff tendon is selected from the group consisting of a supraspinatus tendon, an infraspinatus tendon, a teres minor tendon, a subscapularis tendon, and a long head tendon.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the bone segment of the patch is a bone plug.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of attaching the patch to the rotator cuff tendon is performed by an attaching technique selected from the group consisting of anchoring, suturing, adhering, stapling, screwing, plugging, and press-fitting.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

applying energy to the surgical site selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic energy, pulsed electromagnetic field energy, current energy, and pressure hyperbaric energy.

15. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reinforced tissue patch comprises a material selected from the group consisting of autogenous, allogenic, xenogenic and synthetic.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the patch and the bone segment are coupled to each other by using mechanical means selected from the group consisting of interference fitting, pinning, stapling, adhering and combinations thereof.

17. A reinforced tissue graft comprising:

a tissue patch; and

at least one barbed suture received within the tissue patch.

18. The tissue patch of claim 17, wherein the at least one barbed suture extends along a length of the tissue patch.

19. The tissue patch of claim 17, wherein the at least one barbed suture forms at least one of a Z-pattern and an X-pattern.

20. The tissue patch of claim 17, wherein the at least one barbed suture is in a spiral configuration.

21. The tissue patch of claim 17, wherein the tissue patch comprises allograft, xenograft or autologous tissue.