Method for preparation and transplantation of planar implants and surgical instrument therefor

• US 6,036,678 A
• Filed: 01/15/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Photogenesis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Photogenesis, Inc.
• Inventors: Giungo, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US09/007,232
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/57, 604/59, 604/189, 604/191, 604/318, 604/319, 604/322, 604/506, 604/522, 604/294, 606/107, 606/166, 623/5
• US Class Current: 604/294
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/013 Instruments for compensation of ocular refraction A61F9/008 takes precedence; Instruments for use in cornea removal, for reshaping or performing incisions in the cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/16 for reconstruction of eye parts, e.g. intraocular lens, cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3813 Epithelial cells, e.g. keratinocytes, urothelial cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/383 Nerve cells, e.g. dendritic cells, Schwann cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3839 characterised by the site of application in the body materials for artificial blood vessels A61L27/507; materials for use in artificial skin A61L27/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0042 Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/905 Eye

Abstract

A method for transplanting planar implants, devices, etc., is provided. Method is particularly adapted for transplanting planar sheets of retinal cells to the subretinal region of an eye. A method of preparing the retinal cell sheet and the associated surgical instrument is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for preparing an implant for implantation in the subretinal area of a host eye, the method comprising the steps of:

coiling a flexible implantable therapeutic material having a sheet-like configuration to form a volute by placing the implantable material one end first into a first tubular body at an open end thereof and feeding the implantable material through the larger diameter end of a funnel shaped bore in said first tubular body, whereby engagement of the implantable material with an interior surface of the funnel shaped bore as the implantable material passes therethrough coils the implantable material into a volute, wherein the volute may exit from a smaller diameter end of the funnel shaped bore;

and transferring the volute from the smaller diameter end of the funnel shaped bore into a second tubular body, wherein said second tubular body has a first end for receiving the implant and a second end for insertion into a host.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second tubular body has an outer diameter at said second open end capable of insertion through an incision less than or equal to about 2 mm in size.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second tubular body further comprises a housing connected to said first end, said housing capable of releasable engagement within a container, the container having an open end and a closed end and a lip within said housing with which said housing can be engaged;

said method further comprising the step of placing the second tubular body within said container by placing the housing in said container until engagement occurs between said housing and said lip, and placing a cap onto said open end of said container in sealing engagement therewith.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second tubular body is further sealed within said container by a frangible label placed over said cap and housing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said label has an expiration date imprinted thereon.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said label has bar code information imprinted thereon.