Tissue press and system

• US 6,132,472 A
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Peter M. Bonutti
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US09/263,006
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11, 623/901, 623/11.11, 623/23.72, 623/16.11, 623/23.52, 623/23.53, 623/23.54, 623/23.55, 623/23.56, 623/23.57, 623/23.58, 623/23.61, 606/76, 606/77, 600/36
• 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 17/1606 of forceps type, i.e. having two jaw elements moving relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/885 Tools for expanding or compacting bones or discs or cavities therein A61B17/8805, A61B17/7097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4644 Preparation of bone graft, bone plugs or bone dowels, e.g. grinding or milling bone material bone material A61F2/28; disintegrating or milling devices B02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30545 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 : Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 : for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 1/04 : operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/02 : using a ram exerting pressure on the material in a moulding space
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 : Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/908 : Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/919 : Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/92 : Method or apparatus for preparing or treating prosthetic

Abstract

A tissue press and method for shaping or compressing a piece of tissue comprises first and second members movable relative to each other. A first forming element of a predetermined shape is selectively engageable on the first member. A second forming element of predetermined shape is selectively engageable on the second member. The first and second forming elements are positionable on opposite sides of the piece of tissue. The first and second members are relatively movable between a first spaced apart condition and a second condition in which the piece of tissue is held between the first and second forming elements. Means are preferably provided for monitoring and controlling the amount of pressure applied to the piece of tissue, in order to maintain the tissue in a viable living condition. Means may also be provided for draining off fluid from compressed tissue, so that the tissue can be implanted in a compressed state and imbibe fluid from the host site. A retainer, which may be expandable, can be used to maintain the tissue graft in a compressed condition.

Claims

1. A method of using human tissue, said method comprising the steps of removing human bone tissue from a human body, compacting the human bone tissue to increase the density of the human bone tissue and decrease the volume of the human bone tissue, enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh prior to performing said step of compacting the human bone tissue, and placing the human bone tissue into a human body.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of biodegradable material.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of bone-growth enhancer.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of polymeric material.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of metal.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 herein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of composite materials.

18. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of placing at least one material from a group which consists of antibiotics, bone growth enhancers, tricalcium phosphate, fibrin, allograft material and autograph material with the human bone tissue, said step of compacting the human bone tissue being performed after performing said step of placing at least one material from said group with the human bone tissue.

19. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the human bone tissue has a first volume prior to performance of said step of compacting the human bone tissue and has a second volume after performance of said step of compacting the human bone tissue, said second volume being smaller than said first volume.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of placing the human bone tissue into a human body is performed when the human bone tissue has the second volume.

21. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of operating a press to apply force against the human bone tissue to compact the human bone tissue.

22. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of removing fluid from the human bone tissue to enable fluid to be absorbed by the human bone tissue after the human bone tissue has been placed in a human body.

7. A method of using human tissue, said method comprising the steps of removing human bone tissue from a human body, compacting the human bone tissue to increase the density of the human bone tissue and decrease the volume of the human bone tissue, at least partially enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh having openings through which living tissue can grow, and placing the human bone tissue into a human body.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 further including the step of placing at least one material from a group which consists of antibiotics, bone growth enhancers, tricalcium phosphate, fibrin, allograft material and autograph material with the human bone tissue, said step of compacting the human bone tissue being performed after performing said step of placing at least one material from said group with the human bone tissue.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the human bone tissue has a first volume prior to performance of said step of compacting the human bone tissue and has a second volume after performance of said step of compacting the human bone tissue, said second volume being smaller than said first volume.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of placing the human bone tissue into a human body is performed when the human bone tissue has the second volume.

11. A method as set forth in claim 7 further including the step of operating a press to apply force against the human bone tissue to compact the human bone tissue.

12. A method as set forth in claim 7 further including the step of removing fluid from the human bone tissue to enable fluid to be absorbed by the human bone tissue after the human bone tissue has been placed in a human body.

13. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of biodegradable material.

14. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of bone-growth enhancer.

15. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of polymeric material.

16. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of metal.

17. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh includes enclosing the human bone tissue with a mesh formed of composite materials.

23. A method of using body tissue, said method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of pieces of body tissue, placing polymeric material adjacent to the plurality of pieces of body tissue, applying pressure against the plurality of pieces of body tissue and the polymeric material to form a unitary article, and inserting the unitary article into a human body.

24. A method as set forth in claim 23 further including the step of transmitting heat to the plurality of pieces of body tissue and the polymeric material.

25. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the plurality of pieces of body tissue include a plurality of pieces of bone.

26. A method as set forth in claim 23 further including the step of transmitting heat to the plurality of pieces of body tissue and the polymeric material while performing said step of applying pressure against the plurality of pieces of body tissue and the polymeric material.

27. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said step of providing a plurality of pieces of body tissue includes removing a plurality of pieces of bone from a human body, said step of placing polymeric material adjacent to the plurality of pieces of body material includes placing polymeric material adjacent to the plurality of pieces of bone, said step of inserting the unitary article into a human body is performed with the plurality of pieces of bone interconnected by the polymeric material.

28. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said step of applying pressure against the plurality of pieces of body tissue includes pressing a forming surface against the plurality of pieces of body tissue and the polymeric material to form the unitary article with a configuration which is at least partially a function of the configuration of said forming surface.

29. A method as set forth in claim 23 further including the step of placing a bone growth enhancer adjacent to the polymeric material and the plurality of pieces of body tissue, said step of applying pressure against the plurality of pieces of body tissue and the polymeric material includes applying pressure against the bone growth enhancer and forming the plurality of pieces of body tissue, the polymeric material, and the bone growth enhancer into the unitary article.