Medical device for treatment of a gap or defect in the central nerve system

• US 6,235,041 B1
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Swenora Biotech AB
• Original Assignee: Karolinska Innovations AB
• Inventors: Cheng, Henrich, Olson, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/230,509
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/152, 623/11, 623/12
• US Class Current: 606/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1128 of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive

Abstract

A medical device (1) of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, which device has a proximal end (5) and a distal end (6) comprising openings (7). The device is adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter between the proximal end (5) and distal end (6) thereof in predetermined openings (7). The device is of a substantially cylindrical form, or a substantially flat or plate like form and is made of plastic. The openings (7) in at least one end (5, 6) bear distinctively different indicia thereby to indicate whether nerve fibers of gray matter or nerve fibers of white matter are to be inserted therein.

Claims

1. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

marked openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter; and

at least two means adapted to receive nerve growth promoting substances,

wherein an area of each of said proximal and said distal ends is divided into a first part adapted to enable connection of white matter of a spinal cord and a second part adapted to enable connection of gray matter of a spinal cord.

2. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein said second part is a central area and said first part is a peripheral area situated substantially around said central area.

3. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

predetermined openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection to nerve fibers of gray and white matter,

wherein channels bridge said openings in a first part of an area of said proximal end and bridge said openings in a second part of an area of said distal end, and

wherein channels bridge said openings in a second part of said area of said proximal end and bridge said openings in a first part of said area of said distal end.

4. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

predetermined openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter,

wherein channels bridge said openings in a first part of an area of said proximal end and bridge said openings in a first part of an area of said distal end,

wherein channels bridge said openings in a second part of

said area of said proximal end and bridge said openings in a second part of said area of said distal end.

5. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

predetermined openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter, wherein said openings are defined by a diameter and a length greater than said diameter and said openings create a side area in the length direction; and

at least one channel having openings in said side area.

6. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end; and

a distal end; and

predetermined openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter,

wherein said device is substantially flat or plate-like.

7. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

predetermined openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter;

at least two substantially flat or plate-like means between said ends; and

tubing arranged to receive growth promoting material and threaded through holes in said means.

8. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

predetermined openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter; and

a substantially cylindrical means and at least one substantially flat or plate-like means between said ends.

9. A medical device of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

predetermined openings between said proximal end and said distal end adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter,

wherein said openings in at least one of said proximal or said distal ends have distinctly different indicia to indicate whether nerve fibers of gray matter or nerve fibers of white matter are to be inserted therein.