Methods and devices for connecting nerves
First Claim
1. A nerve repair conduit, comprising:
- a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface, and an interior surface which defines an interior lumen, wherein the polymeric body is configured to be secured to a first portion of a nerve and a second portion of a nerve;
one or more drug reservoirs each separately defined by a respective exterior surface directly connected to the exterior surface of the polymeric body, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs are configured to be implanted in vivo and contain at least one agent and optionally an excipient;
wherein the one or more drug reservoirs further comprise one or more dividers forming separate reservoirs for separate agents within the one or more reservoirs, the one or more dividers being oriented orthogonal to a long axis of the nerve repair conduit to form the separate reservoirs at different longitudinal sections of the nerve repair conduit; and
at least one outlet formed between the one or more drug reservoirs, and the interior surface of the polymeric body so as to enable delivery of the at least one agent from the separate reservoirs through the polymeric body to the interior lumen of the polymeric body without requiring degradation of the polymeric body for release of the at least one agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nerve repair conduit configured to be secured on first and second portions of a selected nerve. The nerve repair conduit includes a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior lumen. In addition, the nerve conduit includes at least one drug reservoir to hold agent(s) that may, for example, facilitate nerve regeneration. The drugs diffuse from the drug reservoir(s) into the nerve repair conduit through an outlet (e.g., a semipermeable membrane) in proximity to the first and second portions of a selected nerve. The nerve repair conduit may be configured to deliver the agent(s) at a rate having substantially zero-order kinetics and/or at a constant rate over a selected period of time (e.g., at least 1 week).
70 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A nerve repair conduit, comprising:
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a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface, and an interior surface which defines an interior lumen, wherein the polymeric body is configured to be secured to a first portion of a nerve and a second portion of a nerve; one or more drug reservoirs each separately defined by a respective exterior surface directly connected to the exterior surface of the polymeric body, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs are configured to be implanted in vivo and contain at least one agent and optionally an excipient;
wherein the one or more drug reservoirs further comprise one or more dividers forming separate reservoirs for separate agents within the one or more reservoirs, the one or more dividers being oriented orthogonal to a long axis of the nerve repair conduit to form the separate reservoirs at different longitudinal sections of the nerve repair conduit; andat least one outlet formed between the one or more drug reservoirs, and the interior surface of the polymeric body so as to enable delivery of the at least one agent from the separate reservoirs through the polymeric body to the interior lumen of the polymeric body without requiring degradation of the polymeric body for release of the at least one agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 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 nerve repair conduit, comprising:
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a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior lumen, wherein the polymeric body is configured to be secured to a first portion of a nerve and a second portion of a nerve; one or more drug reservoirs associated with the exterior surface of the polymeric body, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs contain at least one agent and optionally an excipient, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs further comprise one or more dividers forming separate reservoirs for separate agents within the one or more reservoirs, the one or more dividers being oriented orthogonal to a long axis of the nerve repair conduit to form the separate reservoirs at different longitudinal sections of the nerve repair conduit;
wherein the one or more drug reservoirs have an exterior surface abutting the exterior surface of the polymeric body; andat least one outlet formed between the one or more drug reservoirs, the exterior surface of the polymeric body, and the interior surface of the polymeric body so as to enable delivery of the at least one agent from the separate reservoirs through the polymeric body to the interior lumen of the polymeric body without requiring degradation of the polymeric body for release of the at least one agent.
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34. A nerve repair conduit, comprising:
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a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior lumen, wherein the polymeric body is configured to be secured to a first portion of a nerve and a second portion of a nerve; one or more drug reservoirs disposed concentrically around the exterior surface of the polymeric body, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs contain at least one agent and optionally an excipient;
wherein the one or more drug reservoirs further comprise one or more dividers forming separate reservoirs for separate agents within the one or more reservoirs, the one or more dividers being oriented orthogonal to a long axis of the nerve repair conduit to form the separate reservoirs at different longitudinal sections of the nerve repair conduit; andat least one outlet formed between the one or more drug reservoirs, the exterior surface of the polymeric body, and the interior surface of the polymeric body so as to enable delivery of the at least one agent from the separate reservoirs through the polymeric body to the interior lumen of the polymeric body without requiring degradation of the polymeric body for release of the at least one agent.
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35. A nerve repair conduit, comprising:
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a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior lumen, wherein the polymeric body is configured to be secured to a first portion of a nerve and a second portion of a nerve, the first portion or the second portion of the nerve including one or more of an uninjured but inflamed nerve, an injured but intact nerve, a partially transected nerve, or a transected nerve; one or more drug reservoirs associated with the exterior surface of the polymeric body, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs contain at least one agent and optionally an excipient, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs further comprise one or more dividers forming separate reservoirs for separate agents within the one or more reservoirs, the one or more dividers being oriented orthogonal to a long axis of the nerve repair conduit to form the separate reservoirs at different longitudinal sections of the nerve repair conduit;
the one or more drug reservoirs being disposed concentrically about the exterior surface of the polymeric body, the at least one agent including a neurotrophic factor selected to enhance the rate of nerve regeneration;at least one outlet formed between the one or more drug reservoirs, and the interior surface of the polymeric body, the at least one outlet including micro-scale holes for delivering the at least one agent from the separate reservoirs through the polymeric body to the interior lumen of the polymeric body via diffusion through the micro-scale holes and without requiring degradation of the polymeric body for release of the at least one agent; and a substantially tubular member disposed around the exterior surface of the polymeric body, wherein the one or more drug reservoirs are formed in a space between the exterior surface of the polymeric body and the substantially tubular member, wherein the nerve repair conduit is configured to deliver the at least one agent at a constant rate of diffusion over a period of time of at least 3 days.
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Specification