Subdermal tendon implant

Claim 2

A subdermal tendon implant for use in tendon surgery including: an elongated member having a smooth, nonwetting inferior surface and a smooth, nonwetting superior surface, said elongated member adapted to be positioned between a viable, constantly moving, damaged tendon and the surrounding body tissue, and being made from a flexible, substantially inert material that is compatible with human cellular structure; a mesh material bonded to only a portion of the inferior surface of the elongated member, said mesh material adapted to contact substantially immovable body tissue with the remaining smooth, nonwetting inferior surface adapted to contact the damaged tendon; and suture means for anchoring the implant to the substantially immovable body tissue to prevent it from moving axially along the constantly moving, damaged tendon during the early stages of healing.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the elongated member is made from a reinforced, medical-grade silicon elastomer.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the mesh material is made from a polyester netting adapted to cause fibroblastic infiltration through the mesh material securing the subdermal tendon implant to the substantially immovable body tissue by periosteal attachment.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the elongated member is sculptured to form at each end a shackle portion linked together by a central portion, said mesh material being bonded only to the inferior surface of the shackle end portions.

Claim 6

The process of making a subdermal tendon implant from a flexible sheeting of substantially inert, nonreactive material having a smooth exterior surface, the process including the steps of: sculpturing the flexible sheeting to a desired size and shape; bonding a mesh material to at least a portion of one surface of the flexible sheeting; positioning the flexible sheeting with the bonded mesh material subcutaneously between a damaged tendon and the surrounding body tissue so that a portion of the smooth exterior surface of the sheeting material rests against the damaged tendon and the portion of the surface containing the mesh material rests against substantially immovable body tissue; and fixedly securing the flexible sheeting with the bonded mesh material to the substantially immovable body tissue to anchor the subdermal tendon implant for rapid fibrous fixation.

Claim 7

The process of making a subdermal tendon implant from a flexible sheeting of substantially inert, nonreactive material having a smooth exterior surface, the process including the steps of: sculpturing the flexible sheeting to a desired size and shape; bonding a mesh material to at least a portion of one surface of the flexible sheeting; positioning the flexible sheeting with the bonded mesh material subcutaneously between a damaged tendon and the surrounding body tissue so that a portion of the smooth exterior surface of the sheeting material rests against the damaged tendon and the portion of the surface containing the mesh material rests against substantially immovable body tissue; and fixedly securing the flexible sheeting with the bonded mesh material to the substantially immovable body tissue to anchor the subdermal tendon implant for rapid fibrous fixation.

Claim 8

The process as set forth in claim 5 further including the initial step of sculpturing the flexible sheeting to form an elongated member.

Claim 9

The process as set forth in claim 5 further including the initial step of sculpturing the flexible sheeting to form at each end a shackle portion linked together by a central portion.