Soft tissue closure systems

Claim 1

A device for sealing a void in a soft tissue of a living being which comprises: a) an implant, having a length comprised of collagen material which is capable of being resorbed in the living being characterized by being in a compressed configuration and self-expandable when wetted to contain an expanded average pore size of from about 100 μm to about 3,000 μm, said implant having a relaxation recovery time of from about 1 second to about 30 seconds and having a volume in its compressed configuration state which i from about 1/100 to about 1/3 of the volume of its expanded state and is formed by the steps comprising: (i) forming an aqueous dispersion containing collagen; (ii) pouring the aqueous dispersion into molds; (iii) freeze drying the aqueous dispersion to form a collagen matrix; (iv) crosslinking the collagen matrix by treatment with crosslinking agent; (v) spraying the crosslinked collagen matrix with water mist; and then (vi) compressing the water mist treated collagen matrix; b) a delivery means having an outlet at its distal end and a depth insertion guide, said delivery means being adapted to be inserted into the void to a depth which is controlled by the depth insertion guide, said implant being disposed within said delivery means; and c) a retractable ejection means capable of ejecting the compressed implant out of the said outlet a controlled distance into the void of the soft tissue to form an expanded, hydrated matrix which conforms to seal the soft tissue void, wherein (i) the depth insertion guide, (ii) the length of the implant, and (iii) the retractable ejection mans, in combination, control the positioning of the implant within the void.

Claim 2

A device for sealing a void in a soft tissue of a living being which comprises: a) an implant, having a length comprised of collagen material which is capable of being resorbed in the living being characterized by being in a compressed configuration and self-expandable when wetted to contain an expanded average pore size of from about 100 μm to about 3,000 μm, said implant having a relaxation recovery time of from about 1 second to about 30 seconds and having a volume in its compressed configuration state which i from about 1/100 to about 1/3 of the volume of its expanded state and is formed by the steps comprising: (i) forming an aqueous dispersion containing collagen; (ii) pouring the aqueous dispersion into molds; (iii) freeze drying the aqueous dispersion to form a collagen matrix; (iv) crosslinking the collagen matrix by treatment with crosslinking agent; (v) spraying the crosslinked collagen matrix with water mist; and then (vi) compressing the water mist treated collagen matrix; b) a delivery means having an outlet at its distal end and a depth insertion guide, said delivery means being adapted to be inserted into the void to a depth which is controlled by the depth insertion guide, said implant being disposed within said delivery means; and c) a retractable ejection means capable of ejecting the compressed implant out of the said outlet a controlled distance into the void of the soft tissue to form an expanded, hydrated matrix which conforms to seal the soft tissue void, wherein (i) the depth insertion guide, (ii) the length of the implant, and (iii) the retractable ejection mans, in combination, control the positioning of the implant within the void.