US6583117B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of tissue repair
Assignee: Avastra Ltd
•
Filing: 2001-01-25
•
Granted: 2003-06-24
•
Expires: 2021-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for joining tissue comprising aligning and abutting edges of the tissue to be joined applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof, across the edges and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond to the tissue surface adjacent the edges to provide a weld holding the edges together.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl Ronald Owen
- 👤 Rodney Ian Trickett
- 👤 Antonio Lauto
- 👤 Judith Margaret Dawes
- 👤 James Austin Piper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B17/1128; A61L; A61L24/00; A61L24/04; A61L24/10; A61L24/106; A61L31/00; A61L31/04; A61L31/043; A61B17/00491; A61B2017/00513
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for joining tissue comprising: aligning and abutting edges of the tissue to be joined; applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof across the edges as one or more transverse strips; and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond to the tissue surface adjacent the edges to provide a weld holding the edges together, wherein when more than one strip is applied, the strips are spaced apart to permit natural co-aptation of the join.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for joining tissue comprising: aligning and abutting edges of the tissue to be joined; applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof across the edges as one or more transverse strips; and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond to the tissue surface adjacent the edges to provide a weld holding the edges together, wherein when more than one strip is applied, the strips are spaced apart to permit natural co-aptation of the join.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is nerve tissue and the edges are ends of a peripheral nerve fascicle or a nerve fascicle and nerve graft material, and welding is-not effected along the line of discontinuity so as to protect nerve tissue from damage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is an anastomosis of a biological tube selected from the group consisting of veins, arteries, lymphatic, vasa efferentia, fallopian tubes, bile ducts, tubes of the alimentary canal, the ureter, the urethra, tear ducts and bronchi, and wherein a hollow cylinder of the solder is inserted into the biological tube between discontinuous edges of the anastomosis prior to the application of the one or more strips of the solder to the external surface of the biological tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein the discontinuous edges are held in place while energy is applied to the cylinder within the tube to cause the cylinder to bond with the inner surface of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is a repair of an incision or tear of a biological organ including kidneys, liver or spleen, or of a biological surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising applying a first strip of the solder and exposing said first strip to the energy source; applying a second strip close to the first strip and exposing said second strip to the energy source; and repeating said applying and exposing steps to provide a plurality of strip welds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable, biological solder is a protein solder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the protein solder is a solid or a fluid solder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the energy source is a laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solder incorporates a substance which efficiently absorbs the energy from the energy source compared to absorption of the energy by the tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the substance is a dye.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the biological solder is a fluid protein solder composition comprising 100 to 120 parts by weight protein per 100 parts by weight of a suitable solvent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the fluid protein solder composition comprises 100 to 110 parts by weight protein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the protein solder composition further comprises a substance which efficiently absorbs energy from an energy source compared to absorption of the energy by the tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the substance is a dye.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the protein is albumin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the protein contains βsheet structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according claim 12 , wherein the protein has between 1 and 10% by weight αhelical content.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the solvent is a water-containing solvent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the solvent is water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the biological solder is a substantially solid protein solder composition comprising 120 to 230 parts by weight protein per 100 parts by weight of a suitable solvent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the protein solder composition comprises 170 to 230 parts by weight protein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein the protein solder composition comprises about 210 parts by weight protein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the protein solder composition further comprises a substance which efficiently absorbs energy from an energy source compared to absorption of the energy by the tissue.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 24 , wherein the substance is a dye.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the protein is albumin.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the protein contains βsheet structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the protein has between 1 and 10% by weight αhelical content.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the solvent is a water-containing solvent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the solvent is water.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is an anastornosis of a biological tube, and wherein a cylinder of the solder is inserted into the tube between the edges prior to the application of the one or more strips of the solder to the external surface of the biological tube.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for repairing a discontinuity in a tissue surface, comprising: applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof to the discontinuity; and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond within itself and to the tissue surface to provide a weld holding the solder and tissues surrounding the discontinuity together; wherein the biological solder is a fluid protein solder composition comprising 100 to 120 parts by weight protein per 100 parts by weight of a suitable solvent.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for repairing a discontinuity in a tissue surface, comprising: applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof to the discontinuity; and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond within itself and to the tissue surface to provide a weld holding the solder and tissues surrounding the discontinuity together; wherein the biological solder is a fluid protein solder composition comprising 100 to 120 parts by weight protein per 100 parts by weight of a suitable solvent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 32 , wherein the biological solder further comprises a substance which efficiently absorbs energy from an energy source compared to absorption of the energy by the tissue.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 33 , wherein the substance is a dye.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 32 , wherein the protein is albumin.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 32 , wherein the protein contains βsheet structure.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 32 , wherein the protein has between 1% and 10% by weight αhelical content.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 32 , wherein the solvent is a water-containing solvent.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 32 , wherein the solvent is water.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for repairing a discontinuity in a tissue surface, comprising: applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof to the discontinuity; and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond within itself and to the tissue surface to provide a weld holding the solder and tissues surrounding the discontinuity together; wherein the biological solder is a substantially solid protein solder composition comprising 120 to 230 parts by weight protein per 100 parts by weight of a suitable solvent.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for repairing a discontinuity in a tissue surface, comprising: applying a biodegradable, biological solder or an analogue thereof to the discontinuity; and exposing the solder to an energy source under conditions which provide transfer of energy from the source to the solder to cause the solder to bond within itself and to the tissue surface to provide a weld holding the solder and tissues surrounding the discontinuity together; wherein the biological solder is a substantially solid protein solder composition comprising 120 to 230 parts by weight protein per 100 parts by weight of a suitable solvent.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the protein solder composition comprises 170 to 230 parts by weight protein.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the biological solder further comprises a substance which efficiently absorbs energy from an energy source compared to absorption of the energy by the tissue.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 42 , wherein the substance is a dye.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the protein is albumin.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the protein contains βsheet structure.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the protein has between 1% and 10% by weight αhelical content.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the solvent is a water containing solvent.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the solvent is water.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 40 , wherein the biological solder is applied to the discontinuity as a preformed strip.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 48 , wherein the preformed strip has a thickness in a range of between 50 and 100 μ.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-23 | 2006-12-23 | 2007-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-23 | 2010-12-23 | 2011-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-23 | 2014-12-23 | 2015-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |