Fortified mesh for tissue repair

Abstract

A mesh to repair a hole in a muscle wall includes a resilient mesh body and fortifying structure such as mesh portions of thicker weave than other portions, or strengthening members that can be engaged with the mesh and then removed from the mesh once the mesh is place over the hole. The same principles can be applied to a plug that is engaged with the mesh for filling the hole.

Description

[0001]Priority is claimed to U.S. provisional application 61 / 024,489, filed Jan. 29, 2008 and to U.S. provisional application 61 / 097,756, filed Sep. 17, 2008.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the repair of defects in muscular structures, and more particularly to repairing hernias.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A hernia is a condition in which part of the intestine bulges through a weak area in muscles of the abdomen. The main treatment for inguinal hernia is surgery to block the protrusion of abdominal content through the muscle wall. This surgery is called herniorrhaphy, and typically involves suturing the muscle layers and fascia together to reinforce the wall or blocking the defect with a flat polypropylene mesh.[0004]As understood herein, the mesh must be sufficiently flexible and resilient to be pushed through a hole in a muscular wall for, e.g., hernia repair, pelvic floor prolapse, and other muscular repairs, and then assume a flat confi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes an apparatus and method for repairing a hole in a muscle wall using a flexible mesh. The mesh is designed to be pushed through the hole and then unfolded into a flat configuration. However, current meshes may not fully unfold and the resiliency of the mesh can be decreased by increasing its diameter. To address this, the patent proposes an apparatus with a flexible mesh and a strengthening member that can be engaged with or disposed on the mesh. The strengthening member can be made of nitinol and can include filaments or strands that are engaged with the mesh body. The strengthening member can be removable from the mesh and can be in the form of a thick strand or plural strands. The strengthening member can be disposed on the mesh body or around its periphery and can be concentric or spiral. The method involves deforming the mesh body to a first configuration and then allowing it to expand and become substantially flat under the influence of the strengthening member. The strengthening member does not need to fracture within the patient to contaminate or injure them. The invention provides a leaf spring-like force without the need for a separate leaf spring."

Problems solved by technology

As critically recognized herein, current meshes may not completely unfold into a flat configuration after being pushed through the muscle wall, and this condition is difficult to identify and / or remedy owing to poor visibility and / or access of the posterior side of the wall.

As further recognized herein, increasing the resiliency of the mesh by increasing the filament diameter throughout the mesh can decrease the resiliency of the mesh and moreover increases the mass of the mesh to the point where tissue reaction with the mesh can increase undesirably.

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