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Crosslinker enhanced repair of knee meniscus

a crosslinker and enhanced technology, applied in the field of protein crosslinking reagents, can solve the problems of reducing the operating time and risk of complications for patients, general strength not as strong as sutures, and inventors are unaware of any prior art with regard to crosslinking of native meniscus

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-04-04
ORTHOPEUTICS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a method of repairing torn knee menisci by exposing them to a protein crosslinker during surgery. The crosslinker can be injected into the damaged area or applied using a patch or fixation device. The patch can also contain crosslinker and layers of biodegradable polymer. The patch can be attached to the meniscus with an adhesive or by using a fixation device like an arrow, dart, tack, or suture. The method also includes heating the torn meniscus to prevent collagen fibers from contracting. Overall, this method can promote faster healing and recovery without compromising the strength of the meniscus.

Problems solved by technology

Although the latter class of devices provides temporary support to the tissue as it heals, they are in general not as strong as sutures [12,13].
However, because their use results in substantially reduced operating times and risk of complications to the patient, they are increasingly gaining favor [12,13].
The inventors are, however, unaware of any prior art with regard to crosslinking of the native meniscus in situ.

Method used

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  • Crosslinker enhanced repair of knee meniscus
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Examples

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example 1

[0047]A radial tear of a human knee meniscus may be repaired by the present methods and devices in a number of embodiments. Some embodiments involve implementation of standard arthroscopic procedures for meniscal repair using darts containing a crosslinking and a pH modulating reagent. The fixation darts are manufactured as follows. One gram of 50:50 poly-D,L-lactide-co-glycolide polymer (average molecular weight of 53 kDa) is dissolved in 6 ml of acetone and then precipitated by addition of 10 ml of pure ethanol. Two hundred mg of sodium bicarbonate and 6 mg of genipin crosslinker are added to and mixed with the precipitated polymer prior to using the mixture to mould three meniscal dart devices which are dried under vacuum to solidify the polymer and remove the solvents.

example 2

[0048]Some embodiments involve implementation of standard arthroscopic procedures for meniscal repair using biodegradable sutures which are produced by extruding polydioxanone in the presence of 10% (w / w) of a 40% solution of methylglyoxal.

example 3

[0049]Some embodiments involve direct injection into the meniscal tissue in the region of the tear a buffered crosslinking reagent. The injection may be administered using standard sterile intracapsular injection techniques and fluoroscopic, arthroscopic, or any equivalent or superior imaging technology and techniques that allow for simultaneous injections. The injected solution contains 40 mM genipin in a buffer consisting of 50 mM 3-[4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]propanesulfonic acid (EPPS) and 50 mM sodium triphosphate at a pH of 8.0. The patient should avoid flexion-extension or weight bearing of the knee for a period of time following the injection, approximately 1 hour, to allow for diffusion of the reagent and initial crosslink formation within the meniscal tissue, followed by a period of light movement and intermittent weight bearing to encourage further movement through the tissue of unreacted reagent and to aid in the introduction of oxygen to expedite the crosslinking ...

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Abstract

A method of treating a tear in a knee meniscus of a patient. The method includes exposing the torn knee meniscus to a protein crosslinker during surgery to repair the tear. Also provided is a fixation device for the surgical repair of tears of the meniscus of the knee, where the device contains one or more protein crosslinking reagents.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12 / 715,737, filed on Mar. 2, 2010, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11 / 712,684, filed Feb. 28, 2007. This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 975,072, filed Oct. 17, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 726,790, filed Mar. 22, 2007. This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 348,977, filed on May 27, 2010. All of the foregoing applications are incorporated by reference hereinBACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to protein crosslinking reagents for the surgical repair of torn knee menisci in humans or similar connective tissue structures in animals such as the stifle joint meniscus in equines.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]The menisci of the knee are a pair of crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structures attached to the planar apic...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61F2/30
CPCA61F2/0063A61F2/3872A61F2250/0067A61F2/30756A61L31/14A61L2430/06A61L31/043A61L27/54A61L27/18A61L27/34A61L27/505A61L27/58A61L2300/412
Inventor HEDMAN, THOMAS P.SLUSAREWICZ, PAUL
Owner ORTHOPEUTICS