A device for the mechanical fixation of connective tissue in an animal.
A device with an interface piece and connecting threads addresses the inefficiency of existing connective tissue fixation methods, enabling faster and more practical surgical procedures for muscle attachment and aesthetic corrections.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MARCHAL FRANCIS
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Mechanical fixation device for connective tissue of an animal.
[0001] The invention relates to a device for mechanically fixing a first connective tissue, such as a muscle, of the body of a mammal or more generally of an animal, to a second connective tissue, such as a muscle, bone, tendon or ligament, of that body. The invention further relates to a method for positioning and configuring the aforementioned fixing device.
[0002] In the surgical field, particularly in the field of reconstructive or plastic surgery, it is sometimes necessary to implement methods to tighten a muscle or group of muscles. Such an intervention takes time.
[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a device for the mechanical fixation of a first connective tissue of an animal's body to a second connective tissue of that same animal's body, and a method for configuring and positioning such a device, remedying the above-mentioned drawbacks and improving upon devices and methods known in the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a simple device that makes the aforementioned procedures more practical and faster.
[0004] According to the invention, a device allows for the mechanical attachment of a first connective tissue of an animal's body, particularly the human body or the body of a mammal, to a second connective tissue of that body. The device comprises: - an interface piece, - at least one element for attaching the interface piece to a second connective tissue of that body, and - at least two first mechanical connecting threads intended to be attached to a first connective tissue or to several first connective tissues, and - at least two first needles, each first mechanical connecting thread comprising: - a fixed proximal end, in particular knotted, to the interface piece, and - a fixed distal end, in particular knotted, to a first needle.
[0005] The interface piece can be: - a plate, in particular a flat or substantially flat plate or a convex plate or a concave plate or a warped plate, or - a straight or curved bar.
[0006] The interface piece may have an annular shape.
[0007] The interface piece may be flexible and / or comprise: - an elastomeric material, and / or - a network of woven, braided, twisted, or arranged threads to form a rope, and / or - a knitted item.
[0008] The interface piece may be rigid and / or comprise one of the following elements and / or be made up of one of the following elements: - a stainless steel component, or - a titanium alloy component, or - an element made of plastic or synthetic material, or - an element made of ceramic material.
[0009] The interface piece may constitute a prosthetic element, in particular a bioprosthetic element, or constitute a prosthesis, in particular a bioprosthesis.
[0010] The interface part can be obtained by 3D printing.
[0011] At least one fastening element may include at least one second wire.
[0012] At least a second wire may have a distal end to which a needle is attached.
[0013] The interface piece may include several wire fixing holes, including a network of holes.
[0014] At least one fastening element may include at least one hole for a screw.
[0015] At least some of the threads may be absorbable threads or non-absorbable threads.
[0016] According to the invention, a method allows for the setup and configuration of a previously defined device. The method comprises: - a step of attaching the interface piece to a second connective tissue or to several second connective tissues, and - a step of fixing all the first mechanical bonding threads to a first connective tissue or to several first connective tissues, or a step of fixing one or some of the first mechanical bonding threads to a first connective tissue or to several first connective tissues and a step of removing the unused first mechanical bonding thread(s).
[0017] The attached drawing represents, by way of example, three embodiments of a fastening device according to the invention.
[0018] Fig. 1 represents a first embodiment of a mechanical fixation device for a muscle.
[0019] Fig. 2 represents the first embodiment of the fixation device implanted on a patient.
[0020] Fig. 3 represents a second embodiment of a mechanical muscle fixation device.
[0021] Fig. 4 represents the second embodiment of the fixation device implanted on a patient.
[0022] Fig. 5 represents a third embodiment of a mechanical muscle fixation device.
[0023] Fig. 6 represents the third embodiment of the fixation device implanted on a patient.
[0024] A first embodiment of a mechanical fastening device 1: - of at least one first connective tissue 11 of an animal's body, particularly the human body or the body of a mammal, - on at least a second connective tissue 12 of this same body is described below with reference to figures 1 and 2.
[0025] Regardless of the embodiment and variant, at least one first connective tissue may in particular be or comprise: - a muscle, and / or - a fascia, and / or - a tendon, and / or
[0026] - cartilage, and / or - the dermis, and / or - the hypodermis.
[0027] Regardless of the embodiment and variant, the at least one second connective tissue may in particular be or comprise: - a muscle, and / or - a fascia, and / or - a tendon, and / or
[0028] - cartilage, and / or - a ligament, and / or - a bone, and / or - a periosteum, and / or - a perichondrium.
[0029] This fixation device allows tension or pre-stress to be applied to the first connective tissue 11 or to different first connective tissues 11. This makes it possible to perform aesthetic, therapeutic, or reconstructive treatments on a patient's body. In particular, it allows for modifying the facial expression of a patient with facial hemiplegia. It also allows for the support or suspension of organs, such as breast tissue, buttock muscles, or abdominal muscles. It also allows, in particular, the correction of muscle hernias.
[0030] The mechanical fastening device 1 comprises: - an interface piece 2, - at least one element 3 for attaching the interface piece 2 to the second connective tissue 12 of an animal's body, in particular the human body or the body of a mammal, and - at least two first mechanical connecting threads 4 intended to be fixed to a first connective tissue 11 or to several first connective tissues 11, and - at least two first needles 5, each mechanical connecting thread comprising: - a proximal end 41 fixed, in particular knotted, to the interface piece 2, and - a distal end 42 fixed, in particular knotted, to a first needle 5.
[0031] The interface piece 2 can have any shape. Its function is to provide an interface between: - a first connective tissue 11 or several first connective tissues 11 on which it will exert a tensile force or forces, and
[0032] - a second connective tissue 12 or several second connective tissues 12 to which it will be attached so that this / these second fabric(s) can take over the tensile force.
[0033] The interface piece is preferably rigid in the sense that, under normal use—that is, when the device 1 is fixed to the body and when the aforementioned forces are applied to the interface piece—no significant deformation of the interface piece is visible to the naked eye. This does not preclude the interface piece from being flexible or pliable before being fixed to the body.
[0034] In the first embodiment, the interface part 2 is a plate, in particular: - a flat or nearly flat plate, or - a convex plate, or - a concave plate, or - a left-hand plate. Alternatively, the interface piece 2 can have an annular shape. In both cases, the perimeter of the interface piece can be any geometric shape, including: - circles, - ellipses, - triangles, - rectangles, or - squares.
[0035] In this first embodiment, the interface piece 2 is a circular plate.
[0036] The interface part 2 can be made of a biocompatible material, for example: - made of surgical-grade stainless steel, or - in titanium alloy, or other or - made of plastic or synthetic material, or - made of ceramic material.
[0037] The interface piece 2 can perform another complementary function. In particular, the interface piece 2 can perform a prosthetic function. The interface piece 2 can therefore be a prosthesis, in particular a bioprosthesis, or a prosthetic component, in particular a bioprosthesis component.
[0038] The interface piece 2 can be adapted to the morphology of the body to which it is to be attached or can be designed for the morphology of the body to which it is to be attached. For example, measurements can be taken on the body and the interface piece can be custom-made. The interface piece can, in particular, be produced for this purpose by three-dimensional printing (3D printing).
[0039] In this first embodiment, the at least one fastening element 3 comprises at least one second thread 3 and at least one second needle 5. The second thread 3 comprises: - a proximal end 31 fixed, in particular knotted, to the interface piece 2, and - a distal end 42 fixed, in particular knotted, to the second needle 5.
[0040] The use or installation and configuration of a device 1 as previously mentioned is described below. The installed device is illustrated in [Fig.2].
[0041] The method of using the device or of setting up and configuring the device includes: a) a first step of fixing the interface piece 2 to a second connective tissue 12, and b) a second step of fixing all the mechanical bonding threads 4 to a first connective tissue 11 or to several first connective tissues 11, or a second step of fixing one or some mechanical bonding threads 4 to a first connective tissue 11 or to several first connective tissues 11 and removing the unused mechanical bonding thread(s) 4.
[0042] In the first step (a), the interface piece is fixed by means of the second wire(s) 3 which are passed through the second connective tissue 12. This / these second wire(s) can be knotted, at their distal end(s) 32, at the level of the second connective tissue 12 or at the level of a hole 6, 9 provided in the interface piece 2.
[0043] In the second step (b), the interface piece is fixed to the first connective tissue(s) 12 by means of the first thread(s) 4 which are passed through the first(s) connective tissue(s) 12. These first thread(s) can be knotted, at their distal end(s) 42, at the level of the first connective tissue(s) 12 or at the level of a hole 6, 9 provided in the interface piece 2.
[0044] In this first step and / or in this second step, if a surgeon uses a device 1 with too many first threads 4 and / or too many second threads 3, they can simply, in a first removal operation, remove (by cutting) the threads they do not wish to use. This removal operation can be performed before or after the other first and / or second threads have been fixed to the connective tissue(s). Alternatively, in this first step and / or in this second step, if a surgeon uses a device 1 with not enough first threads 4 and / or not enough second threads 3, they can simply, in a second addition operation, add some by fixing them (in particular by tying a knot) to the interface piece 2. This thread addition operation can be performed before or after the other first and / or second threads have been fixed to the connective tissue(s).
[0045] The first and second steps mentioned above can be performed in any order. Preferably, however, the first step (a) is carried out before the second step (b). Alternatively, it is possible to attach the first threads alternately to the first fabric(s) and the second threads to the second fabric(s).
[0046] Initial operations to add thread(s) and / or subsequent operations to remove thread(s) may be performed during a second surgical procedure that is delayed relative to the initial surgical procedure during which the fixation device was placed on the body, for example, several months or several years after the initial surgical procedure. In such a case, one can: - add one or more first and / or second threads that were not placed during the first surgical procedure, and / or - remove one or more first and / or second threads put in place during the first surgical procedure.
[0047] In a second embodiment described with reference to figures 3 and 4, the mechanical fastening device 1 differs in that: - the interface piece is a rectangular plate, and - at least one fastening element 3 includes at least one hole 7 for the passage of a screw 8.
[0048] In the described embodiment, at least one fixing element 3 comprises two screw holes 7 made in the interface plate 2. In [Fig.4], the screw heads 8 can be seen being screwed, for example into a bone 12.
[0049] In a third embodiment described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the mechanical fixation device 1 differs in that the interface piece 2 is flexible, at least before its fixation to the body, in particular before its fixation to the second connective tissue(s).
[0050] For example, interface part 2 may comprise or be: - an elastomeric material, and / or - a network of threads (i) woven or (ii) braided or (iii) twisted or (iv) arranged to form a rope, and / or - a knitted item.
[0051] Assuming a network of woven or braided or arranged threads to form a rope: - one or more first wires may be made up of one or more wires overflowing or escaping from the network as shown in figures 5 and 6.
[0052] Such a flexible design of the interface piece is particularly advantageous: Indeed, it can be positioned on the body, conforming to the shapes or contours of the body's morphology. In other words, its position and / or configuration can be freely adapted to the body's morphology. - In addition, at any point or substantially at any point of such a structure, a new first thread or a new second thread can be fixed to the interface piece by passing through it for example with a needle and making a fixing knot.
[0053] Regardless of the embodiment and variant, the interface piece 2 may include several holes 6 for fixing wires 3, 4 at their proximal ends 31, 41. Regardless of the embodiment, the interface piece 2 may also include several holes 9 for fixing wires 3, 4 at their distal ends 32, 42.
[0054] In the first and second embodiments, four first wires 4 have been shown. However, regardless of the embodiment and variant, the device 1 may include 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 first wires 4 or more.
[0055] In the first embodiment, a second thread 3 is shown. However, in this first embodiment, regardless of the variant, the device 1 may include 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 or more second threads 3. As with the first threads, during use, if the surgeon uses a device 1 with too many second threads 3, they can simply remove (by cutting) the second threads 4 that they do not wish to use. This removal operation can be performed before the remaining second threads are fixed to the interface or connective tissue.
[0056] In another embodiment not shown, the fastening may be mixed, that is to say that at least one fastening element 3 may comprise: - at least a second wire 3, and - at least one hole 7 for the passage of a screw 8.
[0057] Regardless of the embodiment and variant, threads 3,4 are absorbable or non-absorbable threads.
[0058] Regardless of the embodiment and variant, the first and second threads may have any type of needle combination at their distal ends, in particular - curved needles as shown in figures 1 and 3, - straight needles, or - any combination of curved and straight needles as a combination is represented on [Fig.5].
[0059] Regardless of the embodiment and variant, threads 3, 4 may be: - absorbable, or - non-absorbable, or - any combination of absorbable and non-absorbable thread(s).
[0060] Regardless of the embodiment and variant, the at least one fastening element 3 may comprise any mechanical fastening means. Alternatively, to the means previously described, the at least one fastening element 3 may comprise: - a clipping system for attaching to connective tissue, and / or - a tight-fitting or forced conformation in a conformation present or made on rigid connective tissue.
Claims
Demands
1. A mechanical fixation device (1) for attaching a first connective tissue (11) of an animal's body, in particular a human body or a mammal's body, to a second connective tissue (12) of that body, the mechanical fixation device (1) comprising: - an interface piece (2), - at least one element (3) for attaching the interface piece (2) to a second connective tissue (12) of that body, and - at least two first mechanical connecting threads (4) for attaching to a first connective tissue (11) or to several first connective tissues (11), and - at least two first needles (5), each first mechanical connecting thread comprising: - a proximal end (41) attached, in particular knotted, to the interface piece (2), and - a distal end (42) attached, in particular knotted, to a first needle (5).
2. Mechanical fastening device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the interface piece (2) is: - a plate, in particular a flat or substantially flat plate or a convex plate or a concave plate or a skew plate, or - a straight or curved bar.
3. Mechanical fastening device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface piece (2) has an annular shape.
4. A mechanical fastening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interface piece (2) is flexible or comprises: - an elastomeric material, or - a network of yarns (i) woven or (ii) braided or (iii) twisted or (iv) arranged to form a rope, or - a knit, or in that the interface piece (2) is rigid or comprises one of the following elements or is made of one of the following elements: - a stainless steel element, or - a titanium alloy element, or - a plastic or synthetic material element, or - a ceramic material element, or in that the interface piece (2) constitutes a prosthetic element, in particular a bioprosthetic element, or constitutes a prosthesis, in particular a bioprosthesis, or in that the interface piece (2) is obtained by 3D printing.
5. Mechanical fastening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one fastening element (3) comprises at least one second wire (3).
6. Mechanical fastening device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least a second wire (3) has a distal end (32) to which a needle (5) is attached.
7. Mechanical fastening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interface piece (2) comprises several holes (6) for fastening wires (3, 4), in particular an array of holes (6).
8. Mechanical fastening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one fastening element (3) comprises at least one hole (7) for the passage of a screw (8).
9. Mechanical fixation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the threads are absorbable threads.
10. Mechanical fixation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least some of the threads are non-absorbable threads.