Tissue Wrap Device With 3D Attachment Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional membranous tissue grafts used to cover and protect injured nerves often fail to securely adhere and remain in place, leading to migration and further damage due to the need for suturing, which can tear the tissue and damage the epineurium.
Innovation Solution
A tissue wrap device with integrated three-dimensional attachment features, such as hooks and loops or microneedles, is used to securely wrap around the nerve, eliminating the need for sutures by adhering to itself and the epineurium, ensuring a customized fit and maintaining the wrap's position during healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If suturing is used to secure the tissue graft, then the graft can be held together, but the tissue may be torn and the epineurium damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the suture element from the system by incorporating attachment features directly into the tissue wrap structure itself. The wrap includes integrated attachment features that enable self-securing without external sutures, thereby maintaining graft strength while removing the source of tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the graft securing function with the wrap structure by integrating attachment features directly into the wrap material. This combination allows the wrap to secure itself to the tissue and to each other without requiring separate suture elements, eliminating the harmful effect of suture-induced tissue damage.
2Strength
If suturing is used to secure the tissue graft, then the graft can be held together, but the process becomes time intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment features are pre-integrated into the wrap structure during manufacturing, so that when the wrap is applied to the tissue, the securing function is already built-in and ready for immediate use. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for time-consuming suture insertion and tying operations during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrap with integrated attachment features is designed to secure itself to the tissue and to each other through the attachment features, eliminating the need for manual suture manipulation. This self-securing mechanism dramatically reduces the time required for graft fixation while maintaining adequate securing strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wraps are used without attachment features, then the wrap can cover the nerve, but the wrap may migrate and expose the protected area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective coverage function with the positioning stability function by integrating attachment features into the wrap structure. This merging allows the wrap to simultaneously achieve comprehensive nerve coverage and maintain stable position through the integrated attachment features that secure the wrap to the tissue and to each other.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides tissue wrap devices with embedded three dimensional attachment features, methods of manufacturing three-dimensional attachment features for tissue wrap devices, and methods of using a nerve wrap device to protect a damaged nerve. Tissue wrap devices of the present disclosure may include a sheet of biocompatible material, the sheet having a first side, a second side, a middle portion, a first outer portion, and a second outer portion, the first side of the first outer portion being configured to overlap and interface with the second side of the second outer portion when the sheet is transitioned to a rolled configuration; wherein the first side of the first outer portion comprises a plurality of three dimensional attachment features; and wherein the plurality of three dimensional attachment features are configured to engage with the second side of the second outer portion to maintain the sheet in the rolled configuration.