Tissue stabilizing implant method
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to an implant for stabilizing body tissue. The implant includes a core formed of a material which expands when contacted with liquid and a retainer which at least partially encloses the core.
1. A method for stabilizing tissue in a human body during surgery, the method comprising:
removing fluid from a core material;
compressing the core material to a reduced size;
enclosing the core material with a mesh retainer while fluid is removed from the core material and while the core material is compressed to form a stabilizing device, wherein the mesh retainer maintains the stabilizing device in the reduced size;
implanting the stabilizing device in the human body; and
expanding the core material from the reduced size by imbibing fluid while the stabilizing device is implanted in the human body.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein compression of the core material is at least partially maintained while the stabilizing device is implanted in the human body.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core material has a first volume prior to and during implantation, the first volume providing for a reduced sized stabilizing device for implantation, and wherein the core material has a second volume after implantation, the second volume providing for a greater sized stabilizing device for stabilization of the tissue in the human body.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retainer includes a plurality of crossed filaments.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is at least partially made of a polymeric material.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is a cage.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cage includes a plurality of openings.