Flexible tissue sheath for fibrous connective tissue repair
A flexible tissue sheath for treating a lacerated fibrous connective tissue is disclosed and can include a hollow body that can define an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one tissue engagement structure can extend from the hollow body. The tissue engagement structure can engage an end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue and substantially prevent the end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue from withdrawing from the hollow body.
1 . A flexible tissue sheath configured to treat a lacerated fibrous connective tissue, the flexible tissue sheath comprising:
a hollow body defining an interior surface and an exterior surface; and
at least one tissue engagement structure extending from the hollow body, wherein the tissue engagement structure is configured to engage an end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue and substantially prevent the end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue from withdrawing from the hollow body.
2 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 1 , wherein the hollow body includes a first end and the flexible tissue sheath further comprises:
a first set of directional tissue engagement structures extending from the interior surface between a center of the body and the first end.
3 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 2 , wherein the hollow body includes a second end and the flexible tissue sheath further comprises:
a second set of directional tissue engagement structures extending from the interior surface between the center of the body and the second end.
4 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 3 , wherein the first set of directional tissue engagement structures is oriented substantially opposite the second set of directional tissue engagement structures.
5 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 4 , wherein the first set of directional tissue engagement structures is configured to allow a first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue to be inserted into the hollow body and substantially prevent the first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue from withdrawing from the hollow body.
6 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 5 , wherein the second set of directional tissue engagement structures is configured to allow a second end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue to be inserted into the hollow body and substantially prevent the second end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue from withdrawing from the hollow body.
7 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 1 , wherein the body is porous and the flexible tissue sheath further comprises a therapeutic agent within the body.
8 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a drug, a cellular matter, a biological factor, or a combination thereof.
9 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 8 , wherein the drug comprises an antibiotic, an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory drug, an anti-TNF-alpha, a steroid, anti-proliferative drugs, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors, or a combination thereof.
10 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 9 , wherein the cellular matter comprises bone marrow derived stem cells, lipo derived stem cells, or a combination thereof.
11 . The flexible tissue sheath carrier of claim 10 , wherein the biological factor comprises a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), a cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein (CDMP), a platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), an insulin-like growth factor (IGF), an LIM mineralization protein, a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), an osteoblast growth factor, or a combination thereof.
12 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 1 , further comprising a drawstring, wherein the drawstring can be tightened around the end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue.
13 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 1 , further comprising a strap, wherein the strap can be tightened around the end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue.
14 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 13 , wherein the strap comprises a tooth and the tooth engages the end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue.
15 . A method of treating a lacerated fibrous connective tissue, comprising:
inserting a first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue into a first end of a flexible tissue sheath so that the first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue engages a first set of tissue engagement structures.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
inserting a second end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue into a second end of a flexible tissue sheath so that the second end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue engages a second set of tissue engagement structures.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
attaching the first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue to the flexible tissue sheath.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
attaching the first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue to the flexible tissue sheath.
19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
loading the flexible tissue sheath with a therapeutic agent.
20 . A flexible tissue sheath configured to treat an injured fibrous connective tissue, the flexible tissue sheath comprising:
a generally flat body configured to be wrapped around the injured fibrous connective tissue, wherein the body comprises:
a tissue engagement portion configured to engage a portion of the injured fibrous connective tissue when the flexible tissue sheath is wrapped around the injured fibrous connective tissue.
21 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 20 , further comprising:
a first set of tissue engagement structures extending from the tissue engagement portion of the body.
22 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 21 , wherein the first set of tissue engagement structures is configured to engage a first portion of the injured fibrous connective tissue and substantially prevent the first portion of the injured fibrous connective tissue from moving relative to the flexible tissue sheath when the flexible tissue sheath is wrapped around the injured fibrous connective tissue.
23 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 22 , further comprising:
a second set of tissue engagement structures extending from the tissue engagement portion of the body.
24 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 23 , wherein the second set of tissue engagement structures is configured to engage a second portion of the injured fibrous connective tissue and substantially prevent the second portion of the injured fibrous connective tissue from moving relative to the flexible tissue sheath when the flexible tissue sheath is wrapped around the injured fibrous connective tissue.
25 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 20 , further comprising:
a flap portion adjacent to the tissue engagement portion, wherein the flap portion is configured to engage a portion of the flexible tissue sheath when the flexible tissue sheath is wrapped around the injured fibrous connective tissue.
26 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 25 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer disposed on the flap portion.
27 . The flexible tissue sheath of claim 20 , wherein the body includes an exterior surface and the flexible tissue sheath further comprises:
a substantially impermeable layer disposed on the exterior surface of the body.
28 . A method of treating an injured fibrous connective tissue, comprising:
positioning a flexible tissue sheath proximate to an injured area of the fibrous connective tissue, the flexible tissue sheath comprising a tissue engagement structure; and
wrapping the flexible tissue sheath around the fibrous connective tissue so that the tissue engagement structure engages the fibrous connective tissue proximate to the injured area.
29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
loading the flexible tissue sheath with a therapeutic agent.
30 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:
attaching the fibrous connective tissue to the flexible tissue sheath.
31 . A method of treating a lacerated fibrous connective tissue, comprising:
inserting a first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue into a first end of a flexible tissue sheath so that the first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue engages a first set of tissue engagement structures; and
tightening the first end of the flexible tissue sheath around the first end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue.
32 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
inserting a second end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue into a second end of a flexible tissue sheath so that the second end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue engages a second set of tissue engagement structures; and
tightening the second end of the flexible tissue sheath around the second end of the lacerated fibrous connective tissue.