System for providing fluid flow to nerve tissues

1. An apparatus for providing reduced pressure from a reduced-pressure source to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the apparatus comprising:

a nerve conduit having a generally tubular shape having walls including an exterior wall and a luminal wall for surrounding the tissue site to contain fluids within a luminal space between the tissue site and the luminal wall and prevent bodily fluids from entering the luminal space;

a manifold having a generally cylindrical body including a side wall surface, a first end wall surface, and a second end wall surface opposite the first end wall surface, the first end wall surface for receiving reduced pressure, a first portion of the side wall surface being a fluid contact surface extending from a first side of the luminal wall into the luminal space for fluid communication with the luminal space, and a second portion of the side wall surface being a support surface, wherein the manifold comprises a porous material having a plurality of flow channels to deliver reduced pressure to the luminal space for providing reduced pressure therapy to the tissue site; and

a first support structure having a generally tubular shape for enclosing the support surface, a first end portion for coupling the first end wall surface to the reduced-pressure source, and a second end portion for coupling the manifold to the nerve conduit in a generally radial direction with respect to the luminal wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nerve conduit comprises a material generally impermeable to fluids from tissue surrounding the nerve conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nerve conduit comprises a material generally impermeable to fluids from tissue surrounding the nerve conduit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the side wall surface of the cylindrical body extends from the first side of the luminal wall into the luminal space, and the side wall surface terminates at the second end wall surface within the luminal space.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the side wall surface of the cylindrical body extends from the first side of the luminal wall through the luminal space to a second side of the luminal wall, and the side wall surface terminates at the second end wall surface, wherein the second end wall surface is adapted to receive a fluid from a fluid source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a second support structure having a generally tubular shape for enclosing the support surface adjacent the second end wall surface, a first end portion for coupling the second end wall surface to the fluid source, and a second end portion for coupling the manifold to the nerve conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the defect is a severed, partially severed, pinched, or degenerated nerve.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion of the support structure comprises a flange.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion of the support structure provides a detachable coupling of the manifold to the nerve conduit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion of the support structure comprises an adhesive for coupling the manifold and the nerve conduit.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a porous structure wherein the pore size is sufficiently small to exclude cells from entering the manifold.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the manifold serves as a scaffold that facilitates tissue growth or regrowth.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nerve conduit comprises pores that are sufficiently small to exclude the entry of cells into the luminal space.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the pores have an interior diameter of between about 5 μm and 50 μm.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the manifold is positioned on a distal side of the nerve conduit relative to the tissue site.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the manifold provides reduced pressure preferentially to a distal side of the nerve relative to the tissue site.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the manifold or nerve conduit is composed of a bioinert material.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the manifold or nerve conduit is composed of a bioabsorbable material.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the luminal space of the nerve conduit comprises a scaffold that facilitates tissue growth or regrowth.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the scaffold is formed from a foam or gel material.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the scaffold is biological material selected from fibrin or collagen.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the scaffold material comprises a bioactive agent.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the bioactive agent is at least one of an antibiotic, an antibody, and a growth factor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the bioactive agent is a growth hormone (GH), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), a TGF-β, a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), a granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), an epidermal growth factor (EGF), a platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), an insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), an interleukin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), or a nerve growth factor (NGF).

25. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nerve conduit comprises a slice along its length that forms an opening whereby the nerve conduit is implantable around the tissue site and sealable with one or more closure elements.