System for providing fluid flow to nerve tissues
An apparatus and system for providing reduced pressure to a defect in a nerve is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a nerve conduit having a generally tubular shape that has walls including a luminal wall surrounding the tissue site to contain fluids within a luminal space between the tissue site to contain fluids within a luminal space between the tissue site and the luminal wall. The apparatus further comprises a manifold having a porous body and a connector for receiving reduced pressure, wherein the manifold is positioned within the luminal space adjacent the tissue site to distribute the reduced pressure to the defect. Additionally, a method for providing reduced pressure to a defect in a nerve is disclosed that includes implanting the nerve conduit and manifold at a site of damaged nerve tissue and applying a reduced pressure to the manifold thereby stimulating repair or regrowth of nerve tissue.
1. A method for providing reduced pressure to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the method comprising:
implanting a manifold at the tissue site for receiving reduced pressure;
surrounding the defect with the manifold, the defect being a pinched nerve and the manifold comprising a tubular body;
implanting a conduit having a luminal wall to surround the tissue site and the manifold for creating a luminal space between the luminal wall and the tissue site;
sealing the conduit around the tissue site to contain fluids within the luminal space; and
applying reduced pressure through the manifold to the tissue site.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying reduced pressure to the tissue site comprises fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source to the manifold, and operating the reduced-pressure source to draw fluid from the manifold.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises pores extending through the conduit.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pores are sufficiently small to prevent non-nerve cells from entering the luminal space from outside the conduit.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifold is formed of a bioabsorbable porous material.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of flow channels for receiving reduced pressure.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising positioning the manifold in the luminal space proximate the defect.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising supplying reduced pressure through the plurality of flow channels to the defect.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising connecting a connector to a sidewall of the conduit, the connector adapted to be in fluid communication with the manifold and a reduced pressure source to supply reduced pressure to the manifold.
10. A method for providing reduced pressure to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the defect being a severed nerve having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the method comprising:
implanting a manifold at the tissue site for receiving reduced pressure, the manifold comprising a cylindrical shape having an axial opening extending from a first end surface of the manifold to a second end surface of the manifold parallel to an axis of the manifold and a plurality of rods coupled to the first end surface of the manifold and extending parallel to the axis of the manifold;
positioning the second end surface of the manifold adjacent to an end of the proximal portion of the defect;
implanting a conduit having a luminal wall to surround the tissue site and the manifold for creating a luminal space between the luminal wall and the tissue site;
sealing the conduit around the tissue site to contain fluids within the luminal space; and
applying reduced pressure through the manifold to the tissue site.
11. A method for providing reduced pressure to a defect at a tissue site of a nerve, the defect being a severed nerve having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the method comprising:
implanting a manifold at the tissue site for receiving reduced pressure, the manifold comprising a cylindrical shape having an axial opening extending from a first end surface of the manifold to a second end surface of the manifold parallel to an axis of the manifold and a plurality of rods coupled to the first end surface of the manifold and extending parallel to the axis of the manifold;
positioning the second end surface of the manifold adjacent to an end of the distal portion of the defect;
implanting a conduit having a luminal wall to surround the tissue site and the manifold for creating a luminal space between the luminal wall and the tissue site;
sealing the conduit around the tissue site to contain fluids within the luminal space; and
applying reduced pressure through the manifold to the tissue site.