Apparatus and methods for treatment of arthrosis or osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient
A proposed treatment of arthrosis/osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient involves deposing a liquid material on at least one damaged surface of the joint. To accomplish this, a reservoir ( 110 ) is provided, which holds a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form outside of a body containing the joint (J) to be treated. A proximal end (P) of a tube-shaped instrument ( 120 ) is connected to the reservoir ( 110 ), and a distal end (D) of the instrument ( 120 ) is inserted into the joint (J). The liquid material is fed through the instrument ( 120 ) to the distal end (D) for deposition on the at least one damaged joint surface. The material is configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions (e.g. when cooling off, or being exposed to a specific type of radiation). When the material has the solid form, it has a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.
1. A method for treatment of arthrosis in a joint of a mammal or human patient, the method comprising:
holding a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form having a temperature higher than 100° C. in a reservoir outside a body containing the joint to be treated, and
connecting a proximal end of an instrument having a general tube shape, to the reservoir,
inserting a distal end of the instrument into the joint,
feeding the biocompatible material in the liquid form having a temperature higher than 100° C. from the reservoir into the instrument via the proximal end to the distal end, and
deposing the biocompatible material in liquid form on at least one damaged surface of the joint, such that adjacent nerves are damaged by the heat of the biocompatible material in liquid form thus preventing pain from the damaged surface, wherein the biocompatible material in liquid form is configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions, and when in the solid form the biocompatible material having a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting a mould member into the joint, the mould member having a pre-produced shape adapted to a shape and size of at least one of the at least one damaged surface so as to contact and cover said at least one damaged surface when placed in the joint, the mould member being flexible, collapsible and having an internal volume configured to be filled with the biocompatible material in liquid form received via the instrument, the mould member being connected to the distal end of the instrument.
3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
form-fitting the mould member to said at least one damaged surface,
injecting the biocompatible material in liquid form into the mould member through the instrument,
receiving the biocompatible material in liquid form in the mould member,
causing a transition of the biocompatible material from the liquid form to the solid form after that the mould member has been filled with the liquid material.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible material comprises two components, each component when isolated from the other component being a liquid, the components when mixed in predefined proportions developing a solid material, the reservoir being configured to hold the two components separated from one another.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises:
mixing the two components during surgery, and subsequently
feeding the mixed components through the instrument to the at least one damaged joint surface.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible material is liquid when exposed to electromagnetic radiation in a predefined spectrum being below a first predefined energy level per unit volume, and the biocompatible material is a solid material when exposed to electromagnetic radiation in the predefined spectrum above a second predefined energy level per unit volume, and the method comprising irradiating the at least one damaged joint surface with electromagnetic radiation in the predefined spectrum.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible material is liquid when exposed to ultrasonic energy in a predefined spectrum being below a primary predefined energy level per unit volume, and the biocompatible material is a solid material when exposed to ultrasonic energy in the predefined spectrum being above a secondary predefined energy level per unit volume, and the method comprising sending ultrasonic energy in the predefined spectrum to the at least one damaged joint.
8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting the distal end of the instrument into the joint via at least one bone of the body.
9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting the distal end (D) of the instrument ( 120 ) into a hip joint (J) by passing via a bone ( 220 ) of the body from inside the abdomen.
10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step keeping the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 150 degrees Celsius in the reservoir ( 110 ), or of at least 200 degrees Celsius in the reservoir, or of at least 300 degrees Celsius in the reservoir, or of at least 400 degrees Celsius in the reservoir.