Interpositional patch systems and methods
A patch system and method for musculoskeletal repair is provided, the patch system including a patch that defines a patch thickness, the patch fabricated, in whole or in part, from a composition that includes a citrate polymer and a bioceramic filler, and wherein the patch defines a porosity gradient across the patch thickness. The patch may be defined by a plurality of patch layers, e.g., patch layers formed from a plurality of fibers, and first fibers associated with a first patch layer are non-aligned relative to second fibers in a second, adjacent patch layer.
1 . A patch system for use in musculoskeletal repair, comprising:
a multi-filament patch that defines a patch thickness, the multi-filament patch fabricated, in whole or in part, from a composition that includes a citrate polymer and a bioceramic filler;
wherein the multi-filament patch defines a porosity gradient across the patch thickness based on at least one of (i) variations in filament diameter and (ii) variations in filament spacing.
2 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch is defined by a plurality of patch layers.
3 . The patch system according to claim 2 , wherein the patch layers are formed from a plurality of fibers.
4 . The patch system according to claim 3 , wherein first fibers in a first patch layer are non-aligned relative to second fibers in a second, adjacent patch layer.
5 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the patch layers define an aperture, and wherein the apertures of the patch layers are substantially aligned when the patch is assembled.
6 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch defines a solid perimeter.
7 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch defines an open or unbounded perimeter.
8 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the bioceramic filler is selected from the group consisting of bioactive glass, hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), calcium sulfate, and combinations thereof.
9 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch is formed from a plurality of patch layers, and wherein the bioceramic filler level varies across the patch layers.
10 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch defines a first patch layer that is configured to be positioned adjacent a bone, and a second patch layer that is configured to be positioned adjacent a tendon, and wherein the bioceramic filler is at a greater level in the first patch layer as compared to the second patch layer.
11 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch defines a first patch layer that is configured to be positioned adjacent a bone, and a second patch layer that is configured to be positioned adjacent a tendon, and wherein the porosity is greater for the first patch layer as compared to the second patch layer.
12 . The patch system according to claim 11 , wherein the pore size of the first patch layer is 300-500 microns, and the pore size of the second patch layer is 100-300 microns.
13 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the degradation profile of the patch is 12-18 months.
14 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch is fabricated from a plurality of fibers, and wherein the diameter of the fibers is 1 micron to 5 microns.
15 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the patch thickness is 2 mm to 5 mm.
16 . The patch system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-filament patch dimensions are 5 mm by 5 mm.
17 . A patch system for use in musculoskeletal repair, comprising:
a multi-filament patch that defines a patch thickness, the multi-filament patch fabricated, in whole or in part, from a composition that includes a citrate polymer and a bioceramic filler;
wherein the multi-filament patch defines a porosity gradient across the patch thickness based on at least one of (i) variations in filament diameter and (ii) variations in filament spacing;
wherein the multi-filament patch is defined by of a plurality of patch layers;
wherein each of the plurality of patch layers defines an aperture and the apertures of the plurality of patch layers are substantially aligned when the multi-filament patch is assembled.
18 . The patch system according to claim 17 , wherein each of the apertures is bounded.
19 . A patch system for use in musculoskeletal repair, comprising:
a multi-filament patch that defines a patch thickness, the multi-filament patch fabricated, in whole or in part, from a composition that includes a citrate polymer and a bioceramic filler;
wherein the multi-filament patch defines a porosity gradient across the patch thickness based on at least one of (i) variations in filament diameter and (ii) variations in filament spacing;
wherein the multi-filament patch is defined by of a plurality of patch layers, and
wherein first fibers in a first patch layer are non-aligned relative to second fibers in a second, adjacent patch layer.
20 . The patch system of claim 19 , wherein the first fibers in the first patch layer and the second fibers in the second, adjacent patch layer are in non-parallel alignment relative to each other.
21 . The patch system of claim 19 , wherein the first fibers in the first patch layer and the second fibers in the second, adjacent patch layer are perpendicularly aligned relative to each other.