Hernia repair device and methods
Inventors
Woodroof, E. Aubrey • Phipps, Richard P. • Woeller, Collyn F. • Martin, Lipton Laverne
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10285794-B2
Publication Date
2019-05-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An improved abdominal hernia repair system is presented comprised of a silicone layer backed up with a knitted or woven polypropylene fabric layer, the silicone layer possessing a regular pattern of slits that permit equilibration of fluid pressure across the device. A variety of therapeutic substances can be applied to the hernia repair device to promote healing, including aloe and other medicinal preparations. A layer of water soluble or water insoluble anti-scar compound is also present, the preferred compound being Salinomycin.An improved inguinal hernia repair system is presented that is identical to the above except it does not contain the hydrophobic silicone component.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a hernia repair device with a two-layer construction, including an upper silicone membrane and a lower woven polypropylene fiber fabric mesh. The upper layer includes a plurality of slits arranged in a regular pattern with alternating perpendicular orientation, both horizontal and vertical. The slits are positioned such that the device has essentially zero porosity when no stretching tension is placed on it.
The porosity of the hernia repair device is variable and is proportional to the amount of stretching tension and to the direction in which the stretching tension is applied to the device. The direction of stretching tension is dependent on the orientation of the slits relative to the weft orientation of a woven fiber fabric. The lower layer is woven in a regular pattern with weft knitting using a 1×1 alternating stitch, and the slits on the surface either follow the weft direction or cross the weft direction perpendicularly.
The silicone membrane and/or the woven polypropylene layer are treated with medicinal or therapeutic substances, and the device is also treated with a water soluble or water insoluble anti-scar compound. Therapeutic substances can be included as multiple layers of medicinal or therapeutic substances. An anti-scar compound layer is provided using salinomycin, and the device includes an essentially smooth hydrophobic silicone membrane as described in the provided content.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides a hernia repair device defined by a two-layer construction with slit-driven, tension-dependent porosity and optional treatment with medicinal or therapeutic substances and an anti-scar compound. One independent inventive claim is present in the provided claim set.
Two-layer hernia repair device with silicone membrane slits and woven polypropylene fabric
A hernia repair device comprised of two layers of material, including an upper layer comprised of a silicone membrane and a second layer comprised of a woven polypropylene fiber fabric, wherein the silicone membrane has a thickness selected from 0.001″ to 0.005″ and the upper layer possesses a plurality of slits in its surface in a regular alternating perpendicular orientation.
Regular slit pattern and weft-knitted woven fabric orientation
The slits are in a regular pattern comprising alternating perpendicular orientation, both horizontal and vertical, and the lower layer is woven in a regular pattern with weft knitting using a 1×1 alternating stitch, wherein slits on the surface either follow the weft direction of the lower layer or cross the weft direction perpendicularly.
Tension-dependent variable porosity relative to slit orientation
The slits are placed in the upper layer such that the hernia repair device has essentially zero porosity with no stretching tension placed on it, and the porosity is variable proportional to the amount of stretching tension and the direction in which said stretching tension is placed, wherein the direction is dependent on the orientation of said slits with the weft orientation of a woven fiber fabric.
Medicinal/therapeutic substance treatment and water soluble or water insoluble anti-scar compound treatment
The upper layer or the lower layer or both are treated with a plurality of layers of medicinal or therapeutic substances, and the lower layer and the upper layer are also treated with a water soluble or water insoluble anti-scar compound.
Orientation toward abdominal wall during use
The hernia repair device is designed to place the woven nylon fabric side towards the abdominal wall when in use.
The claim coverage centers on a two-layer hernia repair device where a silicone membrane with a regular slit pattern, together with a weft-knitted woven polypropylene fabric, produces essentially zero porosity without stretching tension and variable porosity proportional to stretching tension magnitude and direction relative to slit and weft orientation. The device further allows treatment with medicinal or therapeutic substances and a water soluble or water insoluble anti-scar compound.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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