Surgical system for tissue fixation

Abstract

A surgical tissue fixation system is described, including: (1) a bioabsorbable tissue fixation plate having optionally a plurality of through-holes arranged in alternating relation along the plate; (2) bioabsorbable fasteners adapted for insertion into the through-holes to secure the plate to underlying bodily tissue or bone; and (3) an installation instrument which triggers (strikes or shoots) fasteners one after one, in rapid succession, into the through-holes made through the plate and into the underlying bodily tissue or bone, which also optionally includes drillholes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A synthetic bioabsorbable drug-delivery material comprising: 
 a synthetic bioabsorbable polymeric matrix;    an antibiotic phase dispersed into said polymeric matrix; and    antibacterial, bioabsorbable, bioactive glass dispersed into said polymeric matrix for the promotion of bone growth.    
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery material of  claim 1 , wherein the material is in the form of microspheres, spheres, capsules, tablets, pearls, pearls in string, beads, membranes, films, fibers, filaments, threads, cords or knitted or woven fiber fabrics.  
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery material of  claim 1 , wherein said antibiotic phase comprises from 1 to 20 weight percent of said material.  
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery material of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said material is porous.  
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery material of  claim 4 , wherein the surface of said material is porous.  
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery material of  claim 1 , wherein said antibiotic phase is released from said material for a period of at least 4 weeks in in vivo conditions.  
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery material of  claim 6 , wherein said bioactive glass is released from said material for a period of at least 4 weeks in in vivo conditions.  
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery material of  claim 6  wherein said antibiotic phase is released at a levelof at least 2 mg/l after 4 weeks in in vivo conditions.  
     
     
         9 . The drug delivery material of  claim 6  wherein said antibiotic phase is released at a level of at least 10 mg/l after 4 weeks in in vivo conditions.  
     
     
         10 . The drug delivery material of  claim 1  wherein said bioactive glass is in the form of fibers.  
     
     
         11 . The drug delivery material of  claim 10  wherein said fibers reinforce said material.  
     
     
         12 . The drug delivery material of  claim 1 , wherein the material is self-reinforced through solid state deformation.  
     
     
         13 . The drug delivery material of  claim 9  wherein said antibiotic phase comprises ciprofloxazine.  
     
     
         14 . A surgical implant comprising the material of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 14 , wherein the implant is in the form of a pin, screw, plate, tack, intramedullary nail, bolt, suture anchor, tissue anchor, interference screw, arrow, or wedge.  
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 14 , wherein said material is a coating on the surface of said implant.  
     
     
         17 . A method of treating osteomyelitis or bone infection in a bone comprising: 
 providing a synthetic bioabsorbable drug-delivery material comprising: 
 a synthetic bioabsorbable polymeric matrix;  
 an antibiotic phase dispersed into said polymeric matrix; and  
 antibacterial, bioabsorbable, bioactive glass dispersed into said polymeric matrix for the promotion of bone growth; and  
   applying said material to said bone.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said antibiotic phase comprises from 1 to 20 weight percent of said material and said antibiotic phase is released at a levelof at least 2 mg/l after 4 weeks in in vivo conditions.