Implant for soft tissue reconstruction

Abstract

Implant for reconstructing tissue of the musculo-skeletal apparatus selected by the group consisting of tendon, fascia, periosteum, ligament, muscle, includes a porous matrix or scaffold of a polymeric material having a tensile stiffness lower by 50% or more than the tensile stiffness of the native tissue it is intended to reconstruct.

1 . Implant for reconstructing tissue of the musculo-skeletal apparatus comprised by the group consisting of tendon, fascia, periosteum, ligament, muscle, the implant comprising or consisting of a porous matrix or scaffold of a polymeric material having a tensile stiffness lower by 50% or more than the tensile stiffness of the native tissue it is intended to reconstruct. 
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1  of a tensile stiffness lower by 80% or more than the tensile stiffness of the native tissue it is intended to reconstruct. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1  of a tensile stiffness lower by 90% or more than the tensile stiffness of the native tissue it is intended to reconstruct. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1  of a stiffness varying not more than 5% when kept in a stretched condition under constant load for a period extending from 1 h to 14 days under physiological conditions, wherein the constant elongation is from 0% to 70%. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1  exhibiting an additional elongation of up to 50% during at time period of from 1 minute to 7 days when exposed to a constant load of 30% of its ultimate load under physiological conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1  exhibiting an additional elongation of up to 40% during at time period of from 1 minute to 7 days when exposed to a constant load of 30% of its ultimate load under physiological conditions. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material is polyurethane, in particular poly(urethane urea). 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix or scaffold is comprised by or consists of a polymer material produced by foaming, porogen extraction from molded block, textile confection, non-woven fibrous structures. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer material produced by textile confection is a knitted fabric, in particular a warp knitted fabric, or a woven fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein the knitted or woven fabric is in a wrapped-up condition. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 8 , wherein the material produced by textile confection is a tubular knitted fabric, in particular a tubular warp knitted fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 11 , comprising two or more pieces of tubular knitted fabric of different diameter disposed co-axially. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein the knitted or woven fabric is thermally crimped, in particular crimped to 50% or less of its cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 8  capable of enduring fixation by an element selected from the group consisting of penetrating fixation element, holding fixation element, squeezing fixation element such as, but not limited to, sutures, screws, button with integrated suture sling or ACL/PCL interference screws. 
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 8  made of a fabric of an aspect ratio of 20 or more comprising one or more transverse folds adjacent to one or both ends thereof. 
     
     
         16 . Use of the one or more transverse folds of the implant of  claim 15  for fixation to tissue, in particular bone tissue. 
     
     
         17 . Use of the implant of  claim 1  for reconstructing tissue of the musculo-skeletal apparatus selected from the group consisting of tendon, fascia, periosteum, ligament, muscle.