Photochemical tissue bonding

Abstract

Photochemical tissue boding methods for bonding neural tissues include the application of a photosensitizer to a tissue and/or tissue graft, followed by irradiation with electromagnetic energy to produce a tissue seal. The methods are useful for tissue adhesion, such as in wound closure, tissue grafting, skin grafting, musculoskeletal tissue repair, ligament or tendon repair, neural repair, blood vessel repair and corneal repair.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method for adhering blood vessel tissue in a subject, comprising:
 contacting an outer surface of a proximal vessel and an inner surface of a distal vessel with a photosensitizer agent; folding the distal vessel back to form a distal cuff; apposing the proximal vessel and the distal vessel; everting the distal cuff over the proximal vessel to form an overlap region; and applying electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer complex in a manner effective to bond the tissues, thereby creating a tissue seal between the blood vessel tissue.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein prior to contacting the proximal vessel with the distal vessel, the vessels are mounted over a cylindrical support. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the cylindrical support is a glass rod. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising applying at least one suture between the vessels before applying the electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied externally around the circumference of the overlap region. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied internally around the interior of the overlap region. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the photosensitizer agent is selected from the group consisting of xanthene, pyridine, phenothiazine, cyanine, flavin, and porphyrin. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the photosensitizer agent is Rose Bengal. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the method occurs ex vivo. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the method occurs in vivo in the subject. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         55 . A method for adhering blood vessel tissue in a subject, comprising: placing a first blood vessel tissue and second blood vessel tissue in a conduit; contacting the first blood vessel tissue and second blood vessel tissue with at least one photosensitizer agent to form a tissue-photosensitizer complex; and applying electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer complex in a manner effective to bond the tissues, thereby creating a tissue seal between the blood vessel tissues and the conduit. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the conduit comprises collagen. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the conduit is formed from a synthetic absorbable polymer. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the conduit is formed from PGA. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the conduit is formed from silicone. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied externally around the circumference of the blood vessel tissue. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied internally around the interior of the blood vessel tissue. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the photosensitizer agent is selected from the group consisting of xanthene, pyridine, phenothiazine, cyanine, flavin, and porphyrin. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the photosensitizer agent is Rose Bengal. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the method occurs ex vivo. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the method occurs in vivo in the subject. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the subject is a human.