Tissue fixation

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for tissue stabilization. Some aspects include a carrier member having a length, width, and thickness, wherein the length and width are each at least two times greater than the thickness; attachment members extending from the carrier member and that engage connective tissue; and stabilizing members, each of which can couple a respective attachment member to the carrier member and is substantially positionally fixed relative to the carrier member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for fixating connective tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a carrier member having a first part, a second part, and a junction therebetween, the carrier member having a length, width, and thickness, the length and width each being at least two times greater than the thickness, the carrier member configured to encompass an interior space;   one or more first attachment members protruding into the interior space and at a first angle from the first part toward the junction, the one or more first attachment members configured to engage a first portion of connective tissue in the interior space for attaching the first part to the first portion; and   one or more second attachment members protruding from the second part into the interior space, the one or more second attachment members configured to engage a second portion of connective tissue in the interior space for attaching the second part to the second portion;   wherein, when the first part is attached to the first portion and the second part is attached to the second portion, the first portion and the second portion are limited in being pulled apart from one another during physiological use of the connective tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second attachment members protrude at a second angle from the second part toward the junction. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are of about the same magnitude. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an average thickness of at least one of the one or more first attachment members is such that when the first part is attached to the first portion, the first angle is maintained at less than about 90 degrees during physiological use of the connective tissue, wherein the average thickness is measured along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the carrier member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more first attachment members is less elastic than is the carrier member. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an average height of at least one of the one or more first attachment members is between about 4 millimeters and 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a tissue-facing surface that faces the connective tissue when the first part engages the first portion, wherein the first part and each of the one or more first attachment members meet at a respective base having an area, wherein a ratio of the total area of all the bases to the total area of the tissue-facing surface is greater than or equal to about 0.70. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a tissue-facing surface that faces the connective tissue when the first part engages the first portion, wherein the first part and each of the one or more first attachment members meet at a respective base having an area, wherein a ratio of the total area of all the bases to the total area of the tissue-facing surface is greater than or equal to about 0.90. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least three of the one or more first attachment members are arranged with respect to the carrier member in at least one of a grid-like array and a staggered array. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more first attachment members comprise at least one of a thermoplastic, ultraviolet curable resin, biodegradable polyester, polycarbonate urethane, and polyurethane. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier member comprises at least one of an ultraviolet curable resin, methacrylated polybutadiene, polyester urethane, polycarbonate polyurethane, polyether urethane, silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, polyphosphazene, and acrylic copolymer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier member comprises a sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the carrier member comprises a lattice design. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the carrier member, the one or more first attachment members, and the one or more second attachment members comprises a shape memory material.