Devices and methods for treating spinal cord tissue

Abstract

The present invention provides devices and methods that treat damaged spinal cord tissue, such as spinal tissue damaged by disease, infection, or trauma, which may lead to the presence of swelling, compression, and compromised blood flow secondary to interstitial edema.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating damaged spinal cord tissue with sub-atmospheric pressure, comprising:
 placing a porous bio-incorporable material at the damaged spinal cord tissue to provide gaseous communication between pores of the porous bio-incorporable material and the damaged spinal cord tissue;   creating a region about the damaged spinal cord tissue and the porous bio-incorporable material for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure therein;   operably connecting a vacuum source to the region; and   providing sub-atmospheric pressure from the vacuum source to the region through the porous bio-incorporable material to the damaged spinal cord tissue to treat the damaged spinal cord tissue.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the porous bio-incorporable material comprises at least two layers to provide a multi-layer structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein vacuum source is operable to cycle on and off to provide alternating periods of production and non-production of sub-atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to claim  0 , wherein the duty cycle may be between 1 to 10 (on/off) and 10 to 1 (on/off). 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein vacuum source is operable to provide a periodic waveform. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to claim  0 , wherein the periodic waveform is a sine wave. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the porous bio-incorporable material is sufficiently compliant so that when the porous bio-incorporable material presses against the spinal cord, the porous bio-incorporable material does not interfere with spinal cord function. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to claim  0 , wherein the porous bio-incorporable material is sufficiently firm so that the porous bio-incorporable material does not collapse so much as to interfere with spinal cord function. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the porous bio-incorporable material is sufficiently firm so that the porous bio-incorporable material does not collapse so much as to interfere with spinal cord function. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum source cooperates with the porous bio-incorporable material so that the porous bio-incorporable material does not interfere with spinal cord function upon providing the sub-atmospheric pressure from the vacuum source.