Method of facilitating nerve growth

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, devices and materials for the in situ formation of a nerve cap and/or a nerve wrap to inhibit neuroma formation following planned or traumatic nerve injury. The method includes the steps of identifying a severed end of a nerve, and positioning the severed end into a cavity defined by a form. A transformable media is introduced into the form cavity to surround the severed end. The media is permitted to undergo a transformation from a first, relatively flowable state to a second, relatively non flowable state to form a protective barrier surrounding the severed end. The media may be a hydrogel, and the transformation may produce a synthetic crosslinked hydrogel protective barrier. The media may include at least one anti-regeneration agent to inhibit nerve regrowth

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of facilitating nerve growth, the method comprising:
 positioning a first nerve end of a first nerve into a form cavity;   positioning a second nerve end of a second nerve into the form cavity;   introducing an in situ forming media in contact with the first nerve end;   introducing the in situ forming media in contact with the second nerve end, the in situ forming media being photoresponsive such that the in situ forming media is configured to transition from a flowable state to a nonflowable state upon photopolymerization of the in situ forming media; and   photopolymerizing the in situ forming media to transition the in situ forming media from the flowable state to the nonflowable state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the in situ forming media in contact with the first nerve end comprises delivering the in situ forming media at a junction between the first nerve and the form cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein introducing the in situ forming media in contact with the second nerve end comprises delivering the in situ forming media at a second junction between the second nerve and the form cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 placing a non-adhesive sterile sheet along the first nerve and the second nerve prior to introducing the in situ forming media; and 
 removing the non-adhesive sterile sheet after introducing the in situ forming media. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the non-adhesive sterile sheet is configured to physically separate the in situ forming media from a surrounding tissue during photopolymerization. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the form cavity comprises silicone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the form cavity comprises a nerve wrap. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the form cavity comprises a nerve conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the in situ forming media comprises a color additive configured aid in visual contrast relative to background tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nerve end or the second nerve end comprises a coaptation site. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the in situ forming media comprises PGSA. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the in situ forming media comprises a liquid when in the flowable state. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the form cavity is biodegradable. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the in situ forming media is biodegradable. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the in situ forming media in contact with the first nerve end comprises delivering the in situ forming media circumferentially along the first nerve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the in situ forming media in contact with the second nerve end comprises delivering the in situ forming media circumferentially along the second nerve.