Disclosed is an in-vivo micro-robot for nerve stretching, comprising a channel, and a movable part and a fixed part located at the channel. The movable part is disposed to be movable along the channel, the movable part sleeves the fixed part and is used for driving the fixed part to move along the channel, and the fixed part is connected to a nerve to be stretched. The in-vivo micro-robot is embedded into a patient's body through surgery, so that the extension of the nerve is accelerated and is regular and quantitative, thereby effectively solving the problems of small probability of nerve self-repair and long recovery period in traditional nerve bridging surgery.

Devices and methods for protecting the neurovascular structures about the vertebral column are provided. One embodiment of the invention comprises a neuroprotective stent or device adapted for placement in an intervertebral foramen of a vertebral column and configured to resist compression or impingement from surrounding structures or forces. The stent or device may further comprise a flange or hinge region to facilitate attachment of the device to the vertebrae or to facilitate insertion of the device in the foramen, respectively.

The problem of positioning one or more nerve ends inside a sheathing implant is solved by the use of a pulley and cinching systems that pull a nerve end into an implant and that can adjust the diameter of an implant to conform the implant to the diameter of the nerve, respectively. The pulley system utilizes a suture that traverses the wall of an implant leaving one end outside the implant wall and another end that can be attached to a nerve. Pulling the suture end outside the wall pulls the nerve attached to the other end of the suture into the bore of the implant. A cinching system utilizes specially arranged sutures within the wall of an implant to tighten or cinch up the wall after a nerve is placed therein, so as to conform at least part of the implant to the diameter of the nerve. Methods are also disclosed by which such pulley systems can be formed during an intraoperative procedure.

A biomimetic tissue scaffold for repairing an elongated tissue in need of repair can comprise a plurality of coiled flexible polymeric ribbons having a surface on which is formed an array of nanofibers, the ribbons forming a tubular body defining a first open end in which a first end of the elongated tissue is receivable, a second open end in which a second end of the elongated tissue is receivable, and a lumen extending between the first and second open ends.

A severed nerve may be surgically rejoined and severed axons fused via sequential administrations of solutions. The solutions may include a priming solution comprising methylene blue in a Ca.sup.2+-free saline solution, a fusion solution comprising about 50% (w/w) PEG, and a sealing solution comprising Ca.sup.2+-containing saline. The PEG fusion solution may be applied in a nerve treatment device configured to isolate the injured segment of the nerve. The device may include a containment chamber for creating a fluid containment field around the anastomosis. The device may have slits, slots, and/or apertures in opposing endwalls of the device designed to receive the nerve. The device may have an open bath configuration or may include separable lower and upper bodies to create a closed bath configuration. The device may include one or more fluid ports in fluid communication with the containment chamber for introducing and/or removing fluid.

Disclosed herein are nerve xenografts and methods of using such for repairing and/or protecting a nerve tissue in a human patient. The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to nerve xenografts derived from genetically engineered source animals, and use of such nerve xenografts for repairing and/protecting nerve tissue in a human patient, e.g., for reconstruction of large peripheral nerve gaps, treatment of spinal cord injuries and ailments, and other therapies.

Methods, devices and materials are for in situ formation of an implant for treating a nerve. A treatment site is positioned within a cavity defined by a form. The form may facilitate placement of a nerve stimulating device adjacent to the nerve to facilitate nerve regeneration. An in situ forming gel may be delivered in the form to surround the nerve. Access to the nerve treatment site may be open surgical or percutaneous.

A connective or supportive sheath comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a hollow tube having a circumferential or perimeter wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall comprising interconnected, radially projecting, partitions, the partitions forming radially extending pores, the pores extending from said inner surface through said outer surface, and wherein the tube is comprised of, consists of, or consists essentially of a flexible or elastic polymer.

A nerve guidance conduit includes one or more guidance channels formed as porous polymeric structures. The guidance channels are within an outer tubular structure that includes randomly-oriented nanofibers. The guidance channels may have electrospun nanofibers on their inner and outer surfaces in a parallel alignment with the guidance channels. Such aligned nanofibers may also be present on the inner surface of the outer tubular structure. The outer surfaces of the guidance channels and the inner surface of the tubular structure define additional guidance channels. Such a nerve guidance conduit provides augmented surface areas for providing directional guidance and enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration. The structure also has the mechanical and nutrient transport requirements required over long regeneration periods.

An implantable guide element comprises a main body formed from a biocompatible material. One or more grooved surface structures are provided on and/or within the main body, each grooved surface structure comprising one or more grooves for directionally guided growth of fibro-axonal tissue. At least one of the one or more grooved surface structures may form a channel along or within the main body, within which an electrode is disposed in spaced relationship from a wall of the channel along at least part of its length.