IMPLANT, PREFERABLY FOR THE TREATMENT OF AN ACETABULAR DEFECT

Abstract

An implant, preferably for treating and/or reconstructing, in particular lining and/or sealing and/or relining and/or at least partially filling an acetabular defect, having at least one flat structure which contains a material that is at least partially decomposable or resorbable in vivo. The invention further relates to a surgical kit and the use of an unfinished flat structure for producing an implant.

Claims

1. An implant for use in treating an acetabular defect, having at least one flat structure which contains a material that is at least partially decomposable or resorbable in vivo, wherein the at least one flat structure comprises a central area and three elongated functional areas, wherein the functional areas extend out from the central area of the at least one flat structure.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the functional areas are arranged radially around the central area of the at least one flat structure.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the central area is configured in the form of a circular, oval, elliptical or cylindrical body.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the central area has a multi-layer configuration.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the functional areas have a multi-layer configuration.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one flat structure has the configuration of a triple-bladed propeller or a three-leaf clover.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one flat structure is a plurality of flat structures.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein the flat structures are arranged one above the other.

9. The implant of claim 8, wherein the flat structures are connected to one another at the edges.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein flat structures arranged directly one above the other enclose a hollow space.

11. The implant of claim 1, wherein the material has a randomized fiber structure.

12. The implant of claim 1, characterized in that the material is a protein.

13. The implant of claim 10, wherein the protein is selected from the group composed of collagen, gelatin, elastin, reticulin, fibrin, fibronectin, laminin, albumin and mixtures of at least two of the aforementioned proteins.

14. The implant of claim 1, wherein the material is a xenogeneic tissue.

15. The implant of claim 14, wherein the tissue is pericardium.

16. The implant of claim 1, wherein the material is a synthetic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-ε-caprolactone, polytrimethylene carbonate, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, poly-4-hydroxybutyrate, poly-p-dioxanone, copolymers thereof and blends of at least two of the aforementioned polymers.

17. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one flat structure is in freeze-dried form.

18. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one flat structure has penetrating holes, perforations or slits.

19. The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of the functional areas comprise an eyelet.

20. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises an additive.

21. The implant of claim 20, wherein the additive is located between two flat structures that are arranged one above the other and are connected to each other.

22. The implant of claim 20, wherein the additive is located between central areas of flat structures that are arranged one above the other and are connected to each other.

23. The implant of claim 20, wherein the additive is located between functional areas of flat structures that are arranged one above the other and are connected to each other.

24. A surgical kit comprising an implant as claimed in claim 1 and at least one component selected from the group consisting of bone filling material, textile mesh, bone adhesive, endoprosthesis, supporting shell, spacer implant and fastening element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0150] The figures schematically show the following:

[0151] FIG. 1: a top view of a human acetabulum, and

[0152] FIG. 2a-g: different embodiments of an implant according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0153] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a human acetabulum 1, also referred to as the hip joint or acetabulofemoral joint. This is the bony portion of the hip joint formed by the pelvis. The acetabulum is formed by fusion of parts of the ischium, ilium, and pubic bone. This fusion is completed by the age of approx. 6 months.

[0154] Under ideal conditions, there is a conformity between the acetabulum and the femoral head, i.e. the round femoral head fits exactly into the acetabulum, which embeds and encloses it over a broad area. The hip joint is a multiaxial ball-and-socket joint and is therefore more or less freely moveable in almost every direction. This ensures a high degree of mobility and load-bearing capacity.

[0155] The joint-forming components of the hip joint are enclosed by a connective tissue capsule, whose inner lining, the synovium, constantly produces new synovial fluid. An annular articular lip of cartilage forms the edge of the bony socket.

[0156] The acetabulum 1 has an anterior acetabular rim 2, also referred to as the anterior horn, and a posterior acetabular rim 4, also referred to as the posterior horn. The cup roof 3 between these horns has a round or substantially round tapered form.

[0157] FIG. 2 shows schematic views of different embodiments of an implant according to the invention.

[0158] The implant 100 shown in FIG. 2a has a flat structure 110. The flat structure 110 has a central area 120 and four elongated functional areas 140 that extend out from the central area 120.

[0159] The central area 120 is disc-shaped.

[0160] The functional areas 140 are preferably configured to be strip-shaped. They are further preferably configured to fasten the implant 100 to bone tissue that is adjacent to an acetabulum or an acetabular defect. Within the meaning of the invention, the functional areas 140 can therefore also be referred to as fastening areas.

[0161] In order to facilitate bone growth, the implant 100 can be provided with holes 130 that preferably pass through the thickness of the flat structure 110. Here—as shown—both the central area 120 and the functional areas 140 can be provided with the holes 130. Moreover, the holes 130 can be provided for facilitated fixation of the implant 100.

[0162] The implant 100 shown in FIG. 2b has two flat structures 110; 112 that are sewn to each other at the edges, i.e. along the edge areas of the flat structures 110; 112, by means of a suture 117. The suture 117 is preferably a suture material that is decomposable in vivo or resorbable in vivo, for example a preferably braided polyglycolide thread.

[0163] Each of the flat structures 110; 112 has a central area and three elongated functional areas that extend out from the central area. One can see in FIG. 2b the central area 122 and the three functional areas 142 of the—from the point of view of the observer—upper flat structure 112.

[0164] The implant 100 preferably has the shape of a three-leaf clover or a triple-bladed propeller.

[0165] A cavity formed between the flat structures 110; 112 can for example be at least partially filled with an osteoconductive additive and/or an osteoinductive additive. In this manner, the growth and generation of new bone tissue can be stimulated.

[0166] The implant 100 shown in FIG. 2c has a flat structure 110 with a central and preferably disc-shaped area 120 and four elongated, preferably strip-shaped, functional areas 140. The functional areas 140 extend out from the central area 120. The free ends 141 of the functional areas 140 are preferably configured without corners. The central area 120 is further preferably connected to a disc-shaped layer 122, in particular sewn or adhesively bonded. In order to stimulate bone growth, both the central area 120 and the layer 122 can be provided with holes 130 (that pass through the thickness of the central area 120 or the layer 122). Moreover, the holes 130 can be provided for facilitated fixation of the implant 100.

[0167] A cavity formed between the central area 120 and the layer 122 can for example be at least partially filled with an osteoconductive additive and/or an osteoinductive additive. In this manner, the growth and generation of new bone tissue can be stimulated.

[0168] The implant 100 shown in FIG. 2d has a flat structure 110 with a central area 120 and two elongated functional areas 140 that extend out, preferably on opposite sides of the central area 120, from the central area 120. In order to facilitate adaptation to an acetabulum, the implant 100 can comprise along its central area 120 notches 121, in particular v-shaped notches.

[0169] The implant 100 according to FIG. 2e has two flat structures 110; 112. Each flat structure 110: 112 has a central area 120 or 122 and three elongated functional areas 140 or 142 that extend out from the central area 120 or 122.

[0170] Each flat structure 110; 112 preferably has the configuration of a three-leaf clover or a three-bladed propeller.

[0171] The flat structures 110; 112 are preferably arranged one above the other in such a way that the functional areas 140 are arranged offset to the functional areas 142 (or vice versa).

[0172] Moreover, it is preferable for the two central areas 120, 122 to be sewn to each other at the edges. A cavity formed in this manner can for example be at least partially filled with an osteoconductive additive.

[0173] The implant shown in FIG. 2f also has two flat structures 110; 112. The flat structures 110; 112 comprise a central area 120; 122 and four elongated, preferably strip-shaped, functional areas 140; 142 that extend out from the central area 120; 122. The two flat structures 110; 112 are sewn together by means of a suture 117 along their edge areas. A cavity formed in this manner between the flat structures 110; 112 can comprise, for example for reinforcement of the implant 100, a textile mesh, in particular a knitted polypropylene mesh, for example the mesh distributed by the applicant under the brand name “Optilene® Mesh Elastic.”

[0174] The implant 100 shown in FIG. 2g has a flat structure 110 with a central area 120 and three elongated functional areas 140. The functional areas 140 extend out from the central area 120. Overall, the flat structure 110 has a shape corresponding to that of a three-bladed propeller or a three-leaf clover. At least one of the functional areas 140 can comprise an eyelet 143 for fastening of the implant to peripheral bone tissue.

[0175] The implants shown in FIGS. 2a-g comprise a material that is at least partially decomposable in vivo or resorbable in vivo. In particular, the flat structures shown in the figures can comprise such a material completely or only partially. For example, only the central areas or only the functional areas can comprise a material that is at least partially decomposable or resorbable in vivo or be composed of such a material. The material is preferably collagen, in particular collagen type I and/or collagen type III. Particularly preferably, the material is pericardium, in particular bovine pericardium.

[0176] In addition, however, other materials are also suitable that are at least partially decomposable or resorbable in vivo. The materials disclosed in the general description are therefore incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.