MEDICAL IMPLANT, MEDICAL DEVICE, SEPARATION DEVICE, FELTING DEVICE AND METHODS

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical implant (100) extending between a first end (103) and a second end (104), wherein the medical implant (100) comprises or consists of a plurality of fibers (101), the medical implant (100) comprising a main section (105) and a first connecting section (110) configured to be connected to soft biological tissue (500) or to a medical textile (300), particularly comprising or consisting of a felt material, wherein the first connecting section (110) extends towards the first end (103), and wherein the fibers (101) are connected in the main section (105) and separated from each other in the first connecting section (110). Furthermore, the invention relates to a medical device (600) comprising the medical implant (100), a felting device (700) and a separation device (800), methods for producing a medical implant (100) and a medical device (600), and a method for biological soft tissue repair.

Claims

1. A medical implant (100) extending between a first end (103) and a second end (104), wherein the medical implant (100) comprises or consists of a plurality of fibers (101), characterized in that the medical implant (100) comprises a main section (105) and a first connecting section (110) configured to be connected to soft biological tissue (500) or to a medical textile (300), particularly comprising or consisting of a felt material, wherein the first connecting section (110) extends towards the first end (103), and wherein the fibers (101) are connected, particularly braided, twisted, knitted or felted, in the main section (105) and separated from each other in the first connecting section (110).

2. The medical implant (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical implant (100) comprises a second connecting section (120) configured to be connected to soft biological tissue (500) or to a medical textile (300), particularly comprising or consisting of a felt material, wherein the second connecting section (120) extends towards the second end (104), wherein the fibers (101) are separated from each other in the second connecting section (120).

3. The medical implant (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the separated fibers (101) comprises a fiber end (106) or a fiber loop positioned at the first end (103) or the second end (104) of the medical implant (100).

4. The medical implant (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main section (105) and the first connecting section (110) and/or second connecting section (120) of the medical implant (100) each comprise an area perpendicular to an extension direction of the medical implant (100), wherein the area of the first connecting section (110) and/or second connecting section (120) is greater than the area of the main section (105).

5. The medical implant (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) forms a fan-like structure extending in a plane parallel to an extension direction of the medical implant (100), or the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) forms a tubular structure, particularly comprising a circular or oval-shaped cross-sectional contour perpendicular to an extension direction of the medical implant (100), wherein particularly a width of the cross-sectional contour increases, particularly monotonously, towards the first end (103) of the medical implant (100).

6. The medical implant (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fibers (101) each comprise a plurality of barbs (102).

7. The medical implant (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fibers (101) comprise or consist of a biocompatible polymer, particularly polyethylene, polytetrafluorethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, poly(glycolide), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly (L-lactic acid), polycaprolactone, 1,2-propanediol, or 1,3-propanediol.

8. A medical device (600) comprising at least one medical implant (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical device (600) further comprises a medical textile (300), particularly comprising or consisting of a felt material, wherein the separated fibers (101) of the first connecting section (110) and/or the second connecting section (120) of the medical implant (100) extend into or through the medical textile (300) to connect the medical implant (100) to the medical textile (300).

9. The medical device (600) according to claim 8, characterized in that the medical textile (300) extends along a plane, wherein particularly the medical textile (300) comprises a flat shape.

10. The medical device (600) according to claim 9, comprising two medical implants characterized in that the medical device (600) comprises a first medical implant (130), wherein the first connecting section (110) and/or the second connecting section (120) of the first medical implant (130) forms a fan-like structure extending in a plane parallel to an extension direction of the first medical implant (100), and wherein the first medical implant (130) is connected to the medical textile (300), such that the first medical implant (130) extends from the medical textile (300) parallel to the plane of the medical textile (300), and the medical device comprises a second medical implant (140), wherein the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) of the second medical implant (140) forms a tubular structure, particularly comprising a circular or oval-shaped cross-sectional contour perpendicular to an extension direction of the second medical implant (140), wherein particularly a width of the cross-sectional contour increases, particularly monotonously, towards the first end (103) of the second medical implant (140) wherein the second medical implant (140) is connected to the medical textile (300), such that the second medical implant (140) extends from the medical textile (300) perpendicular to the plane of the medical textile (300).

11. The medical device (600) according to claim 8, characterized in that the medical textile (300) comprises a tubular shape, wherein the medical textile (300) comprises an opening (304) configured for insertion of a soft biological tissue (500) into the medical textile (300), wherein particularly the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) of the medical implant (100) forms a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure is arranged in the medical textile (300) contacting the inner circumference of the medical textile (300) or wherein the tubular structure is arranged at least partially around the outer circumference of the medical textile (300), wherein the separated fibers (101) of the tubular structure extend into or through the medical textile (300) to connect the medical implant (100) to the medical textile (300).

12. The medical device (600) according to claim 8, characterized in that the medical device (600) further comprises at least one anchoring element (610) configured to be inserted into a bone, wherein particularly the anchoring element (610) is connected to the medical implant (100).

13. A separation device (800) for producing a medical implant (100) according to claim 1, comprising a first roller (801) rotatably mounted on a first shaft (802) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) and a second roller (804), particularly rotatably mounted on a second shaft (805) parallel to the first shaft (802), wherein the first roller (801) comprises a plurality of spikes (803) extending radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (L), and wherein the second roller (804) comprises a plurality of grooves (806) extending in a circumferential direction around the second roller (804), wherein each groove (806) is aligned with a corresponding spike (803) of the first roller (801), such that the spikes (803) of the first roller (801) are able to insert into and move through the respective grooves (806) when the first roller (801) is rotated around the first shaft (802), and wherein the first roller (801) and the second roller (804) are separated by a gap (807) configured to receive a medical implant (100) comprising a plurality of braided or twisted fibers (101), and wherein the device (800) is configured to separate the fibers (101) of the medical implant (100) by means of the spikes (803) when the first roller (801) is rotated around the first shaft (802), thereby generating the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) of the medical implant (100).

14. A felting device (700) for producing a medical device according to claim 8, wherein the device (700) comprises a surface (701) for arranging a medical textile (300) and at least one needle (702) comprising at least one barb, wherein the device (700) is configured to repeatedly advance the needle (702) through the medical textile (300) arranged on the surface (701) and through the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) of a medical implant (100) which is arranged on the medical textile (300), such that the separated fibers (101) of the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) of the medical implant (100) are advanced into or through the medical textile (300) to connect the medical implant (100) to the medical textile (300).

15. A method for biological soft tissue (500) repair, wherein the method comprises providing a medical implant (100) according to claim 1 or a medical device (600) thereof, and wherein the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) of the medical implant (100) or the medical textile (300) of the medical device (600) is arranged on a soft biological tissue (500), and wherein a needle (200) comprising at least one barb is repeatedly advanced through the first connecting section (110) or the second connecting section (120) of the medical implant (100) and the soft biological tissue (500) or through the medical textile (300) and the soft biological tissue (500) to connect the medical implant (100) or the medical device (600) to the soft biological tissue (500), wherein particularly the method is performed outside of a human or animal body.

Description

[0100] The invention is further illustrated by the following examples and figures, from which further embodiments and advantages can be drawn. These examples are meant to illustrate the invention but not to limit its scope.

[0101] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a method of production of a medical device according to the invention;

[0102] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a medical device according to the invention;

[0103] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a medical device according to the invention;

[0104] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a medical device according to the invention;

[0105] FIG. 5 shows further embodiments of a medical device according to the invention;

[0106] FIG. 6 schematically depicts surgical applications of the medical device according to the invention;

[0107] FIG. 7 schematically depicts a system comprising a felting device and a separation device according to the invention.

[0108] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the manufacture and use of a medical device 600 according to the invention. FIG. 1A shows a felting needle 200 comprising a plurality of barbs 201 and fibers 101 of the braided medical implant 100 in the form of a braided medical suture entangled with the barbs 201 of the needle 200. For simplicity only two fibers 101 are drawn, although the person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that in an actual felting procedure many more fibers 101 will be entangled with the barbs 201.

[0109] FIG. 1B depicts a medical implant 100 that is a braided medical suture comprising a first connecting section 110 adjacent to a main section 105. The medical implant 100 is connected to a medical textile 300 in form of a patch from a felt material by repeatedly advancing the needle 200 through the first connecting section 110 and the felt material of the medical textile 300.

[0110] FIG. 1C shows the results of the procedure illustrated in FIG. 1B: a medical device 600 comprising the medical implant 100 and the medical textile 300 from a felt material, wherein the fibers 101 of the connecting section 110 of the medical implant 100 have been intricately connected to the medical textile 300 by the felting method described above.

[0111] Furthermore, FIG. 1D shows a medical application of the medical device 600 inside or outside of the human or animal body. Therein, the medical textile 300 is connected to biological soft tissue 500 (e.g. tendon or muscle), by repeatedly advancing a surgical felting needle 200, similar to the one shown in FIG. 1A, through the medical textile 300 and the soft tissue 500. By the felting needle 200, individual fibers of the medical textile 300 and of the first connecting section 110 of the medical implant 100 are disposed in the biological soft tissue 500, thereby connecting the medical device 600 to the soft tissue 500.

[0112] In summary, FIG. 1 shows how two components (braided implant 100 and medical textile 300 in form of a felt patch) are combined using a felting technique to obtain a strong medical device 600 with a high tensile load due to the braided implant and the ability to be connected to soft tissue 500 in an easy manner with optimal load distribution due to the medical textile 300. By a similar surgical felting technique, the medical device 600 is connected to soft tissue 500.

[0113] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the medical implant 100 and medical device 600 according to the present invention comprising a braided medical implant 100 (medical suture) having a single first connecting section 110 forming a fan like structure combined with a planar rectangular medical textile 300, such as a felt patch.

[0114] FIG. 2A shows the initial components of the medical device 600, namely the braided medical implant 100 (medical suture) before the first connecting section 110 is formed, and the medical textile 300. The medical implant 100 extends along an extension direction from the first end 103 towards the second end 104. By separating or disentangling the fibers 101 of the medical implant 100 at the first end 103, the first connecting section 110 forming a fan-like structure can be obtained (FIG. 2B). The fan-like structure extends in a plane and branches out from the main section 105 of the medical implant 100, resulting in a greater width of the first connecting section 110, compared to the main section 105.

[0115] As shown in FIG. 2C, the medical implant 100 shown in FIG. 2B can be combined with the medical textile 300 shown in FIG. 2A, by placing the first connecting section 110 on one surface of the medical textile 300 and connecting the first connecting section 110 to the medical textile 300 by repeatedly advancing a felting needle through the assembly, whereby the fibers 101 of the first connecting section 110 are entangled with the medical textile 300 forming a strong connection.

[0116] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the medical device 600 according to the invention comprising a medical implant 100 (medical suture), with a tubular-shaped first connecting section 110 and a medical textile 300 in form of a hollow tube from a felt material. The fibers 101 of the first connecting section 110 are connected to the medical textile 300, preferably by inserting the first connecting section 110 into an opening 304 of the medical textile 300, and advancing a felting needle 200 repeatedly through the assembly to connect the fibers 101 with the felt material of the medical textile, thereby forming the medical device 600. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to arrange the first connecting section 110 around the outer surface of the medical textile 300 and connect the first connecting section 110 to the felt material by means of the felting needle 200. Subsequently, a biological soft tissue 500, preferably a tendon 501, can be inserted into the opening 304 of the medical textile 300 and connected to the medical device 600 by advancing a felting needle 200 through the medical textile 300 and the tendon 501.

[0117] FIG. 4 depicts a further embodiment of the invention, where the medical implant 100 (medical suture) is used as a standalone medical device, i.e. without a medical textile 300. The first connecting section 110 of the medical implant 100 shown in FIG. 4 forms a hollow tubular or fingertrap-like structure comprising an opening 111 to insert and connect a soft biological tissue 500, such as a tendon 501 to the medical implant 100. An end of the tendon 501 is advanced into the opening 111 of the first connecting section 110 and mechanically connected by the felting technique, resulting in fibers 101 of the medical implant 100 being incorporated in the tendon 501 to generate a strong connection between the medical implant 100 and the tendon 501.

[0118] A number of further embodiments of the medical implant 100 and medical device 600 are shown in FIGS. 5A-D. FIG. 5A depicts a medical implant 100 (medical suture) comprising a trumpet-like first connecting section 110, i.e. a first connecting section 110, with a circular cross-section perpendicular to the extension direction of the main section 105 of the medical implant 100, wherein the width of the first connecting section 110 increases monotonously towards the first end 103, and wherein the first connecting section 110 is outwardly curved towards the first and 103.

[0119] FIG. 5B illustrates a medical device 600 comprising a planar rectangular medical textile 300 in form of a felt patch combined with four medical implants 100 (sutures), namely a first medical implant 130, a second medical implant 140, a third medical implant 130a, and a fourth medical implant of 140a. The first medical implant 130 and the third medical implant 130a are formed as shown in FIG. 2B, i.e., with a fan-like first connecting section 110. To connect the first medical implant 130 and the third medical implant 130a to the medical textile 300, the first connecting sections 110 of the first and third medical implants 130, 130a are arranged on the upper surface of the medical textile 300 next to each other, such that the plane of the fan-like first connecting sections 110 is parallel to the plane of the medical textile 300, and connected by a felting needle 200. Accordingly, the first medical implant 130 and the third medical implant 130a extend from the medical textile 300 parallel to the plane of the medical textile 300.

[0120] In contrast, the second medical implant 140 and the fourth medical implant 140a are formed as shown in FIG. 5A, i.e., with a trumpet-shaped first connecting section 110, and have been connected to the medical textile 300 by placing the trumpet-shaped first connecting sections 110 onto the lower surface of the medical textile 300 in a manner such that the main sections 105 of the second and fourth medical implants 140, 140a extend from the medical textile 300 perpendicular to the plane the medical textile 300.

[0121] As is apparent from FIG. 5B, connections parallel to the plane of medical textile300 can be easily realized using the planar fan-like first connecting section 110 shown in FIG. 2 and connections perpendicular to the plane of the medical textile 300 can be easily obtained by using medical implants with a trumpet-like first connecting section 110 as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0122] FIG. 5C shows a further embodiment of the medical device 600 comprising a medical implant 100 (medical suture) with a fan-like first connecting section 110 (see FIG. 2B), as well as two rectangular planar medical textiles 301, 302 in the form of felt patches. To form the medical device 600, the first connecting section 110 of the medical implant 100 is first placed on the first medical textile 301, and optionally fixed to the first medical textile 301 by felting needle 200. Subsequently, the second medical textile 302 is placed on top of the connecting section 110 and attached to the connecting section 110 and the first medical textile 301 by advancing a felting needle repeatedly through the assembly. The result is a sandwich-like structure, where the medical implant 100 is placed between two medical textiles 301, 302, resulting in an extremely mechanically stable structure.

[0123] FIG. 5D is a cross-section of the medical device 600 shown in FIG. 5C in a plane perpendicular to the extension of the first medical textile 301 and the second medical textile 302. It is shown that the fibers 101 of the medical implant 100 are entangled into the felt material of the first medical textile 301 and the second medical textile 302.

[0124] FIG. 6 shows examples of surgical applications of the medical implant 100 and medical device 600 according to the invention. FIG. 6 depicts a humerus bone 502, to which a rotator cuff tendon 501, e.g. supraspinatus tendon, is attached in a surgical rotator cuff repair procedure using a medical device 600 according to the invention.

[0125] Rotator cuff tears are one of the most frequent tendon injuries with reported failure rates between 30 and 70%. Especially early failure of repaired tendons and ligaments are caused by suture or knot failure where the suture pulling out of the tendon or through the bone. To ideally repair a soft-tissue, high initial fixation strength should be achieved to allow minimal gap formation and mechanical stability to allow a solid healing.

[0126] The medical device 600 comprises a first medical implant 130 and a second medical implant 140 (here, first and second medical sutures) connected by felting to a planar medical textile 300 from a felt material. The medical textile 300 has been tightly connected by felting to the tendon 501. Furthermore, the medical device 600 comprises additional anchoring elements 610 (e.g., bone anchors 610), which are attached to the first medical implant 130 and second medical implant 140, respectively.

[0127] A detailed view of the tendon 501 and medical device 600 is depicted in FIG. 6B. As shown in FIG. 6B, the first connecting section 110 of the first implant 130 has a trumpet-like shape similar to the one shown in FIG. 5A. The individual fibers 101 of the first connecting section 110 are shown protruding through the medical textile 300 and into the tendon 501. Furthermore, it is apparent from FIG. 6B that the main section 105 of the first medical implant 130 protrudes through the tendon 501.

[0128] In a typical method using the medical device 600 shown in FIG. 6A for rotator cuff repair, the medical device 600 is first prepared by connecting the first medical implant 130 with a trumpet shaped first connecting section 110 and the second medical implant 140 with a fan-like first connecting section 110 to the medical textile 300 by repeatedly advancing a felting needle 200 through the implants 130, 140 and the medical textile 300. This results in a similar configuration to the one shown in FIG. 5B, i.e. the first medical implant 130 is oriented perpendicular to the medical textile 300 and the second medical implant 140 is oriented parallel to the medical textile 300. Next, the first medical implant 130 is advanced through the tendon 501, e.g. by means of a surgical needle. Subsequently, a surgical felting needle is repeatedly advanced through the assembly formed by the tendon 501, the medical textile 300 and the first medical implant 130 to achieve a tight connection due to fibers 303 of the medical textile 300 and fibers 101 of the first connecting section 110 of the first medical implant 130 extending into the tendon 501. The anchoring elements 610 are then connected to the main section 105 of the first medical implant 130 and the second medical implant 140, respectively, and the construct comprising the tendon 501 and the medical device 600 is connected to the bone 502 by inserting the anchoring elements 610 into the bone 502 (e.g., by screwing). Finally, the first medical implant 130 and the second medical implant 140 are tightened to obtain the desired position of the tendon 501 on the bone 502 and tightly connect the tendon 501 to the bone 502.

[0129] The lower portion of FIG. 6A shows a further possible use of the medical device 600 according to the invention, namely a biceps tendon repair after biceps tenodesis. Therein, the medical device 600 comprises a medical implant 100 (suture) with a tube-like connecting section 110 (see FIG. 3), a medical textile 300 in form of a hollow tube from a felt material and a biceps tendon 501. The first connecting section 110 of the medical implant 100 is connected to the medical textile 300 by felting as depicted in FIG. 3, and the biceps tendon 501 is inserted into an opening 304 (see FIG. 3) of the medical textile 300 and connected to the medical textile 300 by felting. The main section 105 of the medical implant 100 is then advanced through a bone tunnel 502a protruding through the bone 502. The bone tunnel 502a comprises a first section 502b and a second section 502c, wherein the first section 502c has a larger diameter compared to the second section 502c. Typically, the medical device 600 with the attached tendon 501 is advanced into the bone tunnel 502a by pulling on the end of the main section 105 of the medical implant 100, until a part of the tendon 501 is arranged in the first section 502b. Thereafter, the medical implant 100 is typically tightened to fix the medical device 600 in the bone tunnel 502a.

[0130] For simplicity, the medical devices 600 used in rotator cuff repair and biceps tendon repair are illustrated on the same bone 502 in FIG. 6A. However, typically, the two procedures will not be performed in combination on the same bone 502, but separately.

[0131] FIG. 7 shows a system 900 comprising a felting device 700 for connecting a medical implant 100 to a medical textile 300 from a felt material and a separation device 800 for generating a first connecting section 110 of the medical implant 100.

[0132] The separation device 800 comprises a first roller 801 rotatably mounted on a first shaft 802 extending along a longitudinal axis L and a second roller 804 rotatably mounted on a second shaft 805 which is parallel to the longitudinal axis L. The first roller 801 and the second roller 804 are separated by a gap 807 for receiving the medical implant 100. The first roller 801 comprises spikes 803 extending outward in a radial direction in respect of the longitudinal axis L, and the second roller 804 comprises corresponding grooves 806 extending around the circumference of the second roller 804 in a circumferential direction in respect of the second shaft 805. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the spikes 803 are grouped into six rows forming rotating combs, wherein each row is arranged in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L, and the six rows are spaced at equal distances around the circumference of the first roller 801.

[0133] The first roller 801 and the second roller 804 are aligned such that the spikes 803 protrude into and move through the grooves 806 when the first roller 801 is rotated around the first shaft 802. In this manner, the spikes 803 engage a medical implant 100 arranged in the gap 807 between the first roller 81 and the second roller 804 and disengage and separate the braided or twisted fibers 101 of the medical implant 100 to generate the first connecting section 110. Of course, the second connecting section 120 can be generated in a similar manner by providing the opposite end of the medical implant 100 in the gap 807 between the first roller 801 and the second roller 804. The first shaft 802 or the second shaft 805 or both the first shaft 802 and the second shaft 805 may be driven, e.g. by a motor.

[0134] The felting device 700 comprises a cube shaped bottom part 700a and a top part 703 configured to be arranged on the bottom part 700a. The bottom part 700a forms a slot 705 for receiving a medical textile 300 delimited by a surface 701 and side walls 706 on two opposite sides of the slot 705. The slot 705 is open towards the remaining two sides delimiting the surface 701.

[0135] The top part 703 comprises a plurality of felting needles 702 each comprising at least one barb, particularly each comprising a plurality of barbs, wherein the needles 702 are facing with their tips towards the surface 701 of the bottom part 700a when the top part 703 is arranged on the bottom part 700a. The surface 701 further comprises an array of holes 704 aligned with the needles 702 of the top part 703, such that each needles 702 is at least partially inserted into a corresponding hole 704 when the top part is placed on the bottom part 700a or moved towards the bottom part 700a.

[0136] To connect a medical implant 100 to a medical textile 300 from a felt material, the medical textile 300 is inserted into the slot of the bottom part 700a, the first connecting section 110 or the second connecting section 120 of the medical implant 100 is arranged on the medical textile 300, and the top part 703 is positioned on the bottom part 700a. Subsequently, the top part 703 with the attached needles 702 is moved up and down periodically through the connecting section 110, 120 and the medical textile 300, such that fibers 101 of the connecting section 110, 120 are moved into the felt material of the medical textile 300 to tightly connect the medical implant 100 to the medical textile 300.

[0137] FIG. 7 further displays a conveyor mechanism comprising a third roller 808, a fourth roller 809, a fifth roller 811 and a sixth roller 812, wherein the third roller 808 and the fourth roller 809, and the fifth roller 811 and the sixth roller 812 are arranged in pairs on either side of the felting device 700, wherein the fifth roller 808 and the sixth roller 809 are arranged between the felting device 700 and the separation device 800. The third roller 808 is rotatably mounted on a third shaft 808a, the fourth roller 809 is rotatably mounted on a fourth shaft 809a arranged parallel to the third shaft 808a, the fifth roller 811 is rotatably mounted on a fifth shaft 811a, and the sixth roller 812 is rotatably mounted on a sixth shaft 812a arranged parallel to the fifth shaft 811a, such that respective gaps 810 are formed between the third roller 808 and the fourth roller 809 and between the fifth roller 811 and the sixth roller 812. The third shaft 808a and/or the fourth shaft 809a and the fifth shaft 811a and/or the sixth shaft 812a may be driven, e.g. by a motor. However, it is also conceivable that at least one of the third roller 808 and the fourth roller 809 and the fifth roller 811 and the sixth roller 812 is passive, i.e. the respective shaft 808a, 809a, 811a, 812a is not driven by a motor.

[0138] In a preferred method, the conveyor mechanism may be used as follows: a first end 103 of a medical implant 100 is inserted in the gap 810 between the third roller 808 and the fourth roller 809, and then pulled towards the fifth roller 811 and the sixth roller 812 and inserted in the gap 810 between the fifth roller 811 and the sixth roller 812 (either manually or by rotating the third roller 808 and/or the fourth roller 809). By rotating the third roller 808 counterclockwise, the fourth roller 809 clockwise, the fifth roller 811 counterclockwise and the sixth roller 812 clockwise, the first end 103 is then moved towards the gap 807 between the first roller 801 and the second roller 804 of the separation device 800. By separating the fibers 101 of the medical implant 100 on the first end 103 by means of the spikes 803 on the first roller 801, the first connecting section 110 is generated. Subsequently, a felt medical textile 300 is arranged on the surface 701 in the slot 705 of the felting device 700, and the third roller 808, the fourth roller 809, the fifth roller 811 and/or the sixth roller 812 are rotated in the opposite direction to move the first end 103 with the first connecting section 110 onto the medical textile 103 in the slot 705. The top part 703 is then closed, and the medical implant 100 is connected to the medical textile 300 by repeatedly advancing the needles 702.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs Medical implant 100 Fiber 101 Barb 102 First end 103 Second end 104 Main section 105 Fiber end 106 First connecting section 110 Upper portion 110a Lower portion 110b Second connecting section 120 Upper portion 120a Lower portion 120b First medical implant 130 Second medical implant 140 Felting needle 200 Medical textile 300 First medical textile 301 Second medical textile 302 Fiber 303 Opening 304 Soft biological tissue 500 Tendon 501 Humerus bone 502 Bone tunnel 502a Medical device 600 Anchoring element 610 Felting device 700 Bottom part 700a Surface 701 Needle 702 Top part 703 Hole 704 Slot 705 Side wall 706 Separation device 800 First roller 801 First shaft 802 Spike 803 Second roller 804 Second shaft 805 Groove 806 Gap 807 Third roller 808 Third shaft 808a Fourth roller 809 Fourth shaft 809a Gap 810 Fifth roller 811 Fifth shaft 811a Sixth roller 812 Sixth shaft 812a System 900 Longitudinal axis L