Bioresorbable nerve guide rail

Abstract

A biologically resorbable nerve guide rail with a microporous guide tube of polymers of hydroxycarboxylic acids, where the porosity allows a metabolism through the tube wall, but prevents the passage of cells, and optionally several monofilaments of polymers of hydroxycarboxylic acids located in the guide tube, is characterized in that the inner surface of the tube and/or the surface of the monofilaments have an orientation aid for longitudinally oriented colonization with Schwann's cells.

1 . Biologically resorbable nerve guide rail with a microporous guide tube of polymers of hydroxycarboxylic acids, the porosity permitting a metabolism through the tube wall, but prevents the passage of cells, and optionally several monofilaments of polymers of hydroxycarboxylic acids located in the guide tube, wherein the inner surface of the tube and/or the surface of the monofilaments have an orientation aid for the longitudinally oriented colonization with Schwann's cells.  
     
     
         2 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein the orientation aid is constituted by a longitudinal profiling, which is preferably formed by longitudinal ribs and intermediate longitudinal grooves.  
     
     
         3 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein at least parts of the inner surface of the guide tube and/or the surface of the monofilaments have a growth aid for the Schwann's cells.  
     
     
         4 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the parts of the surface of the guide tube to be colonized with Schwann's cells and/or the surface of the monofilaments are hydrophilized, particularly by a plasma treatment in the presence of oxygen.  
     
     
         5 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the parts of the inner surface of the guide tube to be colonized with Schwann's cells and/or the surface of the monofilaments are at least partly colonized with Schwann's cells or their precursor cells.  
     
     
         6 . Biologically resorbable nerve guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein the resorbability of the guide rail decreases over its length and at a proximal end the guide rail is more rapidly resorbable than at a distal end.  
     
     
         7 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein the monofilaments have a solid structure.  
     
     
         8 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein the monofilaments only fill part of the internal cross-section of the guide tube and the remaining part is preferably filled with a stimulating aqueous nutrient gel for the Schwann's cells.  
     
     
         9 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein approximately a third to a half of the internal cross-section of the guide tube is filled with monofilaments.  
     
     
         10 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein active ingredients and/or growth factors are incorporated into the guide rail, particularly in the resorbable material of the guide tube and/or monofilaments and are released at the latest during biodegradation of the resorbable material.  
     
     
         11 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein acid-absorbing buffer substances are incorporated into the guide rail, particularly into the interior of the guide tube.  
     
     
         12 . Guide rail according to  claim 1 , wherein inhibitors for stop signals of the surrounding tissue are incorporated in the ends of the guide rail provided for linking with the surrounding tissue.  
     
     
         13 . Monofilaments of biologically resorbable material for nerve guide rails with an orientation aid, particularly a longitudinal profiling, for the longitudinally oriented growth of Schwann's cells.  
     
     
         14 . Monofilaments of biologically resorbable material for nerve guide rails, the resorption duration increasing over the length of the monofilaments.  
     
     
         15 . Monofilaments according to  claim 13 , wherein at least part of their surface is colonized with Schwann's cells.  
     
     
         16 . Monofilaments according to  claim 14 , wherein at least part of their surface is colonized with Schwann's cells.  
     
     
         17 . Biologically resorbable nerve rail guide with a microporous guide tube of polymers of hydroxycarboxylic acids, the porosity permitting a metabolism through the tube wall, but prevents the passage of cells, and optionally several monofilaments of polymers of hydroxycarboxylic acids located in the guide tube, wherein the resorbability of the guide rail decreases over its length and at a proximal end the guide rail is more rapidly resorbable than at a distal end.  
     
     
         18 . Guide rail according to  claim 17 , wherein the monofilaments have a solid construction.  
     
     
         19 . Guide rail according to  claim 17 , wherein the monofilaments only fill part of the internal cross-section of the guide tube and the remaining part is preferably filled with a stimulating aqueous nutrient gel for the Schwann's cells.  
     
     
         20 . Guide rail according to  claim 17 , wherein approximately a third to a half of the internal cross-section of the guide tube is filled with monofilaments.  
     
     
         21 . Guide rail according to  claim 17 , wherein active substances and/or growth factors are incorporated into the guide rail, particularly into the resorbable material of the guide tube and/or monofilaments and are released at the latest during biodegradation of the resorbable material.  
     
     
         22 . Guide rail according to  claim 17 , wherein acid-absorbing buffer substances are incorporated into the guide rail, particularly into the interior of the guide tube.  
     
     
         23 . Guide rail according to  claim 17 , wherein inhibitors for stop signals of the surrounding tissue are incorporated into ends of the guide rail provided for linking with the surrounding tissue.