Apparatus and method for preventing adhesions between an implant and surrounding tissues

Abstract

An anti-adhesion membrane is placed onto an implant introduced into a surgical site of a patient to prevent post-surgical adhesions between the implant and surrounding tissue. The implant may comprise either biological material, such as a transplanted organ, or non-biological material such as a medical device. The membrane may be applied in a variety of ways. In one example, a membrane according to the present invention is shrink-wrapped around a pace-maker. In another example, a breast implant is spray-coated or dipped with the membrane material.

1 . A method of forming an implant, comprising:
 providing a non-porous, resorbable polymer base material; and   applying the resorbable polymer base material in a form of a resorbable membrane to an implant to thereby envelop substantially all of the implant, wherein the resorbable membrane is substantially non-porous and comprises a layer of polymer base material consisting essentially of one or more of:   a lactide polymer; and/or   a copolymer of two or more cyclic esters.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resorbable membrane comprises a substantially planar membrane of resorbable polymer base material having a first substantially smooth side and a second substantially smooth side, the substantially planar membrane of resorbable polymer base material having a substantially uniform composition;   the membrane of polymer base material comprises a single layer of resorbable polymer base material having a thickness, measured between the first substantially smooth side and the second substantially smooth side, that is between about 10 microns and about 100 microns; and   the single layer of resorbable polymer base material is adapted to maintain a smooth-surfaced barrier between the implant and surrounding tissue, and is adapted to be resorbed into a mammalian body within a period of less than approximately 24 months from an initial implantation of the implant into the patient.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer base material comprises about 60-80% of L-lactide and about 20-40% of D,L-lactide. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resorbable membrane is in contact with surfaces of the implant when it is applied to the implant. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises one or more of veins, arteries, heart valves, muscle, membranes and pericardium. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resorbable polymer base material is adapted to maintain a smooth-surfaced barrier between the implant and surrounding tissue; and   the surrounding tissue comprises one or more of bone, soft tissues, muscle, organs, membranes, pericardium, veins and arteries.   
     
     
         7 . A method of forming an implant, comprising:
 providing a non-porous, resorbable polymer base material; and   applying the resorbable polymer base material in a form of a resorbable membrane around an implant to thereby cover substantially all exposed surfaces of the implant, wherein the implant comprises mammalian tissue and the resorbable membrane is substantially non-porous and comprises a layer of polymer base material consisting essentially of one or more of:   a lactide polymer; and/or   a copolymer of two or more cyclic esters.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the mammalian tissue comprises transplanted coronary tissue;   the resorbable membrane comprises a substantially planar membrane of resorbable polymer base material having a first substantially smooth side and a second substantially smooth side, the substantially planar membrane of resorbable polymer base material having a substantially uniform composition;   the membrane of polymer base material comprises a single layer of resorbable polymer base material having a thickness, measured between the first substantially smooth side and the second substantially smooth side, that is between about 10 microns and about 100 microns; and   the single layer of resorbable polymer base material is adapted to maintain a smooth-surfaced barrier between the implant and surrounding tissue, and is adapted to be resorbed into a mammalian body within a period of less than approximately 24 months from an initial implantation of the implant into the patient.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the polymer base material comprises about 60-80% of L-lactide and about 20-40% of D,L-lactide. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the resorbable membrane is in contact with the surfaces of the implant when it is applied to the implant. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the resorbable membrane is adapted to maintain a barrier between the implant and one or more of bone, soft tissues, muscle, organs, membranes, pericardium, veins and arteries. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the mammalian tissue comprises one or more of a heart, veins, arteries, heart valves, muscle, membranes and pericardium. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming an implant for attenuating adhesions between the implant and surrounding tissue following a surgical procedure in a patient, the method comprising:
 providing a non-porous, resorbable polymer base material; and   applying the resorbable polymer base material in a form of a resorbable membrane around the implant to thereby cover substantially all exposed surfaces of the implant, wherein the implant comprises a medical device and the resorbable membrane is substantially non-porous and comprises a layer of polymer base material consisting essentially of one or more of:   a lactide polymer; and/or   a copolymer of two or more cyclic esters.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the resorbable membrane comprises a substantially planar membrane of resorbable polymer base material having a first substantially smooth side and a second substantially smooth side, the substantially planar membrane of resorbable polymer base material having a substantially uniform composition;   the membrane of polymer base material comprises a single layer of resorbable polymer base material having a thickness, measured between the first substantially smooth side and the second substantially smooth side, that is between about 10 microns and about 100 microns; and   the single layer of resorbable polymer base material is adapted to maintain a smooth-surfaced barrier between the implant and surrounding tissue, and is adapted to be resorbed into a mammalian body within a period of less than approximately 24 months from an initial implantation of the implant into the patient.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the polymer base material comprises about 60-80% of L-lactide and about 20-40% of D,L-lactide. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the resorbable membrane is in contact with the surfaces of the implant when it is applied to the implant. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the medical device comprises one or more of tissue glues and adhesives, sutures, staples, defibrillators, pacemakers, pumps, artificial organs or parts or components thereof, non-resorbable or partially non-resorbable membranes, and guided tissue regeneration membranes. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the single layer of resorbable polymer base material is adapted to maintain a smooth-surfaced barrier between the implant and the surrounding tissue, which comprises one or more of bone, soft tissues, muscle, organs, membranes, pericardium, veins and arteries.