Apparatus and methods for treatment of arthrosis or osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient

Abstract

A proposed treatment of arthrosis/osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient involves deposing a liquid material on at least one damaged surface of the joint. To accomplish this, a reservoir ( 110 ) is provided, which holds a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form outside of a body containing the joint (J) to be treated. A proximal end (P) of a tube-shaped instrument ( 120 ) is connected to the reservoir ( 110 ), and a distal end (D) of the instrument ( 120 ) is inserted into the joint (J). The liquid material is fed through the instrument ( 120 ) to the distal end (D) for deposition on the at least one damaged joint surface. The material is configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions (e.g. when cooling off or being exposed to a specific type of radiation). When the material has the solid form, it has a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.

1 . An apparatus for treatment of arthrosis in a joint of a mammal or human patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a reservoir configured to hold a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form having a temperature higher than 100° C. outside of a body containing a joint (J) to be treated, and   an instrument having a general tube shape, a distal end (D) of the instrument being configured to be inserted into the joint (J), a proximal end (P) of the instrument (O) being connected to the reservoir (H O) and configured to receive the liquid material there from, the instrument being configured to feed the liquid material having a temperature higher than 100° C. from the proximal end (P) to the distal end (D) for deposition on at least one damaged surface (S) of the joint (J), such that adjacent nerves are damaged by the heat of the material thus preventing pain from the damaged surface, the material being configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions, and when in the solid form the material having a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible and collapsible mould member having a pre-produced shape adapted to a shape and size of at least one of the at least one damaged surface (S) so as to contact and cover this surface (S), the mould member being configured to be inserted into the joint (J) and be form-fitted to said damaged surface (S), be connected to the distal end (D) of the instrument and when placed in the joint (J) receive the material in liquid form being fed through the instrument, the mould member having an internal volume configured to be filled with liquid material received via the instrument, and the mould member being configured to enable the predefined conditions for accomplishing a transition from the liquid form to the solid form after that the mould member has been filled with the liquid material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mould member is configured to be inserted into the joint (J) by passing via a bone of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mould member is configured to be inserted into the joint (J) by passing via a bone of the body from inside the abdomen. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mould member is configured to be inserted into the joint (J) by passing via the femoral bone of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mould member is configured to be inserted into the joint (J) by passing the capsula of said joint (J). 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mould member is configured to be at least partly withdrawn from the joint (J) after that the material has assumed its solid form. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the material at an elevated pressure level exceeding the normal atmospheric level, and the mould member is configured to expand in response to receiving the material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , comprising an injection member configured to inject the liquid material into the mould member at the elevated pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mould member comprises an isolation material configured to reduce the risk of body tissue being damaged by the liquid material having a temperature above 37 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 100 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises at least one shield member configured to isolate the reservoir from the body. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises at least one shield member configured to isolate the body from liquid material passing through the instrument. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 90 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 150 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 200 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 300 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold the biocompatible material at a temperature of at least 400 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         21 .- 71 . (canceled)