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EP-4734895-A1 - TISSUE CARRIER

EP4734895A1EP 4734895 A1EP4734895 A1EP 4734895A1EP-4734895-A1

Abstract

A device (50) includes a first band (100), a second band (200), and a joint (300). The first band is configured as a first ring. The second band is configured as a second ring. The joint couples the first band and the second band in stacked alignment and having a gap therebetween. The joint has a thrust surface configured to receive an applied compressive force in a direction lying substantially within a plane corresponding to at least one of the first ring or the second ring. The joint has a tension surface configured to receive an applied tensile force substantially aligned on the direction. The joint is compliant about a rotary axis lying in the plane. The joint is substantially non-compliant about an axis out of the plane.

Inventors

  • OLSEN, TIMOTHY W.

Assignees

  • Imacular Regeneration LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A device comprising: a first band configured as a first ring; a second band configured as a second ring; and a joint coupling the first band and the second band in stacked alignment and having a gap therebetween, the joint having a thrust surface configured to receive an applied compressive force having a direction lying substantially within a plane corresponding to at least one of the first ring or the second ring and the joint having a tension surface configured to receive an applied tensile force substantially aligned on the direction, and further wherein the joint is compliant about a rotary axis lying in the plane and wherein the joint is substantially non-compliant about an axis out of the plane.
  2. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the thrust surface and the tension surface includes a radiused surface.
  3. 3. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the thrust surface and the tension surface includes a flat surface.
  4. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the thrust surface is disposed at a void on a portion of the first band.
  5. 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the tension surface is disposed at an extension of the second band.
  6. 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the tension surface includes a portion of a through-hole.
  7. 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the through-hole includes a polygon.
  8. 8. The device of claim 1 wherein a plane of the first ring differs from a plane of the second ring.
  9. 9. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first band and the second band includes a transverse aperture disposed radially opposite a location of the joint.
  10. 10. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first band and the second band includes a sawtooth edge.
  11. 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the sawtooth edge is set towards the gap.
  12. 12. The device of claim 1 wherein the first band includes a first sawtooth edge and the second band includes a second sawtooth edge and wherein a first tooth of the first sawtooth edge is aligned between an adjacent pair of teeth of the second sawtooth edge.
  13. 13. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first band and the second band includes an aperture.
  14. 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the first band, the second band, and the joint include a shape memory material.
  15. 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the shape memory material includes a metal alloy.
  16. 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the metal alloy includes nitinol.
  17. 17. The device of claim 1 wherein the first band, the second band, and the joint are integrally formed.
  18. 18. The device of claim 1 wherein the joint includes a live hinge.
  19. 19. The device of claim 1 wherein a first diameter of the first ring and a second diameter of the second ring are unequal.
  20. 20. A blank for forming a tissue scaffold, the blank comprising: a first ring; a second ring; and a joint coupling the first ring and the second ring, wherein the joint, the first ring, and the second ring have a planer form, and wherein the joint includes a first through-hole disposed in a pendent segment.

Description

TISSUE CARRIER CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 18/215,636, filed June 28, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD This document pertains generally, but not by way of limitation, to a surgical device for treating an eye disease. BACKGROUND Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss for people over age 50. Effective treatment remains elusive. One approach includes a transplantation procedure. Complexities associated with transplantation include difficulty in supporting and manipulating the excised tissue. The following US documents refer variously to a surgical support structure, a tissue support structure, and a tissue graft fixture: US 2007-0179512, US 2015-0223929, US 2013-0073054, US 2017-0100283, US 2023-0157871, and US 10,278,808. SUMMARY An example of the present subject matter includes a tissue carrier. The tissue carrier is configured for retaining and stabilizing an excised segment of tissue. The tissue can be that of an eye. A tissue carrier can be configured to stabilize and carry the tissue segment to enable manipulating and placement of a graft at a selected site. In some examples of the present subject matter, a tissue carrier includes two ring-shaped members coupled by a joint. The joint is configured as a live hinge in order to facilitate a surgical procedure. The joint can include a through- hole disposed in a pendent segment coupled to one ring of a pair of rings. The through-hole can receive a tool and provide a positive engagement that accommodates a compressive force or a tensile force and facilitates manipulation of the device. For example, a through-hole in a pendent segment can be configured to receive a corresponding pin and clamping device to enable precise control of the position and orientation of the carrier, and thus that of the tissue carried within. Furthermore, surfaces of the carrier can be configured to receive directed forces in either a compressive or a tensile direction, which enables the user to further manipulate the placement of the tissue. Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other examples. This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide further information about the present patent application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. FIG. 1 includes a perspective view of a device, according to one example. FIG. 2A includes a view of a device, according to one example. FIGS. 2B and 2C include view of a joint, according to one example. FIG. 3 includes a view of a device, according to one example. FIG. 4 includes a view of a blank utilized in manufacturing, according to one example. FIG. 5 includes a view of a joint, according to one example. FIG. 6 includes a flow chart of a method, according to one example. FIG. 7 includes a view of a device in manufacturing, according to one example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates device 50, according to one example. Device 50 includes first band 100, second band 200, and joint 300. Both first band 100 and second band 200 are ring-shaped elements and coupled by joint 300. In the figurejoint 300 allows for rotary motion about axis 10 as between first band 100 and second band 200. Joint 300 resists or precludes relative movement along an axis not parallel with axis 10. First band 100 and second band 200 include a plurality of transverse holes. In addition, first band 100 and second band 200 include a plurality of teeth arranged about an interior edge of the bands and about an exterior edge of the bands. The teeth and the holes can facilitate bonding of the device with tissue. The teeth at the edges of the bands are set or deflected inward to grasp the tissue held therebetween. Joint 300 can include a live hinge in which the material of first band 100 and second band 200 is the same as that of joint 300. A live hinge allows for relative rotational movement about the axis without resort to a hinge pin and corresponding hinge barrels. In this sensejoint 300 is integral with first band 100 and second band 200. Axis 11 is shown to lie in the plane of first band 100 and pass through the center of joint 300, pass through the center of the ring, and pass through the ring segment distal to joint 300. Axis 12 is shown to also pass through the plane of first band 100