초록

The present invention relates generally to a device and method for treating tissues of the central nervous system and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a device and method for treating the brain tissue.

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1. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue of a patient using sub-atmospheric pressure, comprising: i. locating a porous material proximate the damaged central nervous system tissue to provide gaseous communication between one or more pores of the porous material and the damaged

1. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue of a patient using sub-atmospheric pressure, comprising: i. locating a porous material proximate the damaged central nervous system tissue to provide gaseous communication between one or more pores of the porous material and the damaged central nervous system tissue;ii. sealing porous material in situ proximate the damaged central nervous system tissue to provide a region about the damaged central nervous system tissue for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged central nervous system tissue;iii. operably connecting a vacuum system with the porous material for producing sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged central nervous system tissue; andiv. activating the vacuum system to provide sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged central nervous system tissue. 2. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating the porous material proximate to damaged brain tissue. 3. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to normalize intracranial pressure to a substantially normal, pre-damage physiological state. 4. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to normalize tissue volume and density to a substantially normal, pre-damage physiological state. 5. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to normalize at least one of blood pressure and heart rate to a substantially normal, pre-damage physiological state. 6. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to normalize intracranial pressure to a clinically desirable level. 7. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to normalize tissue volume and density to a clinically desirable level. 8. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to normalize at least one of blood pressure and heart rate to a clinically desirable level. 9. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to decrease cytokines, toxic substances, or other mediators to a clinically desirable level. 10. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to achieve a clinical improvement in the state of consciousness of the patient. 11. A method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, comprising maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue for a time sufficient to achieve an improvement in the Glasgow score. 12. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure comprises maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure of about 25 mm Hg. 13. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of sealing porous material in situ comprises locating a cover over the damaged tissue and sealing the cover to tissue proximate the damaged tissue for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure at the damaged tissue. 14. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 13, wherein the step of locating a cover over the damaged tissue comprises locating a flexible adhesive sheet over the damaged tissue. 15. The method for treating damaged tissue according to claim 13, wherein the step of sealing the cover to tissue surrounding the damaged tissue comprises adhesively sealing and adhering the cover to tissue surrounding the damaged tissue. 16. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 13, wherein the step of locating a cover comprises locating a self-adhesive sheet over the damaged tissue, and wherein the step of sealing the cover comprises adhesively sealing and adhering the self-adhesive sheet to tissue surrounding the damaged tissue to form a seal between the sheet and tissue surrounding the damaged tissue. 17. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating the porous material over the damaged tissue. 18. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating the porous material within the damaged tissue. 19. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a porous, open-cell collagen material proximate the damaged tissue. 20. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a polyglycolic and/or polylactic acid material proximate the damaged tissue. 21. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a synthetic polymer proximate the damaged tissue. 22. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a flexible, sheet-like mesh proximate the damaged tissue. 23. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating an open-cell polymer foam proximate the damaged tissue. 24. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a foam section proximate the damaged tissue. 25. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a porous sheet proximate the damaged tissue. 26. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a polyvinyl alcohol foam proximate the damaged tissue. 27. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a polyethylene and/or polyester material proximate the damaged tissue. 28. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating the porous material over a traumatized portion of the central nervous system. 29. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of operably connecting a vacuum system comprises connecting a tube to a suction source at a proximal tube end and placing the distal tube end over the porous material. 30. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 29, wherein the tube has at least one fenestration at the distal end, and wherein the step of connecting a tube comprises placing the at least one fenestration in gaseous communication with the porous material. 31. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of operably connecting a vacuum system comprises connecting a tube to a suction source at a proximal tube end and embedding the distal tube end in the porous material. 32. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 31, wherein the tube has at least one fenestration at the distal end, and wherein the step of connecting a tube comprises embedding the at least one fenestration in the porous material. 33. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure comprises maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure of no more than 75 mm Hg. 34. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of sealing porous material in situ comprises suturing, stapling, or clipping tissue into place over top of the porous material. 35. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of activating the vacuum system to provide sub-atmospheric pressure comprises providing alternating periods of production and non-production of sub-atmospheric pressure. 36. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a porous, electrospun material proximate the damaged tissue. 37. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a porous, cast material proximate the damaged tissue. 38. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a porous, printed material proximate the damaged tissue. 39. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a polydiolcitrate material proximate the damaged tissue. 40. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a material comprising polydiolcitrate and collagen proximate the damaged tissue. 41. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of locating a porous material comprises locating a material comprising elastin, hyaluronic acid, alginates, or combinations thereof proximate the damaged tissue. 42. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous material has, at least at a selected surface of the porous material for placement proximate the damaged central nervous system tissue, a pore size smaller than the size of fibroblasts and central nervous system cells. 43. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous material has a pore size at the interior of the porous material that is larger than that of fibroblasts and central nervous system cells. 44. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous material has a pore size, at a location other than the selected surface, that is larger than that of fibroblasts and central nervous system cells. 45. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pore size of the porous material is large enough to allow movement of proteins the size of albumin therethrough. 46. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous material comprises at least one surface that is sealed to prevent the transmission of sub-atmospheric pressure therethrough. 47. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous material comprises a pore size sufficiently large to promote the formation of granulation tissue at a surface other than the selected surface of the porous material. 48. The method for treating damaged central nervous system tissue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure comprises maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure up to 75 mm Hg. 49. An apparatus for treating damaged central nervous system tissue, comprising: a porous bioabsorbable material having pore structure configured to permit gaseous communication between one or more pores of the porous bioabsorbable material and the central nervous system tissue to be treated, the porous bioabsorbable material having, at least at a selected surface of the porous bioabsorbable material for placement proximate the damaged central nervous system tissue, pores sufficiently small to prevent the growth of tissue therein; anda vacuum source for producing sub-atmospheric pressure disposed in gaseous communication with the porous bioabsorbable material for distributing the sub-atmospheric pressure to the central nervous system tissue to be treated. 50. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises open-cell collagen. 51. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises polydiolcitrate. 52. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises a polyglycolic and/or polylactic acid material. 53. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises a ribbon of porous material. 54. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises an open-cell foam. 55. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises one or more of a synthetic polymer, a flexible sheet-like mesh, and a porous sheet. 56. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises polydiolcitrate and collagen. 57. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material elastin, hyaluronic acid, or alginates, and combinations thereof. 58. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises an electrospun material. 59. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises a cast material. 60. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises a printed material. 61. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the vacuum source comprises a vacuum pump. 62. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material has, at least at a selected surface of the porous bioabsorbable material for placement proximate the damaged central nervous system tissue, a pore size smaller than the size of fibroblasts and central nervous system cells. 63. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material has a pore size at the interior of the bioabsorbable material that is larger than that of fibroblasts and central nervous system cells. 64. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material has a pore size, at a location other than the selected surface, that is larger than that of fibroblasts and central nervous system cells. 65. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the pore size of the porous bioabsorbable material is large enough to allow movement of proteins the size of albumin therethrough. 66. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises at least one surface that is sealed to prevent the transmission of sub-atmospheric pressure therethrough. 67. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the porous bioabsorbable material comprises a pore size sufficiently large to promote the formation of granulation tissue at a surface other than the selected surface of the porous material. 68. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the cover comprises a self-adhesive sheet. 69. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, comprising a cover configured to cover the damaged central nervous system tissue to maintain sub-atmospheric pressure under the cover at the damaged central nervous system tissue. 70. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the vacuum source is configured to supply a sub-atmospheric pressure of about 25 mm Hg. 71. An apparatus according to any one of claims 49-58, wherein the vacuum source is configured to supply a sub-atmospheric pressure of up to about 75 mm Hg.