The exemplary embodiment relates to a nanofiber-reinforced composition. It finds particular application in conjunction with the delivery of such a composition to a wound site within the body, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other like applications.
Surgical procedures have been developed for performing pelvic surgery and other internal surgical operations with an operating laparoscope. The laparoscope is inserted into a trocar tube extending through an incision in the body into the pelvic area. The laparoscope typically includes an optical passage for viewing the surgical area and another passage for receiving the instruments that are used in performing surgery on the tissue inside the body. The laparoscope permits surgeries to be performed deep within the body without requiring a large incision and thus facilitates a more rapid healing.
At the surgical site, bands of fibrous scar tissue can cause adhesions to form. These adhesions can result in two normally separate organs being bound together. Thus, organs which would normally slide over each other tend to pull on each other, resisting healing. Adhesions can also cause pain by pulling on nerves. To reduce the formation of adhesions, techniques have been developed for applying an adhesion barrier to the surgical site. The adhesion barrier may be formed of fine fabric biodegradable material which separates the organ on which the operation was performed from neighboring tissue. One problem in applying such a barrier is that it is difficult to insert the fabric material through a small diameter tube. Thus, in some procedures, a trocar with sufficient diameter to carry the rolled up fabric barrier as well as grasping forceps for physically unrolling the fabric barrier and manipulating the fabric barrier into position is used. Alternatively, a larger incision may be made to allow access for forceps to the surgical site. Both of these procedures, to some degree, negate the advantages of laparoscopic surgery.
Nanofibers have found use in medical applications. U.S. Publication Nos. 2008/0021545 and 2008/0027531, both to Reneker, et al. disclose nanofibrous coatings on medical devices, such a surgical mesh or stent. The nanofibers are spun directly onto a substrate and may be mechanically attached later. However, such applications do not permit the nanofibers to be inserted through a tube, such as a laparoscope, to a wound site.
The exemplary embodiment provides a biocompatible nanofiber-reinforced composition suited to use as an adhesion barrier and method for applying the composition to a surgical site which overcomes the above-referenced problems, and others.