1. A membrane configured to guide bone and tissue regeneration for a bone defect, the membrane comprising:
a first layer configured to contact bone, the first layer including pores configured to promote ingrowth of bone regenerating cells into the first layer;
a second layer configured to substantially prevent fibrous connective tissue from growing into the bone defect, the second layer comprising a dense structure, the second layer fixedly coupled to the first layer; and
one or more perforations through the membrane, the perforations comprising co-axial through-holes having common dimensions through the first layer and the second layer, the perforations configured to enhance ossification.
2. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the perforations are substantially circular and have a diameter of about 0.1 mm or larger.
3. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the perforations are substantially circular and have a diameter of about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.
4. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the membrane is formed from one or more of collagen, polytetrafluoroethylene, bioresorbable polymer, animal tissue, human tissue, or a combination thereof.
5. The membrane of claim 1, wherein one or more of a size, a density, or a spacing of the perforations is determined based on one or more of a material that forms the membrane, a thickness of the membrane, or a size of the membrane.
6. The membrane of claim 1, further comprising one or more secondary perforations configured to receive fasteners configured to hold the membrane in place at the bone defect.
7. The membrane of claim 6, wherein the fasteners include one or more of pins, tacks, sutures, or screws.
8. The membrane of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement binder configured to be placed over the bone defect and couple with surrounding bone, the reinforcement binder comprising multiple elongated members extending from a junction, the elongated members including a first elongated member having a free end that extends away from the junction with a predrilled hole formed therein, the predrilled hole configured to receive a fastener that passes through at least one of the first or second layer of the membrane and holds the membrane in place at the bone defect.
9. The membrane of claim 8, wherein the reinforcement binder is formed between the first layer and the second layer of the membrane.
10. The membrane of claim 8, wherein the reinforcement binder is a titanium reinforcement binder and is configured to be bent into a desired shape by a user.
11. A method for guiding bone and tissue regeneration for a bone defect with a membrane, the method comprising:
forming a first layer of the membrane configured to contact bone, the first layer including pores configured to promote ingrowth of bone regenerating cells into the first layer;
forming a second layer of the membrane configured to substantially prevent fibrous connective tissue from growing into the bone defect, the second layer comprising a dense structure;
fixedly coupling the second layer to the first layer; and
forming one or more perforations through the membrane, the perforations comprising co-axial through-holes having common dimensions through the first layer and the second layer, the perforations configured to enhance ossification.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein forming the one or more perforations includes forming the perforations with a substantially circular cross section having a diameter of about 0.1 mm or larger.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein forming the one or more perforations includes forming the perforations with a substantially circular cross section having a diameter of about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming the membrane from one or more of collagen, polytetrafluoroethylene, bioresorbable polymer, animal tissue, human tissue, or combination thereof.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining one or more of a size, a density, or a spacing of the perforations based on one or more of a material that forms the membrane, a thickness of the membrane, or a size of the membrane.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming one or more secondary perforations configured to receive fasteners configured to hold the membrane in place at the bone defect.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fasteners include one or more of pins, tacks, sutures, or screws.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a reinforcement binder, the reinforcement binder comprising multiple elongated members extending from a junction, the elongated members including a first elongated member having a free end that extends away from the junction with a predrilled hole formed therein;
placing the membrane and the reinforcement binder over the bone defect;
receiving a fastener with the predrilled hole that passes through at least one of the first or second layer of the membrane; and
coupling the membrane and the reinforcement binder with surrounding bone and holding the membrane in place at the bone defect via the fastener.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming the reinforcement binder between the first layer and the second layer of the membrane.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the reinforcement binder is formed from titanium, the method further comprising receiving a shape imparted to the reinforcement binder via bending by a user.
21. A membrane configured to guide bone and tissue regeneration for a bone defect, the membrane comprising:
a first layer configured to contact bone, the first layer including pores configured to promote ingrowth of bone regenerating cells into the first layer;
a second layer configured to substantially prevent fibrous connective tissue from growing into the bone defect, the second layer comprising a dense structure, the second layer bonded to the first layer; and
one or more perforations through the second layer of the membrane, the perforations comprising through-holes through the second layer configured to enhance ossification.
22. The membrane of claim 21, wherein the first layer comprises a substantially continuous sheet of one or more of a lightweight porous polymer mesh, a lightweight porous bioresorbable polymer mesh, collagen, or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
23. A method for guiding bone and tissue regeneration for a bone defect with a membrane, the method comprising:
forming a first layer of the membrane configured to contact bone, the first layer including pores configured to promote ingrowth of bone regenerating cells into the first layer;
forming a second layer of the membrane configured to substantially prevent fibrous connective tissue from growing into the bone defect, the second layer comprising a dense structure;
bonding the second layer to the first layer; and
forming one or more perforations through the second layer, the perforations comprising through-holes through the second layer, the perforations configured to enhance ossification.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first layer comprises a substantially continuous sheet of one or more of a lightweight porous polymer mesh, a lightweight porous bioresorbable polymer mesh, collagen, or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An atomic particle detection assembly comprising:
at least one atomic particle detector positioned within a first chamber having a first operating pressure; and
at least one junction apparatus coupled to said at least one atomic particle detector, said at least one junction apparatus comprising at least one wall that at least partially defines a second chamber having a second operating pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure, wherein said at least one junction apparatus facilitates maintaining a pre-determined pressure difference between said first chamber and said second chamber.
2. An atomic particle detection assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one junction apparatus is configured to operate with a substantially standard atmospheric pressure within said second chamber.
3. An atomic particle detection assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one particle detector comprises at least one wall that at least partially defines a third chamber having a third operating pressure, the third pressure is greater than the first pressure.
4. An atomic particle detection assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one atomic particle detector comprises at least two adjacent atomic particle detectors positioned such that a distance between the at least two adjacent atomic particle detectors is mitigated.
5. An atomic particle detection assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one junction apparatus further comprises:
at least one body;
at least one adaptor plate coupled to said at least one body;
at least one cover plate coupled to said at least one adaptor plate; and
at least one fixture coupled to said at least one body configured to facilitate passage of at least one electrical wire.
6. An atomic particle detection assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said at least one junction apparatus further comprises at least one seal configured to facilitate maintaining said pre-determined pressure difference between said first chamber and said second chamber.
7. An atomic particle detection assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one seal comprises:
at least one compression plate;
at least one seal ring positioned between said compression plate and said body;
at least one seal ring positioned between said cover plate and said adaptor plate; and
at least one seal ring positioned between said body and at least a portion of a structure wall.
8. An atomic particle detection assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one support member extending from said at least one junction apparatus.
9. A method of detecting atomic particles, said method comprising:
providing a structure having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a wall, wherein the first chamber has a first operating pressure that is less than a second operating pressure within the second chamber;
positioning at least one detection assembly within the first chamber, wherein the at least one assembly includes at least one junction apparatus that defines at least a third chamber that is coupled in flow communication with the second chamber;
coupling a plurality of particle detectors to the junction apparatus;
positioning at least one atomic particle source within the first chamber; and
exposing the detection assembly to the atomic particle source such that a plurality of atomic particles impinge upon the at least one detection assembly.
10. A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising evacuating substantially all of the fluid from the first chamber such that the first pressure is a negative pressure.
11. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein providing a structure further comprises maintaining the second operating pressure at a substantially standard atmospheric pressure.
12. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein positioning at least one detection assembly within the first chamber comprises positioning a plurality of seals between the first chamber and the second chamber to facilitate maintaining a pre-determined pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber.
13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein positioning a plurality of seals between the first chamber and the second chamber comprises positioning at least one seal between each detector and the junction apparatus to facilitate preventing fluid communication between the first chamber and the third chamber.
14. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein positioning a plurality of seals between the first chamber and the second chamber comprises positioning at least one seal between the junction apparatus and the second chamber to facilitate preventing fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber.
15. An atomic particle detection array positioned within a first chamber having a first operating pressure comprising a plurality of atomic particle detection assemblies, said plurality of atomic particle detection assemblies positioned such that a distance defined between adjacent atomic particle detection assemblies is mitigated, each of said plurality of atomic particle detection assemblies comprising at least one junction apparatus coupled to each of said plurality of atomic particle detection assemblies, said at least one junction apparatus comprising at least one wall that at least partially defines a second chamber having a second operating pressure, wherein the second operating pressure is greater than the first pressure, wherein said at least one junction apparatus facilitates maintaining a pre-determined pressure difference between said first chamber and said second chamber.
16. An atomic particle detection array in accordance with claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of detection assemblies comprises at least one wall that at least partially defines a third chamber having a third operating pressure, the third pressure is greater than the first pressure.
17. An atomic particle detection array in accordance with claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of detection assemblies comprises at least two adjacent atomic particle detectors positioned such that a distance between the at least two adjacent atomic particle detectors is mitigated.
18. An atomic particle detection array in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one junction apparatus further comprises:
at least one body;
at least one adaptor plate coupled to said at least one body;
at least one cover plate coupled to said at least one adaptor plate; and
at least one fixture coupled to said at least one body configured to facilitate passage of at least one electrical wire.
19. An atomic particle detection array in accordance with claim 18 wherein said at least one junction apparatus further comprises at least one seal configured to facilitate maintaining said predetermined pressure difference between said first chamber and said second chamber.
20. An atomic particle detection array in accordance with claim 19 wherein said at least one seal comprises:
at least one compression plate;
at least one seal ring positioned between said compression plate and said body;
at least one seal ring positioned between said cover plate and said adaptor plate; and
at least one seal ring positioned between said body and at least a portion of a structure wall.