WO2004112192A2 - Connecting device for nerve-cords - Google Patents

Abstract

Connector for nerve-cords such as the torn filaments of the damaged spinal cord, recombining each one of them, aiming to restore the communication between the brain and the part of the body affected by lesions, caused by accidents and illnesses. It comprises two platforms-one active with two sides (1 and 2) and another passive with two sides (3 and 4) filled, respectively, with syringes (10) mobile and (10A) fixed, whose pistons (17B) and (17C) are removed after sucking wires and substances (into the syringes); the syringes (10), narrower in diameter, are afterwards moved and locked into the syringes (10A) to become one sole tube (each pair), so their content is brought and (re) connected, with the help of accessory parts (power supply, patchbay, software, joysticks, monitor, computer, etc.).

Description

CONNECTOR FOR WIRES AND SUBSTANCES

This present patent of privilege of invention concerns itself with an appliance for connecting and/or reconnecting wires and substances, specially torn filaments of the spinal cord when damaged, re-combining each one of them, aiming to restore communication between the brain and parts of the body affected by consequences of said lesions, caused by accidents and/or illnesses.

For all instances when access and/or connection is difficult, due to the very characteristics of present and/or employed materials, even for instances when access and/or connection is easier, for the sake of practicality, the connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, can be used with the proviso that each case requires a custom-made model, adjustable to the measures and forms in question.

Since the possibilities of use and application of this connector for wires and substances are innumerable, the model chosen as reference for this explanation is the one to be put into the spinal cord, due to this being a difficult and complex area to access. Ih this particular case, besides its inherent difficulties, there is the question of the very small measures and sizes. In order to build a connector of wires and substances, meant for connecting filaments of the spinal cord, materials in nanoscopic scale should be used, which involves complementary projects in nanotechnology (nanomecanics and nanorobotics). What does exist as of now is a device/kit for stimulation of nervous regeneration, by means of a biocompatible sleeve and a product for local and prolonged liberation of a neurotrophic substance. Another invention employs electrodes put on the patient's legs and connected to a battery which, when put into action by a control device, fires electrical discharges on the muscles which, thus stimulated, make the legs move and take programmed steps. There is also a system of electrodes installed around the spinal cord, in places below the lesion, and which are connected to a battery and an outside control; when put into action, they send electrical impulses to the nerves which make legs move and walk. Besides those three devices, there is also an invention concerning lineages of cells of the spinal cord, which can be clonal and can be used to generate neurons. Finally, there are pharmaceutical compounds and compositions. None of such inventions offer any means of reconnecting filaments one by one and combining them with enough precision so they can resume conmiumcating as well as they did prior suffering the lesion. By means of said devices, the patient does not have any direct reconnection of filaments, and the present state of preparing pharmaceutical compounds and compositions and research on stem cells still is not able to give the desired results. So the connector of wires and substances, the object of this patent, was developed aiming this precise reconnection. In order to better understanding of the concept of this connector of wires and substances, in the option for spinal cord, since it is a unit to be built in nanoscopic scale, the "nano" prefix will be frequently apposed to many descrpitive terms. Therefore, for construction of the connector of wires and substances in bigger measures and dimensions for other purposes, the same descriptive terms will be used, without the "nano" prefix. The connector of wires and substances, in its variety for use in the spinal cord, consists of a small device made of two nanoplatforms, pre- adjustable or post-adjustable, and which can be coupled to each other, both full of nanosyringes in two basic formats: one passive nanoplatform, with its nanosyringes fixed and numbered, and one active nanoplatform, with its nanosyringes movable and also numbered. After the filaments are sucked into the nanosyringes, their pistons are removed and the two nanoplatforms are brought together so all active nanosyringes will penetrate into the passive nanosyringes well enough so all filaments will get connected or reach a minimum favourable operational distance, since it is necessary to consider the possibility of adverse reactions. The sign of (re) connection is sent to a reading screen. Each passive nanosyringe will show its number on this screen, just as each active nanosyringe will show into which passive nanosyringe it got locked, since its number on the screen will show its position. Since the active syringes are mobile, they can be suspended and redirected to other positions, so as to find the most appropriate combinations for all filaments.

The accompanying drawings show a suggested format, only illustrative, for the connector of wires and substances, on which: Fig. 1 shows the two nanoplatforms before suction.

Fig. 2 shows both nanoplatforms after suction.

Fig. 3 is an inner view of the nanoplatforms before suction.

Fig. 4 is an inner view of the nanoplatforms after suction.

Fig. 5 shows both nanoplatforms after suction. Fig. 6 shows the active and passive nanosyringes already locked.

Fig. 7 shows the connector of wires and substances from another angle, in out-of- scale dimensions, only for better understanding.

Fig. 8 shows the inner view of an active nanosyringe and a passive nanosyringe, where one the point of connection or (operational) approximation of filaments can be seen.

Fig. 9 shows the sensors which allow identification of syringe numbers.

Fig. 10 shows the screen for reading nanosyringe connections.

Fig. 11 shows the meeting point of the sensors of the two nanosyringes.

Fig. 12 shows the screen for reading the connections, with illustrative numbers for the connection of various nanosyringes, whose identifying numbers are informed by the meeting of their respective sensors.

Fig. 13 shows tweezers which will help the active nanosyringes go in and out of a passive nanosyringe.

Fig. 14 shows two active nanosyringes (one locked, the other suspended) as regards two passive nanosyringes.

Fig. 15 shows small lateral spaces so active nanosyringes can move if maneuvering space is needed.

Fig. 16 shows sliding nano-belts, which are ciliate and movable, meant to dislocate active nanosyringes somewhere else. Fig. 17 shows a probe carrying some of the nanoplatforms to be assembled step- by-step, in the post-installable variety, for instances where nanoplatforms cannot be introduced already assembled.

Fig, 18 shows the master rails for active and passive nanoplatforms, already on the spot where they will be post-installed.

Fig. 19 shows the saliences of the master rails on which the rows of nanosyringes, which form the nanoplatforms, will slide.

Fig. 20 shows two rows of nanosyringes (active and passive), already introducted (in the post-installable variety). Fig. 21 shows the locking spots of many rows, already introduced and aligned (in the post-installable variety).

Fig. 22 shows a side view of many rows from which the nanosyringes and their complements can be seen. Fig. 23 shows an overview of many rows interlocked to each other. Fig. 24 shows a post-installable platform, introduced in the desired spot, row by row, according to a (illustrative) suggestion of the quantity to be employed in each case.

Fig 25 shows the whole system, from the nanoplatforms introduced in the spinal cord, through a battery for supplying of electrical impulses, a voltage transformer to send the signals to a (manual or automated) patch bay, which send visual information to the reading screen.

According to the illustrations of figures shown, the connector of wires and substances consists of nanosyringes 10 and 1OA, installed in two-sided nanoplatforms. The nanoplatforms are named active, with sides numbered 1 and 2, and passive, with sides numbered 3 and 4, respectively, and during the first stage they move towards each other, by means of suction made by side 2 of the active nanoplatform and side 3 of the passive nanoplatform, both sliding on the guides 5 and 5A and with their distance calculations fixed by the 6 rings which surround guides 5 and 5A (Figs. 1 and T). Guide 5A, being the one narrower in diameter, is built within the Guide 5, and its function is to facilitate distance adjustments between the two nanoplatforms. An alignment bar 7 for guides 5 and 5A is also foreseen, should they need more steadiness. Relief 8 and relief 8 A on sides 1 and 2 of active nanoplatform possibilitate formation of hollow 9, meant for locking with the nearest or considered most secure vertebral apophysis. Since the figures show measures and sizes that are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the connector of wires and substances, each case has to be taken into consideration separately. Therefore, molds, configurations and more precise measures can be decided upon at the moment of building of a unit to be introduced in the patient's spinal cord. So, besides sizes, forms are also flexible, i. e., they can be adjusted to the patient's anathomy.

Lateral tags 11 and 1 IA are meant to fixate the sides of each nanoplatform after suction, locking into pins 12 and 12A, respectively, as shown by Figure 2. Interfacial tag 13 of Side 2 of active nanoplatform locks itself into the interfacial pin 14 of Side 3 of passive nanoplatform, so as to make the lockings into vertebral apophysis steadier. Two interfacial tags 13 are foreseen, since two is the quantity of vertebral apophysis to which the two nanoplatforms will be locked, as shows by Figure 6. The possibility of fixating outside these areas, in more adequate places, according to the necessities of each case, is also foreseen. Lateral channels 15 and 15A are meant to facilitate sliding of sides 2 and 3 of, respectively, nanoplatforms active and passive. The cuts 16 and 16 A, for respective area demarcation onto active and passive nanoplatforms, divide both into two basic sectors, i. e., the sector with two rods meant for necessary sliding, locking, fixing and adjusting procedures (items 5, 5A, 6, 7, 8, 8A, 9, 11, 1 IA, 12, 12A, 13, 14, 15 and 15A), and the sector meant for nanosyringes 10 and 1OA, which includes two wrapping trays 16B and 16C (Fig. 1) for pistons 17B and 17C. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show individual supports 17 and 17A for pistons 17B and 17C of nanosyringes of both platforms. Such individual supports 17 and 17A can be coupled to one another in rows or portions. It is them which hold the pistons 17B and 17C during the suction substance movements into nanosyringes 10 and 1OA. After said suction, the pistons ITB and 17C, along with their individual supports 17 and 17A, can be removed. Should more room be needed to bring nanosyringes 10 of active nanoplatform closer to the nanosyringes 1OA of passive nanoplatform, side 3 of passive nanoplatform can also be removed, as can be seen in Fig. 5 (already without side 3). Pistons 17B and 17C are simultaneously pulled by sides 2 and 3, respectively, of active and passive nanoplatforms, sides on which there are the two wrapping trays 16B and 16C, formed by individual supports 17 and 17A. After the suction of substance into each one of the thousands of nanosyringes 17 and 17 A, their respective pistons are pulled out by trays 16B and 16C, filled with individual supports 17 and 17 A. Afterwards, active and passive nanoplatforms are brought together so nanosyringes 10, narrower in diameter, penetrate into the nanosyringes 1OA, wider in diameter, so the extremities of each filament will be brought back together, as shown by Figs. 6 and 7.

Figure 8 shows the interior of a nanosyringe 10 and a nanosyringe 1OA, both with matter (substance) previously sucked, and the spot 19 where the two ends 18 and 18A of a torn filament come back together. Due to the very characteristics of neurons, the fact that they don't actually touch each other, rather keep close, sending electrical impulses in a chain, i. e., from neuron to neuron, one has to consider the distance or ideal approximation of ends 18 and 18A as regards spot 19. Passage or transmission of an electrical impulse from one neuron to another is called synapse and it is exactly what the connection between nanosyringes 10 and 1OA should wrought (do) at spot 19 (synapse occurs when there is a connection between two neighbouring neurons, and these connections can be of more than one type, according to the formations that realise contact between such cellules so the electric impulse will propagate from one cell to another). In order to know with precision which nanosyringe 10 is connected to which nanosyringe 1OA, each one of them has a sensor 20 and 2OA, respectively, as shown by Figure 9; such sensors 20 and 2OA send a signal to the reading screen 21, informing their identification numbers as soon as they touch, as shown by Figure 11.

On the reading screen 21 the numbers of nanosyringes 10 are read on the display boxes 22 and the numbers of nanosyringes 1OA are read on display boxes 22 A. It is thus possible to look for the most favourable combinations between the nanosyringes 10 and 1OA, as shown by Figures 10 and 12. Figures 13 and 14 show the ejection tweezer 23, meant for ejecting a nanosyringe 10 from a nanosyringe 1OA, for any desired change of combination. The injection tweezer 23 A is meant to inject a nanosyringe 10 into a nanosyringe 1OA for a new combination. Thus, according to the need for each situation, it is possible to connect and disconnect nanosyringes 10 and 1OA whenever is needed, in search of the most favourable combinations thereof in order to make the patient feel what is happening, always taking into account the best approach during such tests as regards adverse physical reactions. The ejection tweezer 23 and the injection tweezer 23 A are at the edges of nanosyringes 1OA . To start them one has to send them an adequate electrical impulse so they start moving and therefore make nanosyringes 10 move as well. If a little more room is need to move the nanosyringes 10 during the search for the best combinations, a detour shell 24 is foreseen on side 2 of the active nanoplatform, to make the nanosyringes 10 move, as illustrated by figure 15. Nanoconveyorbelts 25 are also foreseen, and are movable, in order to push nanosyringes 10 to other positions, as shows by figure 16. The nanoconveyorbelts 25 can be seen on the reading screen 21. Their positions are detectable by the positions of nanosyringes 10. They move by specific electrical impulses sent by the nearest tracks 25 A, and they are ciliate. Since the connector of wires and substances, object of this patent, concerns itself with nanoscopic dimensons in its version for spinal cord, the hints presented to make connections easier may or may not be utilized, according to necessities and practical possibilities. Thus many components can be dispensed with in the assembling of a connector of wires and substances which is custom-made, personalised for a patient (e. g., rings 6 and tags 11).

There are already nanotubes, produced from a blend of graffiti and nickel, heated to 1.100 degrees [C] by a laser projector, resulting in carbon nanotubes measuring one millionth of the milimiter in diameter. In order to build a connector for wires and substances for use in the spinal cord, it is necessary to use biocompatible materials. The spinal cord is shrouded by three membranes, called dura mater, pia mater and arachnoid. Thus, in order to reach the spinal cord, one has to take into account every real obstacle. The CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) must be constantly measured in order to check its pressure and quantity. If one has to penetrate under the spinal membranes without cutting them, it is possible to introduce the connector of wires and substances, by means of probes 26, in the post-installable option, i. e., the active and passive nanoplatforms shall be assembled part by part in the place where the nanosyringes 10 and 1OA shall be connected, as shown by figures 17 and 18.In Figure 17 we can see the opening 27 of the probe through which the parts of the nanoplatforms to be assembled in the place itself will be passed. The crossbars 29 keep the parallelism (if necessary) between the master rails 28 and 28A on which the rows of active and passive nanosyringes shall slide, respectively. Figure 17 shows the master rails 28 and 28 A and the crossbars 29 inside the probe. Ih Figure 18, said components have already gone out of the probe to the place of assemblage. Figure 19 shows the master rails 28 and 28A, meant for transporting the active and passive nanoplatforms, respectively, and the crossbars 29, in enlarged size, so one can see the saliences 30 and 3OA meant for keeping the rows of nanosyringes on the master rails while they slide towards the place of assemblage. Figures 20 and 21, with enlarged illustrations, shows the rows 31 and 3 IA of nanosyringes 10 and 1OA . Such rows 31 and 31A have inner clamps 32 and 32 A and outer clamps 33 and 33A. By means of these clamps, the rows of platforms are driven into the place of assemblage and locked to one another until the necessary amount of nanosyringes is completed. The process for introducing the rows of nanosyringes is akin to a knitting machine, following directions in order to create a drawing according to a predesigned diagramme. Accordingly, the master rails 28 and 28A introduce, one by one, the rows of nanosyringes according to a preset diagramme, in the post-installable version of the connector for wires and substances, to be used when it is not possible to introduce the whole structure all at once. Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 also show the outer ducts 33B and 33C for master rails 28 and 28A. Such outer ducts 33B and 33C are meant for introducing frames 33D and 33E to be coupled with sides 1 of the active nanoplatform and 4 of the passive nanoplatform, respectively, in the post- installable verson. Such frames 33D and 33E, if and when used, are meant for delimitating the area to be occupied by the nanosyringes in the post-installable version. In this version frames 33D and 33E are fractionated to make their introduction, also pre-programmed, easier. Figures 1, 7, 23 and 24 show the positions of frames 33D and 33E. Sides 2 and 3 of nanoplatfoπns active and passive, respectively, in the post-installable version, are introduced along with rows 31 and 3 IA, the pistons 17B and 17C and supports 17 and 17A for the pistons, thus assembling the whole structure step by step. Figures 23 and 24 show an overview of rows 31 of nanosyringes 10, with frame 33D introduced by duct 33B. Rows 31 are seized to each other by inner clamps 32 and outer clamps 33. Such items, used for illustration of the active nanoplatform, have their correspondents for the passive nanoplatform. Finally, Figure 25 shows an illustration of the whole system, consisting of the set 34 (the connector itself) with the active and passive nanoplatforms, the wire system 34A which connects to the battery 35, responsible for the electrical supply for the set 34. The wire system 35B connects battery 35 to the voltage transformer 36, so the appropriate electric signal is sent by wire system 36A to the patchbay 38, by means of which changes can be made, manually or automatically, in the positons of nanosyringes 10 and 1OA and nanoconveyorbelts 25. Such repositionings are made using connection cables 40, which control connections between the nanosyringes 10 and 1OA that can be seen through patchbay 38 as connections 39 to nanosyringes 10 and connections 39A to nanosyringes 1OA. Nanoconveyorbelts 25 can be accessed on the patchbay 38 as belt patch 25D and trails 25A as trail patch 25 E, and there is a series of commands foreseen so belt patch 25D will send impulses to make nanoconveyorbelts 25 move on tracks 25A and therefore push nanosyringes 10 to other positions. Tracks 25A can also move to make way to nanosyringes 10. Commands can be sent with the operational aid of joysticks. Positions are informed and read on the reading screen 21 through the wire system 38 A . On the reading screen 21 nanosyringes 10 are seen as register 22 and nanosyringes 1OA as register 22A. Nanoconveyorbelts 25 and trails 25 A are seen as belt reading 25B and trail reading 25C, respectively. Changes made in patchbay 38 arrive to the voltage transformer 37 by means of wire system 38B. Using the appropriate voltage, the voltage transformer 37 connects to the battery 35 by means of wire system 37A; commands and changes (if and when they occur) arrive to the set 34 of nanoplatforms by means of wire system 35A.

A irrigation net (not detailed on the illustrations) is also foreseen, if it is needed to inject medicine or any other substance adequate to each case through the nanosyringes. Each nanosyringe is laterally perforated by an injecting tube through which any supplementary substance is introduced. Besides the irrigation net, an exhaustor net is also foreseen, in order to railroad outwards everything not to be kept within the system, e. g., air, always according to each case. Similar to the irrigation net, the exhaustion net (not detailed in the illustrations) is also made of pipes which perforate literally the nanosyringes. If and when convenient, both nets of irrigation and exhaustion can be one and the same with both functions, injecting or withdrawing substances. The sequence of procedures for use of the system should be stated always considering each case individually. Likewise, beacuse the systems including nanoplatforms are custom-made, as already explained, they are assembled to meet specifications as regards format, quantity of nanosyringes, size of nanoplatforms, the need to use or not all the suggested components. As for nanosyringes 1OA from the passive platform, since they are fixed after suction, their positions on the reading screen may also be fixed, i. e., once the substance is sucked into them, their positions will always be the same for reading. If it is needed to search for a recombining of connections, nanosyringes 10 of the active platform will be moved to new positions and, consecutively, their identification numbers will be seen on the reading screen forming pairs with other nanosyringes 1OA of the passive nanoplatform. Within each nanosyringe 10 and 1OA there is an inner sensor (not detailed by the illustrations) in order to recognise the electrical stimulus sent by the nearest neuron. Upon receiving such stimulus, the sensor passes it on, i. e., it sends an electrical stimulus of the same intensity to the sensor within nanosyringe 10 to which nanosyringe 1OA happens to be connected and vice versa. If there is no need for such an auxiliar electrical impulse, supplied by the inner sensors of nanosyringes 10 and 1OA in order to replace destroyed or absent neurons and connection of nanosyringes 10 and 1OA suffices to make filaments resume communications, such inner sensors (not detailed by the illustrations) do not have to be activated. So their function is to produce artificial synapses to connect separated neurons. Upon receiving an electrical impulse from a neuron, the inner sensor of the nanosyringe acts as it was a neuron too and pass the stimulus (an electrical impulse of equal intensity) over to the next neuron. The system foresees the identification of the electrical impulses that go from the brain to the body and the identification of the electrical impulses that go from the body to the brain. Thus, at the lesion spot, the inner sensor of each nanosyringe, strategically positioned, when stimulated by a neuron, informs the origin of the electrical impulse. If, for instance, the inner sensor of nanosyringe 10 is not stimulated, it is because the stimulus comes from nanosyringe 1OA to which it is connected and vice versa. This makes it easier to reconnect filaments and substances properly. As for the sensors 20 and 2OA (detailed by figures 9 and 11) of nanosyringes 10 and 1OA, respectively, upon touching they send a signal which arrives to the reading screen, accessing numbers used to identify them. That is, the sensor 2OA of nanosyringe 1OA recognises the sensor 20 of nanosyringe 10 and sends a signal to the reading screen 21. Because each nanosyringe has a wire that connects it to the whole system until it reaches the reading screen 21, each nanosyringe 10 and 1OA is given an identifying number so its location can always be known. The items suggested and presented for the building of a connector of wires and substances are flexible as regards their shape, size, need or not for them to be all used at once, assemblage and materials employed, as explained before. So each case states what has to be done: if platforms are pre-adjustable or post-adjustable, which material is to be used, which measures should be personalised to meet specifical necessities, which items can be dispensed with to make the building of a unit possible, if operation, i. e., functioning can be manual or must be automated, which implies automation and operation with the aid of a software to send and receive commands for suction of wires and substances, commands to make the syringes move and so the informations for all proceedings can be read on a reading screen, which can be visualised on a computer monitor. The software that has to be developed to comand all the needed procedures is fundamental in order to provide simultaneous operations (e. g. lifting of some active 10 syringes to redirect them to some other passive 1OA syringes to search for new combinations, wich may cause a lot of components of the connector moving at the same time) and all these procedures need to be monitored with precision. The software will aloud information to be transmitted with the use of a computer's mouse, joystick and or keyboard. The results of connections changes will be transmitted for checking on the reading screen. The electrical impulses sent to each component (piece) of the connector are specifics for each desired movement, in order to seek and get the right connection for every active 10 and passive 1OA syringes.

As a complement to all said above, the removable pistons 17B and 17C of syringes 10 and 1OA of active and passive platforms (fig. 5) are removed from the place where such platforms are so their respective active 10 and passive 1OA syringes can enter into each other, i. e., active syringes 10 of the active platform lock into the passive syringes 1OA of the passive platform (fig. 6). hi order to keep the pistons 17B and 17C (fig. 5), after removed, from get randomly scattered all over the place where installed, their individual supports 17 and 17A (fig. 5) are interlocked to each other by basting wires (not illustrated), so that, by means of an auxiliary probe (not illustrated), they can be safely removed. In order to allow sides 2 and 3 of active and passive platforms, respectively, to move and therefore make the pistons suck wires and substances into their syringes, specific electric impulses, supplied by a battery 35 (fig. 25), make a mechanism (not illustrated), akin to a mechanical pencil or a jack (like the one used to change automobile tyres) push said sides 2 and 3 towards each other. It is also possible to project this mechanism as a set of cog wheels (not illustrated), like the ones used in clocks, so, when receiving specifical electric impulses, they can rotate and push sides 2 and 3. Their positioning and shapes are also determined according to the model to be projected to meet each special case, since each connector of wires and substances is custom-made and adjustable.

With the foresight that, in some cases, it will be needed to remove layers, pellicles, scars and any amount (s) of substance (s) which may have been formed or turned up for whatever reason, the pistons ITB and 17C (Fig. 5) may suck the wires and/or substances into the syringes 10 and 1OA until some amount of that sucked matter comes out of said syringes 10 and 1OA, enough so that a guillotine- like blade (not illustrated) can be put into action by specifical electric impulses and cut off that excess matter purposedly pulled out syringes 10 and 1OA. And since there are two platforms of syringes 10 and 1OA, it will be needed to install two guillotines (one held to side 2 of the active platform and the other held to side 3 of the passive platform). After the two guillotines (not illustrated) cut off the excess material, its elimination (removal) from the spot can me made by means of auxiliary probes (not illustrated). The guillotines can also be removed if necessary, so there will be no obstacles to hinder or impair the completion of all next steps for connection between syringes 10 and 1OA.

Depending on which model of connector of wires and substances is chosen, in lieu of guillotines there may be two more platforms, i. e,, the active and passive platforms may have an extra platform each, also with the same quantity of syringes. The function of these extra platforms (not illustrated), each one coupled to its respective active or passive platform, is suck into their syringes all material (wires and substances) until the needed measure for cut and removal is reached. With such procedure, said extra platforms, also with guillotin-like blades (not illustrated), are removed by means of auxiliary probes (not illustrated) after the excess matter (described above for the model with guillotin-like blades) is cut off by said blades. hi order to keep this excess material from scatter randomly all over the spot where the connector of wires and substances is installed, a debris collector (not illustrated) is foreseen. It is similar to the debris collectors found on certain pencil sharpeners or paper perforating machines (besides puncturing holes on sheets of paper, these collect the resulting leftover round pieces inside themselves). These debris collectors are coupled to the cutting blades, one collector for each blade. The guillotin-shaped blades cut the sucked excess matter as soon as it shows up on the ends of the syringes on the spots where the pistons unlock, according to the commands they receive. At any rate, the design for each connector of wires and substances depends on each case. Therefore, each model is custom-made, to meet specific needs. Such construction details must take into account these specific needs. As for the ejection tweezers 23 and injection tweezers 23A on the edges of syringes 1OA (as illustrated by figures 13 and 14), it is possible, when necessary or desired, to replace them with lifting cog wheels (not illustrated), installed all along the active syringes 10 and fixed on side 1 of the active platform. Upon receiving specific electrical impulses, these cog wheels function as elevators so active syringes 10 can be put into and/or taken off the passive syringes 1OA, whenever new combinations are tried.

The point is to build the connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, according of the requirements of each case, by means of any of the varieties herein suggested, since each model is custom-built (pre- or post-assembled and adjustable).

Claims

The CONNECTOR FOR WIRES AND SUBSTANCES, made of two pre-assem bled or post-assembled platforms full of numbered syringes 10 and 1OA. Each platform is made of two sides. The platform with syringes 10, which are mobile, holds sides 1 and 2, whereas the platform with syringes 10A₅ which are fixed, holds sides 3 and 4; side 2 of platform with syringes 10 and side 3 of platform with syringes 1OA move towards each other, pulling pistons 17B and 17C so wires and substances are sucked into each syringe 10 and 1OA. After the suction is complete, pistons 17B and 17C, aided by their individual supports 17 and 17A, are removed from syringes 10 and 1OA so they can be brought closer and locked into each other, by means of the movement of platforms towards each other, so, by way of the locking of the active syringes into the passive syringes, the connection or reconnection of wires and substances is attained, specially wires and substances of the damaged spinal cord, because the connector is an apparatus characterised by being constituted by two platforms which are pre- assembled or post- assembled, adjustable and flexible so as to meet each specific demand, including as regards dimensions, shapes and matters used in their assemblage and means of setup in place, always taking into consideration the obstacles in each case, specially cases related to the spinal cord, in order to reconnect it, by recombining each one of its filaments so as to attain the reconnection, i.e., communication between the brain and the part of the human body which was affected by the lesion caused by accidents or illnesses. The two platforms are named active and passive; on the active platform the syringes 10, mobile, are installed, whereas on the passive platform the syringes 1OA, fixed, are installed, and all syringes are numbered, that is, because all syringes have a built-in sensor and a thread that connects them throughout the whole system to the reading screen 21, each syringe has its own identification number so its whereabouts and connection can be known. Both platforms move along the guides 5 and 5A, which allow them to slide towards each other, as well as sides 1 and 2, and 3 and 4; rings 6 (removable) are used, if needed, to fix distances between the sides of each platform and between the two platforms, which are divided by area demarca tion cuts 16 and 16A. Thus each platform has an area to slide and fix within guides 5 and 5A, rings 6 for fixation, alignment bar 7 so as to make the platforms slide more firmly and ensure the alignment of the side handles which bear said fixation items, relief 8 and relief 8A, which follow the shape of the object where the connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, is fixed, specially the fixation on the nearest or most convenient vertebral apophysis, hollows 9, which, precisely, are the open spaces into which the objects are placed and fixed, specially the nearest or most convenient vertebral apophysis, side tags 11 and 1 IA, which are attached to pins 12 and 12A, to ensure fixation of sides 1 and 2 and 3 and 4, respectively, when already apart from each other, besides interside tags 13 which are attached to the interside pins 14 so as to help fix the two platforms to each other, and side channels 15 and 15A which help the alignment during sliding of sides 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 (such items - for the area destined for sliding and fixation of platforms - are presented and suggested as a complementation for models custom-built for each case, not all of them may be used in every case, specially for the construction of an apparatus of nanoscopic dimensions and shapes, as is the case in question, for the spinal cord). So all these items help in the process of sliding, locking and fixation of the platforms, and, for each case, it is necessary to consider the real need, viability and practicity of each item, according to the measurements, dimensions and place where installation will take place. The other platforms' area is comprised by the syringes 10 and 1OA, the two wrapping trays 16B and 16C for the pistons 17B and 17C and their individual supports 17 and 17A so, when sides 2 and 3 of the active and passive platforms are moved towards each other, trays 16B and 16C will pull the syringe pistons so they suck properly the wires and/or substances into the syringes 10 and 1OA. After suction is complete, the pistons ITB and 17C, as well as their supports 17 and 17A,are removed so the syringes 10 and 1OA of the, respectively, active and passive platforms are put close and locked into one another, with syringes 10, which are mobile and narrower in diameter, are locked into the syringes 1OA, which are fixed. If more room is needed, it is also possible to remove the side 3 of the passive platform, whenever this procedure meets the needs of each case. After syringe 10 is locked into syringe 10A, there is the connection or reconnection of ends 18 and 18A of a wire or substance, at the match point 19 (specially the filaments and substances of the spinal cord). The syringes 10 and 1OA have built-in sensors 20 and 20A, respectively, whose function is to send an identification sign to the reading screen 21. When the sign reaches the reading screen 21, there is an identification number for each syringe. This number is accessed through the sensor and the wire each syringe has all its own. Therefore, when the sign, an electrical impulse which is specific for this function, reaches the reading screen 21, its exclusive number can be read, because the sign must inform the connection between a pair of syringes 10 and 1OA, where, in fact, it is the sensor of syringe 1OA which informs about this connection and, therefore, the position of both syringes. Their numbers appear on the reading screen 21 as display boxes 22 and 22 A for syringes 10 and 1OA respectively. For the reading screen 21 (wich can be seen on a computer's monitor), it is foreseen a lighting process of the identification numbers for syringes 10 and 1OA that connect to each other, so as to make their reading easier if so is needed, hi order to facilitate change of already realized connections between syringes 10 and 1OA, there are ejection tweezers 23 and injection tweezers 23A (placed at the edges or cavities of syringes 10A); such tweezers receive specific electric impulses so they move and therefore push syringes 10 so they move too, in or out of syringeslOA. Since the syringes 10 are mobile, an extra gap on side 2 of active platform where said syringes 10 are is foreseen; this extra gap, named detour shell 24, is meant for facilitating the movement of syringes 10 sideways if needed. It is also foreseen a flexibility as regards these detour shells 24, i.e., quantity, size, placing and practical necessity. In order to allow syringes 10 of the active platform, with sides 1 and 2, to move towards syringes 1OA to search for new connection combinations, there are also foreseen sliding belts 25 and tracks 25A, where sliding belts 25 run on tracks 25A, upon receiving specific electrical impulses. When moving, the sliding belts 25, being ciliated, push syringes 10 to both sides, so as to guide them to new positions. Therefore sliding belts 25 and tracks 25A move towards asked positions by way of commands (impulses) sent by the system. It is possible that, after a number of combinations, some syringes 10 get tilted or crossed as regards other syringes 10, because not every initial connection is ideal. But such tilting positions are foreseen, hence the inclusion of the detour shells 24, which supply maneuvering room so as to facilitate the movement of syringes 10. Bearing in mind the need to install the active and passive platforms in the post-adjustable option, it is foreseen the sound (probe 26) through whose opening 27 the master rails 28 and 28A are introduced, kept parallel by means of crossbars 29. Such master rails 28 and 28A have saliences 30 and 30A, respectively,through which rows 31 and 3 IA are introduced, step by step, and these rows bearing syringes 10 and 1OA with their respective pistons 17B and 17C coupled to their respective individual supports 17 and 17 A, and side 2 of active platform and side 3 of passive platform, both segmented, ie., fractionated in the post-assembled option. Such rows 31 and 3 IA, the individual supports 17 and 17A and the platform sides can be built from thin membranes, for cases where the connector for wires and substances must be small in the extreme. Likewise, the inner clamps 32 and 32A and the outer clamps 33 and 33 A - foreseen for rows 31 and 31A respectively, meant to help them getting interwoven while they are put into the assembly spot, akin to a machine-made tricot - are suggestions for clamps which must be evaluated as regards their practical viability to suit each specific case. To achieve this, computerized commands are foreseen, which can be sent by way of manual operations made through joysticks, so as to attain precision and possibility of fine adjustments for placing the pieces which form the syringe platforms. Depending upon the matters employed, the rows of syringes 10 and 1OA can be united by superimposing their edges, an operation that can also be realized with the aid of computerised commands. For the master rails 28 and 28A there is also the foresight of outer ducts 33B and 33C respectively, whose function is introduce frames 33D and 33E whose role is to demarcate the total area made of syringes 10 and 1OA which is to be put into the site where the set 34 (actually the connector itself) will be built; this set 34 will comprise all the items mentioned, which are the active and passive platforms, full of syringes 10 and 10 A and their pistons 17B and 17C, which come with their individual supports 17and 17A and their wrapping trays 16B and 16C, respectively, besides all other accessories suggested and previously detailed in these claims. The set 34, which comprises both active and passive platforms full of syringes 10 which lock themselves into syringes 1OA. also foresees an irrigation net to inject additional substances into the syringes, as befits the needs of each case, and this net is made of injecting pipe which puncture laterally each syringe 10 and 1OA or, as befits each model, these injecting pipes can puncture only syringes 1OA, for instance, since they are fixed and larger in diameter. This injecting pipes which make up the irrigation net receive the additional substances from the outside inside the set 34, and these substances are sent from an outer reservoir that injects them into the net until they reach syringes 10 and/or 1OA. Off the set 34 comes the wire system 34A which is connected to the battery or power supply 35. Then, off the battery 35 comes wire system 35B which is connected to the voltage transformer 36 off which comes the wire system 36A which is connected to the patchbay 38; finally, off the patchbay 38 comes wire system 38A which is connected to the reading screen 21 to inform the position and connection of each syringe 10 and 1OA; off patchbay 38, manual or automated, comes the return wire system 38B, which is connected to the voltage transformer 37, which, in turn, is connected to the return wire system 37A, which is connected to the battery 35 off which, at last, comes the return wire system 35A which is connected to the set 34 (wich is the connector itself). The function of this whole wire system mentioned above is to unite the pieces of the whole system from the set 34, made of two active and passive platforms full of syringes 10 mobile and syringes 1OA fixed, all having pistons 17B and 17C which are removed after suction of substances into said syringes which, then, are put into each other, the syringes 10, being narrower, being put into the syringes 1OA, by means of computerised commands accessed and put into action by manual controllers, which foresees the use of computers to the precise and satisfactory functioning of each piece, each item for each step to be taken so the connections between the syringes 10 and 1OA are ideal, these connections being realized with aid of the battery 35, which is a power generator which is connected to the voltage transformers 36 and 37 which send the signals carrying information from the syringes 10 and 1OA so their locations and connections are informed to the reading screerfs21 display boxes 22 and 22A and changed, if necessary, by means of the patchbay 38 which has connection cables 40 which are put onto the connections 39 and 39A (for syringes 10 and 1OA respectively) according to the desired (re)connections. The conveyorbelts 25 and tracks 25A can also be accessed by the patchbay 38 through the belt patch 25D and trail patch 25E so they can move and be seen on the reading screen 21 as belt reading 25B and trail reading 25C, respectively. This means everything that happens to the syringes 10 and 1OA and their accessories can, and should, be monitored through the reading screen 21 in order to obtain the locking between the syringes 10 into the syringes 1OA and thus search for the ideal combinations. It is foreseen the development of a software (to allow all necessary proceedings and many simultaneous operations - e.g., suspend active syringes 10 to redirect them to other passive syringes 1OA, in search of new combinations, what can lead to a series of components of the connector for wires and substances moving at the same time - and all this must be monitored with precision),with the aid of mouses and/or joysticks, besides conventional computer keyboards, also foreseen for the whole system. Complementing all the information exposed this far, it is necessary to add, for better clarity and understanding of the connector, that the removable pistons 17B and 17C of the syringes 10 and 1OA of the active and passive platforms (fig. 5) are taken away from the spot where such platforms are so their respective active syringes 10 and passive 1OA can, afterwards, lock into each other, i.e., the active syringes 10 from the active platform lock into the passive syringes 1OA on the passive platform (fig.6). To avoid the random scattering of the pistons 17B and 17C (fig. 5) after they are removed, their individual supports 17 and 17A (fig.5) are interconnected to each other by means of basting wires (not illustrated), so, by way of an auxiliary probe (not illustrated), they can be safely removed. To allow the sides 2 and 3 of the active and passive platforms respectively (fig. 2) to move and thus lead the pistons to suck wires and/or substances into their syringes, specific electrical impulses supplied by a battery 35 (fig. 25) make a mechanism (not illustrated), akin to a mechanical pencil or a jack (like the ones used to change car tyres), push the said sides 2 and 3 towards each other. It is also possible to project this mechanism as lifting cogs (not illustrated), consisting of sets of cog wheels, akin to the ones used in clocks, so they, upon receiving specific electric impulses, can rotate and push the sides 2 and 3. Their positioning and shape are also determined by and from the model that is designed to meet each particular case, since each connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, is custom-built, can be mould and adjustable. Foreseeing that, in some cases, it will be necessary to remove layers, films, scars and any portion(s) of substance(s) that may have formed or appeared for any number of reasons, the pistons 17B and 17C (fig. 5) can suck the wires and/or substances into the syringeslO and 1OA until part of this sucked matter comes out of them (the syringes 10 and 10A) in enough amounts so a guillotine-like blade (not illustrated) can be put into action by specific electrical impulses in order to cut off this excess matter purposely pulled off the syringes 10 and 1OA. Since there are two platforms with syringes 10 and 1OA, it is necessary to install two guillotins (one attached to side 2 of the active platform and the other attached to the side 3 of the passive platform).

After the guillotins (not illustrated) perform their cuttings, the removal of the excess matter from the spot can be done by means of auxiliary probes (not illustrated); same for said guillotines if necessary, so there will be no obstacles or impairments to the subsequent steps for connecting the syringes 10 and 1OA. It is also foreseen, depending upon each model of the connector for wires and substances (object of this patent), that instead of the guillotines (only), a model with four platforms can be built, i.e., the active and passive platforms can have an extra platform each, also with the same amount of syringes. The function of these extra platforms (not illustrated), each one coupled to the active and passive platforms, respectively, is to suck into their syringes the matter (wires and/or substances) until the necessary dimension for cut and elimination. By means of this procedure, said extra platforms, which also have guillotine-like blades (not illustrated), are removed by means of auxiliary probes (not illustrated) after the excess matter (described above for the model with guillotin-like blades) is cut off by those blades. To avoid this excess matter, after cut out, scattering randomly all over the place where the connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, is installed, there is foreseen a debris collecting device (not illustrated) like those coupled to certain pencil sharpeners or paper perforating machines (which perforate the paper sheets put into them while collecting their perforated remains). Thus, these debris collector devices (not illustrated) are coupled to the cutting blades, there being one collector for each blade and for both models (i.e., for the model with guillotin-like blades, if preferable or more helpful, and for the model with two extra platforms). The guiillotin-like blades (not illustrated) cut off this excess sucked matter after it shows on the edges of the syringes where the pistons unlock, according to the commands which are sent. Anyway, the design for each connector for wires and substances depends on each case, therefore the models are custom-built to meed specific needs. Such construction details must take into account such specific needs. As regards the ejection tweezers 23 and injection tweezers 23 A on the edges or cavities of syringes 1OA (as illustrated by- figures 13 and 14), it is possible, if necessary or desired, to replace them with lifting cogs (not illustrated), installed along the active syringes 10 and fixed on the side 1 of the active platform. Upon receiving specific electrical impulses, these cogs function like elevators so the active syringes 10 are put into or taken off the syringes 1OA, whenever new connection combinations are seeked. As for the use of the connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, besides its use for the lesions of the spinal cord, it is also possible to use it to connect any part of the body of human beings (or animals) that need connection and/or reconnection, e.g., parts or portions of nerve tissue in general; it is also possible to use it to connect total or partial prothesis of limbs (arms, hands, legs and artificial feet, as well as animal paws or wings, for instance), specially built so their internal components, being computerised, have terminals already designed as one of the platforms (active of passive), sufficing it to connect it to the platform (active or passive) installed within the body of the patient, at the spot where the prothesis is/are implanted. Besides the uses mentioned, it is also possible to use the connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, to connect the wire system (on the whole or in part) of any equipments, machines, cars, buildings and installations in general and, therefore, search for the combination and communication between the connected parts according to all necessary and desired ends. The connector for wires and substances, object of this patent, can also be used to connect (on the whole or in part) substances (liquids and fluids, for instance) found in each and every equipments, machines, buildings and installations in general, in order to combine them or put them into communication, directing them or redirecting them according to the necessary and desired ends. All accessory parts described are intended to make the two platforms (active and passive), full of removable pistons' syringes (in any amount - from one to thousands), move towards each other in order to build at least one sole tube (if only one is necessary), actually made of one pair of syringes (one active 10 and one passive 10A) wich is/are useful to connect and or reconnect wires and substances, after being sucked by the removable pistons of those referred syringes.