Patent ID: 7942918

Claim:
A device for treating a patient having an injury to or inflammation of a nerve, which comprises: a neural stent, the neural stent being at least generally in the form of a cylindrical tube and having a tubular body, the tubular body having a bore formed axially therethrough for receiving and protecting an inflamed or injured nerve; wherein the tubular body of the neural stent includes an outer wall for at least partially surrounding an inflamed or injured nerve, and a slot formed through the thickness of the outer wall and extending axially there along, the slot being in communication with the bore for receiving through the slot and into the bore the inflamed or injured nerve; and a rigid delivery envelope, the envelope having a top wall and a bottom wall opposite the top wall, the top and bottom walls defining therebetween a pocket for housing the neural stent when the stent has a generally planar rectangular form and is in the first shape, the rigid delivery envelope further having an open end formed by the top and bottom walls and defining an opening communicating with the pocket through which the neural stent may pass.